Former Wall St. Journal reporter Andres Martinez takes his $50,000 book advance to Las Vegas to try his luck at blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and slot machines for a month. Written with a sense of humor, this is a day-by-day account of Martinez' frenzied, casino-hopping tour, enhanced by a sharp observation of Las Vegas life and the characters he encounters. Luckily, Martinez's good humor endures to the very end of his trip: when he's left with just a little over $5,000.  (USW255, $15.00)