I started this book mainly because I am a fan of David's writing for grown-ups, including his "JOHO" blog and mailing list. And I was interested in the new publishing model that he is not just talking about, but "walking the talk" by releasing his book with a creative commons licence. But I finished the book because it was a great read.

The main character, Jake, is interested in mathematics without being a complete dweeb. In fact, he turns out to be quite a likeable fellow who doesn't fall prey to the usual temptations when he wins the lottery. He does have his share of complications and challenges, and therein lies the tale of this book.

I read the whole thing in one afternoon and enjoyed it enormously. I liked the relationship he has with his two friends, Ari and Mimi. I liked the tangled familiy situation, since he doesn't want his parents to know he's won all this money. And I liked the range of situations he gets himself into and gets out of - they are interesting without being too scary.

One of the most interesting things about the book is the way in which it deals with the magnitude of that much money and the implications it has for not just a person but for the society around him.

I think you'll like this book and enjoy reading it. I sure did.