I did, thank you box. I play bridge at the same club as the author of the reviewed book. And in fact I have played bridge with him (I have a bit of a crush on him, actually.) :)

Earlier today, I put the book on hold. I love games (just got back from eating Vietnamese food and playing my second-favorite board game, Personal Preference), and they make it sound pretty neat. How would I go about taking it up? Get on Yahoo Games? Read a couple books from the '50s? Buy some tea and cookies and schedule an afternoon game at the library?

Yeah, bridge is a weird one to learn because it's such a partnership game. And you need at least 4 people to play. And then there are different types of bridge (duplicate and rubber bridge being the most popular.) I would take out a couple of books and see if it looks like you'd be into it (if you like cards, and strategy, then I can't see how you wouldn't enjoy it!), and then call up your local bridge club and ask if they are giving lessons at the moment. Now, my perspective may be skewed because I'm super-competitive and like to win at everything, but I don't really like playing games if I can't play them properly. Hence my suggestion for lessons. Alternatively... do you know anyone who plays? If you know of anyone who has a regular game going, then get yourself along there, and jump in. You can learn as you go, at least enough to get a working idea of the game.

Don't listen to anyone who says it's basically the same as Spades. Well, if Spades and Euchre had a kid who then took lots and lots of steroids, that would be bridge.

Oh yeah, DUH! there is also bridge base online, where you can download the software (free) to play with anyone, and it also has a really really good tutorial. I should have mentioned that first. I play on there reasonably often, with my old bridge partners in New Zealand.