My Favorite 52
Reviewed by Brent ManleyDeliciousAs a consumer, I like to savor life's pleasures - especially good food and good books.  That's my complaint about the new work from Larry Cohen: I couldn't put it down, leaving me feeling that it would be "used up" too quickly.I guess my only option is to read it several times.  Life is tough.My Favorite 52is unusual because it was originally published as interactive software.  Linda Lee of Master Point Press adapted it to the softcover version.  In most cases, the book comes first.Bridge players who prefer to study the game away from the computer should be overjoyed at the availability of this treasure trove from Cohen's vast archive of interesting deals.  In fact, there are more deals than the title promises, but the alliteration was irresistible, not to mention the utility of having 52 in the title of a bridge book.It's the content that counts, after all, and Cohen manages to include a ton of instruction as part of his description of deals from real games, most of them in high-level competition (he played each one or was dummy).  Each of the 52 has multiple parts, and Cohen offers a clock symbol to warn the reader to stop and think before proceeding.  The book is nearly as interactive as the software and is ideal for someone striving to improve.Cohen "retired" last year from major tournament play, saying he will concentrate on teaching and writing for the foreseeable future (he will continue his column in this magazine).  He will be missed at tournaments, but if Cohen has more time for writing, that can only be a good thing for his many fans. --The Bridge Bulletin, February 2010