Review of Ace on the River

[morgan180]

I just finished AOTR and I have to say that I really enjoyed reading it. I thought the insight in to the poker world was interesting and the hand examples at the end were set up in a great way. I personally read so fast that I consume information, the hand histories really made me stop and answer the questions and think about what was going on. I was happy that most of my answers matched when I turned the page.

This book is unlike the myriad other poker books that I have read. It is more like a conversation with Barry on poker, rather than a purely instructive text. I think more hand examples would give even more insight but I have to say I was very impressed with it, even though there has been mixed reaction here.

[Shandrax]

[ QUOTE ]
My book is allegorical. For the beginner, it's a guide to the poker world. For the top players, it details the considerations that they face as professionals, which is where the “Advanced” part of the subtitle comes in.

[/ QUOTE ]

I received my copy yesterday and from what I can tell so far, this quote is very fitting. Every chapter is like an essay on the different aspects of poker and the life as a pokerplayer with all the risks and rewards. It shows very well that mastering the technical part of poker alone isn't enough to be successful at the highest level.

If you don't expect it to be a how-to-play guide like HEFAP then I am sure that you will enjoy this book a lot.

[Randy Burgess]

I've read all the comments to date and understand the split between those who want a purely instructional book, and those who are open to something a little different.

I suspect, though, that those in the anti-camp who go so far as to call the book "fluff" tend to be on the younger side. It probably takes a bit more bitter experience to hear what Greenstein is saying about life and responsibility, not just odds and outs. He's not a kid nor does he appear to be writing for kids. And by "kid" I mean state of mind, not just biological age; you can stay a kid well into your 30s, or be forced to become an adult when you're still in your teens.

"Ace on the River" reminds me in a way of "Education of a Poker Player" and "Super System I." Not because of the content - the three books are very different - but because of the willingness in each case of the middle-aging author to spill a little blood from his veins onto the page.

[Malachii]

Yes indeed. I for one thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Greenstein's book.

[scarr]

[ QUOTE ]
Chapter 16-- "Poker and Your Sexuality"

2 pages describing how some men will "quit good games" to chase women. Another useless chapter.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think you missed the most important part of that chapter. At the end he suggests that you take your sexual partner with you when you travel to play poker. Reducing sexual tension, before you sit down to play poker will keep you from being distracted at the table.

Not only that, Barry gave me a legitament excuse to get laid before I play online. [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

[mike4bmp]

I don't know...I felt that it was definitely worth the read. The book is more for those who really intend on becoming pro....there is a lot of "what you should know" advice in it...for instance protecting oneself from being cheated...casino security and surveillence...etc.

[TStoneMBD]

i just read the book over this week and must say that i am very disappointed.

i will give credit to barry's book as an above average poker read. even though i did not pay for it as i borrowed a friend's copy, it would have certainly been worth the $25 cover price. however, almost any book is worth the price. the time of reading it is what is important.

at most, i learned about how a respected high limit player thinks and i came to the realization that this level of thinking doesnt appear to be as advanced as i had assumed. there was also many important life lessons spoken about in this book that would have certainly helped me a great deal had i not been introduced to this forum. i have learned alot about poker here, as well as from my limited experience, and i understand how important life management is as a poker pro.

there are many high limit players who have tremendous talent that hit pitfalls in life decisions, and this book will do them a great wonder. while i certainly feel that there are many things i will have to overcome as a poker player outside of the table, i dont feel that this book touched on those areas. i was not unfamiliar with anything written in this book and at best it just put things in a new perspective for me.

the biggest disappointment for me was the fact that barry had bolstered it by making it seem that his book was going to revolutionize the way the game was going to be played.

as far as the psychology concepts in this book is concerned, it is a picture book about life lessons written by a player who has snowboarded through his poker career. while i certainly respect any advice barry is willing to provide, when it comes to psychology ill take dr al.

[BluffTHIS!]

I too just read this book and although it doesn't claim to be a complete book on poker strategy it is very useful. The fact that you didn't get more from it despite Mason's high rating of it might only prove Phil Ivey's quote that it would be "over their heads". Barry's discussion of life, bankroll and game management should be useful for any level of professional player whether online or b&m, though especially b&m. And regarding strategy and the thought process of top players, if you didn't get something useful from it to add to your game then you must be some unknown master or famous pro with an anonymous handle. Mike Caro said in one his essays that the order in which you think about things is important. And Barry helps show you which things to think about in different games, especially when playing against other very good players. Even adding just a couple things like this to your game is well worth the price of the book.

I think that the reason that many have been negative about this book is that it isn't a series of densely-packed strategy essays. If you took some of Mason's or David's best essays from some of their books, and then added a bunch of other chapters that you considered somewhat fluff or not very helpful to you, that wouldn't mean those essays weren't worth reading or the price of the book. And like many such poker books, full-time poker players should re-read those essays a couple at a time occasionally and then think about them and how to incorporate some of those concepts into their game. As a player who plays full-time online in big bet games for high stakes at multiple tables, I can tell you that my primary purpose in study is to constantly improve my decision making process since multitabling online for big bucks means you need to think fast, correctly, and about the right things.

[Fantam]

I read this thread and it made me so mad! [img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

The author is a world class player and will have put a lot of thought and spent a lot of time into writing his book for the benefit of a lot of other people.

To criticise his efforts in the way that some people have done is quite frankly insulting and unfair to an obviously decent person and excellent poker player.

Not every poker book is full of technical content. I for one am very interested into what the realities of being a top poker playing professional may be like.

So I am going to order my copy of Ace on the River, and I very much look forward to reading it!

[jon_1van]

[ QUOTE ]
Boon,

I would never want anyone to feel ripped off by me. I guess it is to be expected that there will be people who will not enjoy what I have written. Similarly, some people like me and some don't.

Send the book along with a note stating how much you spent including shipping (and shipping it back to us).

Here is the address:

Last Knight Publishing Company
P.O. Box 270006
Fort Collins, CO 80527

Be sure to include your address, and I will make sure you get your refund.

Thanks for taking the time to read the book, anyway. Sorry, you didn't get much out of it.

Barry

[/ QUOTE ]

Talk about putting your money where your mouth is. Nice. I planned on buying the book. I still plan on buying despite this thread. It seems wierd that people are commenting on it without having read it fully.

Everyone who I know whos read it (small number) says it is a good read.