Customer Reviews

On Winning the Lottery

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The book "On Winning the Lottery" is an account of one family's experience, both before and after, of winning the Illinois State Lottery. The book includes their personal philosophy, method of picking numbers, legal details, distribution of winnings and their future plans. The book appears to be the first documented account of a lottery winner. It would be useful reading for both the interested, as well as, present or future winners.

Maureen Baldwin has wrtten a description of life before and after winning $13.5 million. She and her husband, retired teachers living in a small town in northern Illinois won the lottery in 1996. Winning changed their lives forever, but they were determined to avoid the mistakes other winners may have made and to hold fast to the principles that have always guided their lives. The book answers the many questions they were asked: "How did you do that? What was it like? How to you feel?" She describes in detail the system her mathematically-minded husband Doug used to select the winning numbers. This well-written book is also attractive, physically well put together. The graphics are interesting, and the cover is eye-catching. In the introduction, Baldwin writes, "...it was our optimistic attitude toward the use of our good fortune and our desire to share it with others that has given us our greatest joy." After you've read the book, you will share their joy and realize that nice things really do happen to nice people.

This was apparently a self published title from "Winners Press" and a good ego boost for the author. I guess if I were a lottery winner, I would pay to get my name in print but maybe give the books away instead of taking advantage of people and charging for a book like this.

Did not learn anything expect that they seem to be enjoying having won $13.5 million. If they get another $13.5, I wonder if they will use to refund money to those who purchased this book.

Glad they were lucky enough to win the lottery and not have it ruin their lives terribly.

Another reviewer titled the review "disappointed." Wish I had read that first as that was exactly how I felt.

In this well-written book, Maureen Baldwin describes the formula her husband Douglas used in playing the Illinois lottery and the mind-numbing excitement of winning $17.5 million. She also shares a bit of their life before buying that winning ticket, and describes their dreams. Both retired teachers, this down-to-earth, middle-American couple determined that their lives would not change drastically. Trust funds were set up for children and grandchildren. As Ms. Baldwin says, "We recognize the responsibility that goes along with [this added wealth], the stewardship that is part of the territory..." This is a good-looking book, well put together. The graphics are interesting, and the cover is eye-catching.

I am so curious about lottery winners. I bought this book having read a description of it, thus knowing that it would be a story about people who had a positive experience with "sudden millionairity". I would still enjoy reading a salacious description of the train wrecks that start with a winning lottery ticket, I admit it.

But to be realistic, should I ever suddenly come into a vast amount of money, I would turn to this book for good advice. These people handled their win in an exceptionally rational way, and that may not make the most sensational story, or the most expected story. They may be exceptional in that, I don't know!! (Another thing I am curious about is the statistics of lottery winners: how many have mild, rational experiences like this with it, how many have "train-wreck" stories.)

I thought this was a good general overview of the whole process: planning, winning, distribution, and living the rest of your life. I would have liked a little less personal info and more information about the financial decisions, as in, what where their options for banking and taxes, what made them decide on the trusts, etc. For example, she brings up the question of depositing more than the FDIC insured 100K into a bank, but shrugs it off since they don't keep it there long, which is not really explained. I wanted more of those types of details. But she did a good job with charts showing how they divided the winnings, and they were very generous to their kids and church (lots of tithing info, which doesn't interest me but will interest others). Certainly, they went about it the right way. When she explained some payment mistakes I didn't understand them because of the lack of financial details but in general a good quick vicarious read, especially with the cute photos of the ticket and newspaper articles, and yes, you are happy for them. As a seemingly "traditional" wife in the marriage, I was also pleased to see that she got total control of half the winnings, 50-50, you go girl!

Even though I was disappointed to find out that the technique they used to win turned out to be "picking numbers out of a hat" this book was an excellent interpretation of life as a lottery winner.It made me feel as if I was there going through everything with them from the excitement of verifying the ticket as a winner to making financial decisions on spending and distributing amongst family members!

I WAS DISAPPOINTED WHEN I READ THISBOOK. I WAS EXPECTED SOMEHTING ALOT MORE EXCITING. LIFE IS EXCITINGAND WINNING THE LOTTERY MUST HAVEBEEN A VERY EXCITING EVENT. I THINKTOO MJUCH TIME WAS SPENT EXPLAININGTHE MATHEMATICAL FORMULA AND NOTENOUGH TIME ON WHAT FUN THEY MUSTHAVE ALREADY HAD SPENDING SOME OFTHE MONEY. I KNOW THAT MRS BALDWINIS PLANNING TO WRITE ANOTER BOOK, AND JUST MAYBE I WILL LIKE THAT BOOKBETTER. I DO AGREE WITH HER ON THE PRINCIPLEOF TITHING AND SHARING WHAT GOD HASSO GENEROUSLY GIVEN. I THINK SHE DID A VERY GOOD JOB CONVEYING HERFEELINGS ABOUT THAT. I AM LOOKINGFORWARD TO READING HER NEXT BOOKWHEN SHE FINISHES IT.