I read a lot of poker books and for the past few months I have been writing little "mini reviews" on them. Hopefully these will give you a broad idea of what each book has to offer and can help you choose which book to buy.

I have also created a little ratings system to simplify things as between this site and others I have many many mini reviews floating around.

The level is the level of player I believe will get the most out of the book. The Reading Difficulty suggests wether a particular writing style was an easy read for me or if I felt that I was constantly reading thing 2 or more times to fully grasp the concept. Organization has to do with how the book is organized, mainly will the book be easy to reference or will you have to re-read it to find what you are looking for. Usefullness is pretty obvious but there are a few factors. Mainly: is the information right and can it be applied at the table or in simulation and make an impact on your game.
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Level: any, can enjoy if you don't even play poker.
Reading Difficulty: 2
Organization: 8
Usefullness: 3 (Supposedly "fiction." usefull if you have wanted to know the full story)

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I finally got around to reading this book and I must say that I enjoyed it. For those who have not heard of the book it is based on the true story of the top poker pros vs Texas billionaire Andy Beal in the highest stakes poker game ever played. It is an interesting look into the highest echelons of the poker elite and how they pooled their money just to take shots at the highest stakes fish in history and how Andy (the billionaire) meticulously practices and refines his game and proves to the pros that he is not just going to roll over and let them take his money.

As a poker player I enjoyed the book immensley. The lines are a little blurry on what parts of the book are true and what parts are embelished but nothing from the book seems as if it could not have happened and I have heard from other sources in the poker world that for the most part the book is a true story. One part of the book I enjoyed was the cast. Craig spent much time with the biggest poker pros on the planet and infiltrated the world famous "Bobby's Room" in the Bellagio (typically regarded as the highest stakes poker room in the world) to get each of their stories from the biggest game ever. As a poker player having main charactors like Doyle Brunson, Ted Forrest, Todd Brunson, Jennifer Harman, Barry Greenstein, and Howard Lederer (among many others) was very appealing to read a book featuring the best in a game that I love to play. The story is a great one and shows the lengths the best in the world would go to to play this game and just how much they had to gamble to even sit with this incredibly rich and eventually incredibly skilled opponent. This book really illustrated how these players had to have the gamble in them to play Andy, and it gives you the idea of what each of these pros has in them that allowed them to rise to the top of the poker world, and stay there.

This book is not a strategy book. I am pretty sure it is officially a "fiction" book but if you read the book you will see that for the most part this book tells a true story. I reccomend this book to anyone who likes a good story, and any poker player, of any level. This not a book about how to play poker but a book about poker so do not buy this book expecting to get a lesson in high stakes cash games! A great read, I enjoyed it! If you have ever been curious about the biggest cash game and the biggest gamblers on the planet then this book is for you!

Thanks for the detailed review. I'm going to read this book on my next vacation.

Jason

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I'm Not Lucky, I Have Good Karma !

Thanks for the review. It sounds like an interesting poker read. I have heard a little about this story but have never got around to reading it. I think you have just peaked my interest, so I'm sure the publisher thanks you as well as I.

I am glad you like the review! I have more coming as I am pretty close to finishing 2 more books.