Highly recommended new book by Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist John L. Smith. Excellent historical overview of the properties, personalities, pariahs, prophets and profits in the evolution of Las Vegas gaming from the 1930s to the present. Smith has also written definitive books on Steve Wynn, Bob Stupak, and Oscar Goodman. "Sharks In The Desert" includes chapters on Benny Binion, Gus Greenbaum, Johnny Rosselli, Tony Spilotro, Moe Dalitz, Howard Hughes, Jay Sarno, Jackie Gaughan, Ralph Engelstad, Bill Bennett, Steve Wynn and many many more. Also revealing comments from previous convention speakers Robert Maheu and Richard Goeglein. This is a good read!