best book for understand poker businesss/pro lifestyle

[smbruin22]

wondering what the best book(s) are for understanding what it takes to be a poker professional....... not so much money management or strategy, but more just the life.

don't know the titles of all these books.... but wondering if people have read the following and can comment"

big deal (holden)
professor, madman......???
biggest game in town

any others that come to mind.... does amarillo slim have a good book?...... i enjoyed both mcmanus and moneymaker books, but i don't think they qualify.

not sure my title gives justice....... want narrative books on poker lifestyle/environment.. thanks in advance for any help!!

[steamboatin]

Gambling for a living by Sklansky & Malmuth

Professional Poker
The essential guide to playing for a living by Mark Blade

[RedGladiator]

ace on the river??

[jfk]

The true classic of the genre is David Hayano's "Poker Faces". It is somewhat dated in that it covers L.A. cardroom culture circa the early 80's (I think). This is a world which pre-dated hold 'em. Heck, players were even dealing their own games back then in some cases.

Hayano, a professor by trade, writes the book is a very methodical, academic style. Fortunately, he's still fundamentally a (succesful) card player and one to whom we'd all relate.

"Poker Faces" is starkly realistic. You won't regret reading it though you may have to go to some trouble to find it. The word "classic" is bandied about quite a lot but "Poker Faces" qualifies.

"Amarillo Slim in world of fat people" is a quick, entertaining read. You get the predictable stories and a lot of color. He goes into the "road gambler" life and spells out ways in which he earned a buck. There're some great prop bet ideas if you like that sort of thing and fancy yourself making some money playing ping pong with a skillet. Plus you get plenty of gratuitous Jimmy "the Greek" references. If you've read Andy Bellin's "Poker Nation" the two works are similar.

[smbruin22]

thanks for the excellent responses.......... and the books don't have to be current or anything, so the older suggestion is fine.

[PocketAces]

I think Mark Blade's book is the one you are really looking for. In addition to money management and strategy, he helps you examine whether you should quit your job and evaluate your long term prospects in poker. He also has a full section on the life of a pro poker player.

Good luck!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aws/cart/add.ht...submit.add.y=16

[Honest Iago]

Ace on the River is a must read in this regard.

[jimpo]

Ace on the River deals with the subject. I was a bit disappointed with it thought, it borderlines on "pretty pictures, low content" -category.

[bernie]

Look for books on gambling for a living in general. This should give you an idea as to what type of people you'll run into. One book is 'playing off the rail' about pool hustling. BJ books like Ian Andersons or Stu Perry's. Read about the casinos and how they view gaming. 'SuperCasino' is a good book for that.

You have to be very careful who you trust in the environment. You will be dealing with alot of losers, wannabes and anglers in the biz. A brutal biz at that.

There is no net to protect you out there. It's all on you. Hardly anyone in the room is really going to care when you hit that bad run that seems to last for weeks. They'll just be thankful it's happening to you and not them. It can feel very isolating. Especially if you want to yap with some others about poker. I have very few people I can really talk to seriously about the game in my room. In fact, off the top of my head, I really can't think of any regulars that fit this bill. Just watching how some 'pros' play, talk and act can make you wanna gag at the thought of talking strategy with them because you know you'll be hearing about lucky seats, playing rushes and how when they lose it is everything else but they're own fault.

It's not as glamourous or exciting as some think. As they say, it's a tough way to make an easy living.

b

[PocketAces]

I agree with this assessment. I was expecting a lot more from Ace on the River and thought the book was overrated. Someone of Greenstein's stature should have included much more material on high-level strategy.