Good \"poker story\" books
 

I am currently reading Positively Fifth Street and The Professor, The Banker, and The Suicide King. I've also got The Biggest Game in Town on the way, and will probably purchase One Of A Kind next.

I also love reading Johnny Hughes' posts on this forum.

What are the best "poker story" books out there? Are there any in particular that are must reads?

Re: Good \"poker story\" books
 

Sorry to be the one to tell you, but you already have every single one worth owning.

Re: Good \"poker story\" books
 

Give Hunting Fish a go. It's sort of a travelogue written by a guy who is tried to go pro. He started in NYC and travelled from the East coast to the West visiting home games, underground card rooms, and a casinos along the way. His goal was to swell his $10K roll into $30K so he could afford to sit in the mid-stakes NLHE games in LA.

I enjoyed the book for a number of reasons. The author is pretty honest about his game and emotions, so you get an insight into what's its like to struggle as a grinding pro. It was also fascinating to get a glimpse of the underground poker world and how it differs from one location to the next. Finally, the voyeur in me enjoyed reading about the author's highs and lows in the same way and for the same reasons I enjoy reading trip reports in the B&M forum.

Also notable are The Big Deal, Poker Nation, and Matt Matros's book (the title escapes me).

Re: Good \"poker story\" books
 

The Big Deal by Anthony Holden is very good, not as good as The Biggest Game in Town, but better than Positively...

http://www.amazon.com/Big-Deal-Profe.../dp/0349115192

Re: Good \"poker story\" books
 

Here are a bunch that are all worth reading. Some are better than others. I'm not going to rank them per se, but the ones near the top of my list are better than the ones near the bottom.

"According to Doyle" Doyle Brunson
"Poker Wisdom of a Champion" Bobby Baldwin
"Shut Up and Deal" Jesse May
"Take me to the River" Peter Alson
"Poker Nation" Andy Bellin
"Big Deal" Anthony Holden
"King of a Small World" Can't remember the author's name
"Education of a Poker Player" Yardley.

Re: Good \"poker story\" books
 

for short anecdotal writing on individual poker hands, tournaments and lifestyle, these are okay too:

"The Championship Table" - Dana Smith, Tom McEvoy
"The Best Hand I Ever Played" - Steve Rosenbloom
"My 50 Most Memorable Hands" - Doyle Brunson

Re: Good \"poker story\" books
 

Cards by Brandon Something or other. Young guy who posts on here, does a creditable job of telling a story of a post poker-boom player's life.

Re: Good \"poker story\" books
 

i wonder how "My 50 Most Memorable Hands" - Doyle Brunson is written

Re: Good \"poker story\" books
 

I liked "Aces & Kings" it is short biographies of the TV poker players. I am not a TV poker Player Fan Boy but I found the book very interesting.

Re: Good \"poker story\" books
 

Anyone read ACE ON THE RIVER by barry ?

Re: Good \"poker story\" books
 

Hands down your next book should be Shut Up and Deal by Jesse May.

Re: Good \"poker story\" books
 

Amarillo Slim's autobiography, Amarillo Slim in a World Full of Fat People, is a very good read. As is Big Deal.

Re: Good \"poker story\" books
 

[ QUOTE ]
i wonder how "My 50 Most Memorable Hands" - Doyle Brunson is written

[/ QUOTE ]
in numerical order.

Re: Good \"poker story\" books
 

esfandiaris book has a lot of great stories in it. the strategy blooooows but the entertaiment value is def there.

Re: Good \"poker story\" books
 

[ QUOTE ]
The Professor, The Banker, and The Suicide King.
What are the best "poker story" books out there?

[/ QUOTE ]


very good book

Re: Good \"poker story\" books
 

There's a book called "Read 'em and Weep" which is an anthology of excerpt from some of the better known poker lit. It was put together in 2004 so it predates some of the titles which have been mentioned. McManus writes the intro. Included are selections from authors such as James Thurber, David Mamet, Barbara Tuchman, Stephen Crane, John Updike, Clark Clifford and David Hayano. There are about 30 selections in all.

Another candidate is "God Wants You to Roll", which is about a car scam which finances one of the protaganist's pai gow habit. The SoCal card room scene is a recurring theme in the book. It isn't really a poker book and only barely a gambling book, but it is an unbelievable story and very much worth the read.

Google the title and you'll get hooked.

Re: Good \"poker story\" books
 

[ QUOTE ]
I liked "Aces & Kings" it is short biographies of the TV poker players. I am not a TV poker Player Fan Boy but I found the book very interesting.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, "Aces and Kings" is good. Which reminds me of two others

"Telling Lies and Getting Paid" and
"The Man with the $100,000 Breasts"

They're either by Michael Konik or Michael Kaplan. I get those two authors confused for obvious reasons.

Some other excllent gambling books that are not about poker:

"Bringing Down the House" by Mezrich
"Playing off the Rail" (don't remember the author)
"The Smart Money" by Konik

I loved all three of those.

Re: Good \"poker story\" books
 

"Cards" is a good read.
I enjoyed "Take me to the River" as well

Re: Good \"poker story\" books
 

One book that hasn't been mentioned is Matt Matros "the Makings of a Poker Player".

I thought the book was quite entertaining.

Re: Good \"poker story\" books
 

[ QUOTE ]
I enjoyed "Take me to the River" as well

[/ QUOTE ]

Just finished this, thought it was quite good.

Re: Good \"poker story\" books
 

SHUT UP and DEAL should be required reading among poker players.