Question for Nolan and any other poker players....
- Thread starter rrc
- Start date
It was OK, decent enough read, kept me entertained on my last trip to Vegas. Cant say he is the best author I have come across, but I enjoyed the book. Shouldnt take you long to get through.
Nolan, speaking of books....
Nolan, speaking of books....
Poker books and sports betting books -- I put them into the same category. They are kinda' like orgasms -- there's no such thing as a "BAD" one, cince ostensibly the participant will get SOMETHING out of the experience.
Seriously....
My personal review of POKER NATION is not favorable. I give it a 3 on a scale to 1-10. Author's writing is average. But the worst part is the lack of focus. He (Bellin) doesn't know if he wants to write about strategy or do a narative on the poker scene. Lots of jumping around. Hard to follow and pretty pointless. Of course, this book got all kinds of favorable press because the author is connected to the New York scene (which once again proves that the material which comes across in the national media and receives the widest coverage is NOT the best stuff.). I also couldn't believe the author was featured on CNBC and they showed him supposedly in a high stakes poker game in LV. As it turned out, the entire scene was a set up. I've also NEVER seen or met this author inside a poker room -- and I've run across just about everyone in the business at some point. I suspect he got a taste of poker and threw this together because he had some connections to the publishing world. Trouble was, he's not that familiar with what he's writing about. Best narratives on poker are DIG DEAL (a classic) and anything written by David Spanier, who just died recently.
ND
Seriously....
My personal review of POKER NATION is not favorable. I give it a 3 on a scale to 1-10. Author's writing is average. But the worst part is the lack of focus. He (Bellin) doesn't know if he wants to write about strategy or do a narative on the poker scene. Lots of jumping around. Hard to follow and pretty pointless. Of course, this book got all kinds of favorable press because the author is connected to the New York scene (which once again proves that the material which comes across in the national media and receives the widest coverage is NOT the best stuff.). I also couldn't believe the author was featured on CNBC and they showed him supposedly in a high stakes poker game in LV. As it turned out, the entire scene was a set up. I've also NEVER seen or met this author inside a poker room -- and I've run across just about everyone in the business at some point. I suspect he got a taste of poker and threw this together because he had some connections to the publishing world. Trouble was, he's not that familiar with what he's writing about. Best narratives on poker are DIG DEAL (a classic) and anything written by David Spanier, who just died recently.
ND
Damn I forgot that book. You are right, Anthony Holden who is an English author wrote a great book called the Big Deal. You will probably have a hard time finding a copy, I loaned mine out about a year ago and never saw it again. In contrast to Poker Nation, Big Deal is really well written and it is great to follow him as he travels around the world playing poker.
Also if you want a great narrative book on sports gambling, you must buy The Odds, by Chad Millman.
There is also a poker book coming out soon on the life and times of Stu Unger, one of the best Gin/Poker players to ever live. I cant remember the author's name (cough cough cough) but maybe Nolan could update us on when that book is (cough cough cough) scheduled to be released.
Also if you want a great narrative book on sports gambling, you must buy The Odds, by Chad Millman.
There is also a poker book coming out soon on the life and times of Stu Unger, one of the best Gin/Poker players to ever live. I cant remember the author's name (cough cough cough) but maybe Nolan could update us on when that book is (cough cough cough) scheduled to be released.
Amazon.com has The Big Deal for $10.50 here is the Link...
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...6783275/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/002-9360433-2633610
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...6783275/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/002-9360433-2633610
I read The Odds...
I read The Odds...
and ironically the young kid in the book is from the city I live in. Don't know what happened to him. :shrug:
Thanks for the replies.
Hey ace how'd the interview go?
I read The Odds...
and ironically the young kid in the book is from the city I live in. Don't know what happened to him. :shrug:
Thanks for the replies.
Hey ace how'd the interview go?
It went OK, but pretty much one clusterfck after another.
There were supposed to be two people there, one to interview, one to administer a couple of tests. But the tester didnt leave herself enough time to get there in bad traffic/weather. So now I have to commute 45 minutes this Thursday to test. Then will have to go back again possibly for a 2nd interview. Topper was the job was advertised for 3 locations, 2 near me, one far from me. Turns out they fcked up the ad and it is really only for the location 45 minutes from me. If this is typical of the way they operate, this may be more of a hassle than its worth. Will the money be good? Most likely. Will it be worth it? Dont know. Thanks for asking, I will let you know when and if I get an offer.
There were supposed to be two people there, one to interview, one to administer a couple of tests. But the tester didnt leave herself enough time to get there in bad traffic/weather. So now I have to commute 45 minutes this Thursday to test. Then will have to go back again possibly for a 2nd interview. Topper was the job was advertised for 3 locations, 2 near me, one far from me. Turns out they fcked up the ad and it is really only for the location 45 minutes from me. If this is typical of the way they operate, this may be more of a hassle than its worth. Will the money be good? Most likely. Will it be worth it? Dont know. Thanks for asking, I will let you know when and if I get an offer.
Poker Nation was pretty dry and lame. I think it's like Nolan said. This cat sounds like he played in college, played for a couple years when he got out and then used his connections to put a book together and promote it. One of the least inspiring gambling books I've ever read.
I liked "The Odds" a lot better.
If any of you can find a copy of "Bookie: My Life In Disorganized crime" I'd highly recommend it. It's really hilarious. Its just about a kid that got into being a bookie. He talks about the first time he was really really heavy on one side, about gettiing busted, laying his action off. Real funny story about how he bought a horse when he was like 18.
However, I think its out of print. I borrowed it from a friend once but gave it back. Check powells.com or something.
Really funny stuff.
I liked "The Odds" a lot better.
If any of you can find a copy of "Bookie: My Life In Disorganized crime" I'd highly recommend it. It's really hilarious. Its just about a kid that got into being a bookie. He talks about the first time he was really really heavy on one side, about gettiing busted, laying his action off. Real funny story about how he bought a horse when he was like 18.
However, I think its out of print. I borrowed it from a friend once but gave it back. Check powells.com or something.
Really funny stuff.
I agree that "The Odds" about sportsbetting was very good.
Also, that is a real bitch with the interview, Phil. Damn -- it's a real pain to get the runaround from a prospective emplyer. By the way, I read that the want ads are the fewest in 40 years. No jobs out there. So, I guess these corportions think they can piss on people and they will put up with anything. Workers of the world unite!
As far as the Stu Ungar book, my delivery date for the manuscript is MAY 1, 2003. So, the book is due out at some point after that. The book runs about 450 pages and I am in the process of finishing it these last two months. Simon and Schuster is the publisher -- which is a very good indication it could be successful in the mainstream. Thanks for the interest on that.
By the way, should we make book on if you get a job first, or I finish the Stuey book first? I'm making you a 3-2 favorite.
Nolan
Also, that is a real bitch with the interview, Phil. Damn -- it's a real pain to get the runaround from a prospective emplyer. By the way, I read that the want ads are the fewest in 40 years. No jobs out there. So, I guess these corportions think they can piss on people and they will put up with anything. Workers of the world unite!
As far as the Stu Ungar book, my delivery date for the manuscript is MAY 1, 2003. So, the book is due out at some point after that. The book runs about 450 pages and I am in the process of finishing it these last two months. Simon and Schuster is the publisher -- which is a very good indication it could be successful in the mainstream. Thanks for the interest on that.
By the way, should we make book on if you get a job first, or I finish the Stuey book first? I'm making you a 3-2 favorite.
Nolan
