The Paper We Are Most Proud Of

When the editorial board gets together, we occasionally ask: which paper are we proudest of? The answer shifts a little each year, but one title has topped the list three reviews in a row — Noa Berger's 'The Dealer as First Teacher.'

The paper is not our most quantitative. It is not our most cited. It is, however, the paper that best captures what we think this society is for.

The dealer as first teacher reminds us that roulette is not primarily a mathematical exercise. It is a social practice. The mathematics are the grammar. The table is the stage. The dealer is the first voice a new player hears.

If a reader of this magazine only has time for one paper, we send them to Noa's. It is short. It is specific. It captures the craft.