Book Thread number ?

[geezer]

Re: Book Thread number ?

I almost can't believe that Coming Out of the Ice by Victor Herman is out of print. It's one of the best books I've read in a long time, along the lines of The Long Walk or They Took My Father, both personal accounts of life and death under Stalin and both of which I read fairly recently but this one is incredibly well-written and detailed. If you find it used anywhere, buy it up. Or buy the audio version.

 

[Probert]

Re: Book Thread number ?

My recent reads

Black Ops by W.E.B. Griffin This Presidential Agent novel starts off with several assassinations around the world. Most of them are connected to Lt Col. Charles Castillo. When he is warned about an attempt on his life at one of the funerals he is drawn into a conspiracy involving several Russian Defectors in stopping a plant making dangerous chemicals in Africa. A lot of detail, the book could have been shortened a bit plus it had been a while since I read one of these so was not up to date on the details of Castillo’s crew. Okay read but I remember liking the earlier ones better.

The Outlaws By W.E.B. Griffin This Presidential Agent novel by Griffin picks up where Black Ops left off. Charley Castillo and his merry band of Outlaws have left the government service but the Russian still have some of the deadly chemical agent that they thought they destroyed in the last book CongoX. The Russians leave some of it out and make the offer to the Americans give us Charley Castillo and the two Russians who defected and we will give you all of the Congo X. Castillo and his team try to nullify the threat while keeping ahead of all the political shenanigans in Washington and their attempts to ship Charley to Russia. Okay read.

Hard Evidence by John Lescroart This Dismas Hardy book finds Hardy working in the District Attorney’s office after once again going back to the law. Finding a hand in a shark’s belly draws him into the investigation only to be shunted aside by an ambitious D.A. when the case makes headlines. After having the case thrown out Hardy quits when he is blamed for its failure. He is drawn back into the case when his former father in law is charged with the murder drawing him to the defense side of the aisle to prove his innocence. Not quite the courtroom thriller than the later Hardy books but a good read.

The 13th Juror by John Lescroart This Dismas Hardy novel finds Dismas working in the private sector as a defense attorney. This case finds him acting as Keenan counsel for a battered wife accused of killing her husband and son while his friend and landlord David Freeman handles the initial case. After Freeman loses the trial can Hardy find enough evidence to keep her from being put to death or even enough to have the judge set aside the verdict and free her? Good effort from Lescroart with good courtroom action and investigation.

The Hearing by John Lescroart This Dismas Hardy book follows the case of the murder of Elaine Wager his good friend Abe Glitsky's "secret daughter". Hardy is drawn into the case when the man accused of the crime turns out to be the brother-in-law of his friend Jeff Elliott. Originally only tasked to make sure he is not railroaded Hardy ends up taking the case. When Glitsky is removed from the case they try to figure out if the police have arrested the right killer. Good back and forth investigative and courtroom action from Lescroart.

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Endgame by David Michaels The original Splinter cell Samm Fisher is on the run branded a traitor. A group of trainee’s are trying to track them down. Are they really supposed to find him or are they being used? They also have a traitor in their mix. It’s been a while since I read a Splinter Cell book but this was certainly not on a par with the others, a lot less of Fisher and more of other characters.

Killing Floor by Lee Child This 1st Jack Reacher novel by Child starts with Reacher being arrested minutes after arriving in a small Southern and charged with murder. His 1st day in jail they attempt to kill him. After being cleared, he is drawn into the investigation trying to find out who appears to be clearing house in this town including the murder of his estranged brother. Good thriller.

Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell It has been a while since II read a Scarpetta novel and this one reminds me of why I stopped. Dr. Self is back trying to get at Scarpetta and her friends and family. There is a killer who seems to be targeting people connected to the doctor. Very hard plot to follow and little time is spent on the killer mainly the machinations of Dr. Self.

The Fifth Witness by Michael Connelly Excellent Lincoln Lawyer book from Connelly. The defense game is tight so Haller has taken on representing people who are being foreclosed on by banks. One of his first clients who has become a bit of a cause celeb for the foreclosure movement is charged with murdering a bank vice president. Haller goes to her defense trying to prove her innocence by being dragged into the world of mortgage foreclosures and the seedy characters who run that side of the business. Good courtroom plots and action typical of the Lincoln Lawyer series.

DK Eyewitness Travel New Orleans by Marilyn Wood If you’re looking for a travel book for one city DK Eyewitness is very good. It breaks down the city in various districts and includes in depth maps and guides to each section of the city. The New Orleans book was great for breaking down the various sections of the city and helping me maximize my time in New Orleans.

Executive Privilege by Phillip Margolin Dana Cutler a former cop turned private eye is asked to follow around a young college student. After taking pictures of her at a farmhouse and being chased by armed guards the college student is killed by a serial killer. Later Dana is amazed when her pictures showed the college student met with the President. Meanwhile across the country Brad Miller a young associate at a Oregon law firm is tasked with the appeal of a serial killer who is adamant about the one murder he didn’t commit the murder of a young woman from the governor’s mansion. The same governor who is now President of the United States, Miller and Cutler follow parallel investigations being threatened along the way as they try to see if it is possible that the President may be involved in these murders. Finally tossed together they must try to find out the truth before they die. Good back and forth action and nice storyline with some good twists and turns.

Mad River by John Sandford Sanford’s latest Virgil Flowers book find Flowers hot on the trail of three teenage spree killers. These killers have been taking out family members and anyone who gets in their way across rural Minnesota. Virgil has to track them down, keep the local from killing them before they can be brought in and try to figure out if they were involved in a murder for hire. Good police investigation and plot work from Sandford as usual.

Striker by Clive Cussler This Isaac Bell novel takes us back to one of Bell’s first cases as a Van Dorn detective. He is undercover in the coal mines trying to stop union saboteurs when it appears as if the union leaders are being set up. He sets forth to try and unravel the scheme and uncovers a wide ranging plot to wreak havoc on the country’s infrastructure. Okay book but like many of Cussler’s series the books are dropping a bit as they go along.

The Hunter by John Lescroart This Wyatt Hunt book from Lescroart starts with a mysterious text message how did ur mother die. Adopted Wyatt finds out his mother was murdered many years ago and his father was tried but never convicted of the crime. He delves in the investigation and finds out him mother was involved in Jim Jones Temple and that other people involved in the case also dies mysteriously. Can he prove his father’s innocence and his mother’s killer before they find him? Haven’t been a big fan of Lescroat’s Hunt Club books but enjoyed this one.

 

[jen]

Re: Book Thread number ?

Now reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Road-Cooperstown-Journey-Lifetime/dp/0312331185">The Road to Cooperstown: A Father, Two Sons, and the Journey of a Lifetime</a> by Tom Stanton. He wrote one of my absolute favorite baseball books - The Final Season (about the last season in Tiger Stadium, which you should all also read). I'm 3/4 of the way through the Cooperstown book - LOVE it so far. It's along the same lines as Final Season - how baseball is entwined with his family history and childhood. There must be dust or something in it, though, because my eyes have gotten watery a couple times. I would have loved to have been able to take a trip like that with my dad (although I did take one with my mom, who surprised me with a trip to Cooperstown in college).

 

[The Rube]

Re: Book Thread number ?

Just about finished with "Five Families" (book on the history of the New York mafia families, that I believe Hammer recommended), so I ordered up a couple books:

American Biker: The History, The Clubs, The Lifestyle, The Truth by Bill Hayes. About the history of motorcycles, but heavy on the history/evolution of MCs.

Beautiful Unique Sparkleponies: On Myths, Morons, Free Speech, Football And Assorted Absurdities by Chris Kluwe. It actually comes out at the end of June, and I can't wait to read it.

 

[MattS]

Re: Book Thread number ?

The Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card. Nice solid book about a young mage and his coming into the very beginning of his powers. Card does a decent job a intertwining ancient earth gods (Norse, Greek, Roman, etc.) with magery in the modern world.

I am a bit surprised I liked the book. I am not a fan of mythology and since the very first book I ever read by Card is one of my all-time favorites (Ender's Game) I kind of feel like everything else has been a letdown.

Working on Stone Cold by Baldacci.


Against my better judgment and because I was coerced into it , and even though I swore I was never going to, I read the Harry Potter series over the past few months. Like most series it started out good and then quickly went downhill because of a lack of believable ideas by the author. A waste of my time after about the fourth book.

 

[Probert]

Re: Book Thread number ?

Recent reads

The Reversal by Michael Connelly The third in the Lincoln Lawyer series find Mickey Haller on the other side of the aisle. Asked by the DA to become a independent prosecutor and take on a case of a murderer who was given a new trial after more than 20 years in prison. Aided by his ex-wife and his brother Harry Bosch he seeks to put the killer in prison for good. Courtroom drama and good police work, typical Lincoln Lawyer book.

Covert Warriors by W.E.B. Griffin The latest in the Presidential Agent series finds 2 DEA agents and a special forces friend of Charley Castillo are murdered at a road block by Mexican drug lords. Another special forces solider is kidnapped. The drug lords offer to exchange him for one of their own held in a Us prison. Charley Castillo and his merry band of outlaws swing into action. Can they get the man back safely while avoiding the wrath of an “unstable” President. The series is becoming a bit unbelievable but an okay read.

The Traffickers by W.E.B. Griffin This Badge of Honor book by Griffin follows the drug scene in Philadelphia. The drug trade is causing problems and Matt Payne is in the middle of it. 2 of his friends are severely hurt in a meth lab explosion and he starts to investigate their murder only to be asked to babysit a Texas Ranger who is coming to hunt for a drug dealer who cuts off women’s heads. The cases come together and a showdown ensues when Payne’s girlfriend is kidnapped. OK book but they seem to rush the story line along at the end.

The Assassin by Andrew Britton The second Ryan Kealey book deals with another assassination plot by James March a/k/a William Vanderveen Kealey’s arch nemesis. The FBI believes that the assassination are the work of Iranians seeking to destabilize Iraq while Kealey and Naomi Kharmai believe that it is the work of Iraqi insurgents. They travel all over the world being under fire and in danger all the way as they seek to stop another terrorist attack.

The Invisible by Andrew Britton The Third Ryan Kealey book starts with a ramp up in intensity between Pakistan and India. The acting Secretary of State is in Pakistan attempting to pacify things when her motorcade is ambushed and she is kidnapped. Although out of the CIA Kealey is once again thrust into trying to save the Secretary of State’s life. With danger at every turn he must fight foes within and outside the agency to accomplish his mission. Another good effort from Britton.

The Last Godfathers by John Follan This book tells the story of the real godfathers. How 3 men from Corleone in Sicily; Luciano Leggio, Salvatore Riina and Bernardo Provenzano, came to dominate the Sicilian mob and wage a war of terror on the local people and the government of Italy. It tells how first ridiculed as “peasants” by the men of Palermo they rose to dominate the mafia through swiftness, cunning and brutality. It tells of their unending war on justice including their blatant murders of prosecutors, judges, policemen, informers and their families including the famed judge Giovanni Falcone who tried the largest mafia case in history. It tells of their downfall as one by one they are brought to justice. An excellent read

The Devil’s Elixir by Raymond Khoury This book by Khoury gets away from the Templars and finds Sean O’Reilly haunted by a specter from his past. His Ex-girlfriend calls out of the blue and says that people tried to kill her and her son and are hunting them and by the way my son is your son as well. O’Reilly is forced to go back into something he thought he left behind dealing with a ruthless Mexican drug lord and an incident he would rather forget. Non stop action with Reilly, Tess and his young son hunted at every turn. Can the find out what the drug lord wants and stop him before it is too late. Okay but didn’t enjoy as much a Khoury’s earlier books with Sean and Tess.

No Angel: My Harrowing Undercover Journey to the Inner Circle of the Hells Angels by Jay Dobyns, Nils Johnson-Shelton This book tells the story of an undercover ATF agent who spends 2 years in deep cover infiltrating the Hells Angels. A inside look at the outlaw motorcycle culture and the drugs and guns involved. Ok read.

The Devil’s Banker by Christopher Reich This book by Reich follows the money trail of terrorism. A bomb takes out a team of policemen in Paris and Adam Chapel a former accountant tries to follow the money trail to stop the terrorist attack. Aided by Sarah Churchill who provides the “boots on the ground” part of the duo they attempt to follow the banking trail to find the suspects. Okay action from Reich highlighting the unglamorous part of stopping terrorism.

Into the Heart of the Mafia by David Eden Lane Very disappointed in this book on the Mafia in Italy the author takes a very broad approach with a couple of chapters on each of the major mafia organizations of Italy; Mafia, Camorra and Ndrangheta. He even has a chapter on human smuggling by Albanian Mafioso into Italy. A lot to cover in just over 200 pages, easily could have written the book on one of the three factions.

 

[MattS]

Re: Book Thread number ?

Stone Cold by David Baldacci. A continuation of the Camel Club series. This one wraps up the saga with conartist Conroy and casino boss Bagger who finally come to a resolution. It also ties up some loose ends between Stone and the CIA boss Gray and launches the story for the next book. Overall a good soid effort by Baldacci in this series. I would recommend it.


The Whole Truth by David Baldacci. This is the first book in the Shaw & Katie James series. It about a defense contractor who wants to create another cold war and how spy Shaw and reporter James get sucked unknowingly into the plot. I wasn't too impressed and would suggest anyone give it a pass.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Book Thread number ?

Looking to maybe buy a couple books on gambling (cards)/related (not instructional/strategy).

Probably am going to buy a biography I found on Stu Unger, the one on the MIT blackjack team, and have a couple good leads on the history of Hold 'Em. The latter, I am looking for any suggestions/recommendations. I really would like to find a good one that covers the origins of the game, and covers the history to as current of a point as possible. If there's a separate book that can be a companion piece, covering the more noted players over the years, those recommendations would also be welcomed.

Finally, if there's a good book on the origins of Las Vegas and their casinos, that would be good, too. Looking for more a general history, not something specific like Nicholas Pileggi's book (which was made into the movie "Casino").

 

[MattS]

Re: Book Thread number ?

Just finished The Informationist by Taylor Stevens. I won't bore anyone with the details. Suffice to say it was one of the worst books I have ever read all of. So in one way it was good enough to finish, but that was about it.

 

[erin]

Re: Book Thread number ?

Since my last posting...

Finished and really enjoyed Citizen Somerville. Awesome.

Read Chicken Soup for the Soul: Hooked on Hockey: 101 Stories about the Players Who Love the Game and the Families that Cheer Them On by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, & Laura Robinson - If you're familiar with the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" books, you know it's 101 short stories from different people who submit them. Some decent, some okay, some meh. It runs the gamut. A few had factual errors, but overall alright.

Also read the UNH hockey book (the history of -- one of those ones). Had thumbed through previously, but went through it entirely and completely. Super quick.

Also read Crossing the Line: The Outrageous Story of a Hockey Original - Derek Sanderson himself with Kevin Shea. - I highly encourage everyone to read this... the most interesting parts, to me, are after he is done w/hockey. I had the pleasure of meeting Derek several years ago now, at a charity event. I just plain like him, & I think sharing everything he did, to showing how people can change, grow, & how he appreciates people, is wonderful.

Up Next: The Vegan Girl's Guide to Life by Melisser Elliott. I took my sister to a book signing for this in Nov. 2010 for her birthday, and I've looked through it, but never read it cover-to-cover, so I think I'm overdue to re-open this autographed mofo Melisser is awesome, BTW. Super nice.

 

[Probert]

Re: Book Thread number ?

My recent reads

The Race by Richard North Patterson The Race details Senator Corey Hart’s primary race to win the republican nomination. As the maverick underdog he is pitted against an evangelical and a career politician backed by the establishment. A good novel revealing dirty tricks, hidden secrets and the behind the scenes maneuvering in political races and conventions.

Under and Alone by Williamm Queen This book details Queen’s two year journey undercover with the Mongols motorcycle club. An in depth look into the outlaw motorcycle culture. Good read and a behind the scenes look into one of the most violent Outlaw Motorcycle gangs.

Alex Cross Run by James Patterson This latest Cross book finds him chasing 3 killers across Washington DC two of whom appear to be working together,, similar to The Gentlemen Caller and Casanova. In addition he has to deal with a rogue blogger who appears to have a vendetta against him. Like most of Patterson’s books this is a quick fast paced thriller. One of the better recent Cross books.

Cosa Nostra by John Dickie This book tells the origin, growth and fall of the Sicilian Mafia. The 1st part of the book drags along a bit basically because the source material is not nearly as good or accurate as the second half of the book. The part covering the rise and fall of the Corleonesi and the domination of the international heroin trade by the Sicilian Mafia along with their cooperation with the US Mafia is much better and readable.

Sir Francis Drake The Queens Pirate by Harry Kelsey This book follows the life of Sir Francis Drake and tries to separate the reality from the myth and the legend. His early life and trip around the world contains a lot of supposition because a lot of his exploits were exaggerated or made up by the English in order to flaunt their naval prowess to the rest of Europe particularly the Spanish. His later journey’s including his role in the defeat of the Spanish Armada are a little more definitive. The last chapter covers the rise of his legend as founder of the English Navy. Okay book the second half was much more interesting than the first.

In the Name of Honor by Richard North Patterson This book by Patterson follows the trial of a Army soldier who is on trial for killing his company commander after coming back home from Iraq. A nice courtroom drama with sexual affairs PTSD and surprise twists and turns. Okay read

Die Trying by Lee Child This second Jack Reacher book finds Reacher caught up in a kidnapping plot. Stopping to innocently stop a woman pick up her crutch he finds himself kidnapped along with her by a psychotic militia leader aiming to secede from the U.S. Reacher struggles to keep them alive and escape as the politicians in Washington waffle over what to do. Good read.

Tripwire by Lee Child The Third Jack Reacher book finds him in NYC trying to find out why a private eye who was trying to find him was murdered. Tracking down the mysterious Ms. Jacobs who was trying to find him he finds out it is the daughter of his former commander General Garber who has just passed away and asked her to find him. Reacher and Jodie take on the case her father was working on trying to track down an old couple’s son who was mia in Vietnam. With several goons trying to kill or kidnap them at every turn there is non stop action as they struggle to find out what happened to the couple’s son and why everyone is being so secretive about what happened to him.

Mafia Summit: J. Edgar Hoover, the Kennedy Brothers, and the Meeting That Unmasked the Mob by Gil Reavill A short book on how the Apalachin mafia conference broken up by the State Policy in 1957 helped shape how the mafia is portrayed in American Society. The author covers how some events prior to the conference helped lead to the events that happened and how what happened their helped shape future responses by politicians and law enforcement to the mafia. Good read.

Mossad: The Greatest Missions of the Israeli Secret Service by Michael Bar-Zohar, Nissim Mishal An in depth study of Israel’s secret service tales of some of their greatest successes along with some of their biggest failures. Some great real life spy tales, the book tells of the various Mossad agents who were able to penetrate the governments of Egypt, Iran and Syria to obtain the information to help the Jewish state. It tells stories of how their hit teams were able to get close to and assassinate opponents like Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad. A well told and laid out book.

 

[MattS]

Re: Book Thread number ?

I finally got through The Passage by Justin Cronin. Pretty much a typical post-apocalyptic tale about a few survivors and their struggle against infected (vampirized) humans. It was a fairly good story but way too long. It is in the mode of The Stand or Swan Song. If the author had cut out about 250 pages or so it would have been a much better book. I am not sure I would recommend it unless one has lots of time for reading. It took me three weeks to get through and I usually can get through a book in about a week.

 

[Probert]

Re: Book Thread number ?

My recent reads, as you can tell from this and my last few posts I am working my way through Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch novels and Lee Child's Jack Reacher series.

Black Ice by Michael Connelly This Harry Bosch novel finds him investigating several murders related to the sale of Black Ice in Los Angeles a deadly mixture of heroin, meth and angel dust. He also is on the periphery of the suicide of a cop in his department. The further he investigates the more he comes to believe that the cop was murdered and drawn into the investigation. Going against the department he travels to Mexico to see if he can piece together the mystery of how and why the officer was killed. Good cop story.

The Concrete Blonde by Michael Connelly This book opens with Harry Bosch on trial for violating the civil rights of the Dollmaker a serial killer he shot to death 4 years ago. As the trial opens another victim appears who matches the dollmakers m.o. Plus a mysterious note appears similar to those that the dollmaker mocked Bosch with during the initial manhunt. Bosch attempts to find out if the initial suspect was not the dollmaker or was there a follower who was using the dollmakers crimes to mask some of his own. Good courtroom action and police investigation.

Fall From Grace by Richard North Patterson This book find CIA operative Adam Blaine returning to Martha’s Vineyard for his father’s funeral for the first time since they had a falling out 10 years ago. At the funeral he finds out that his father disinherited his mother and older brother in favor of his mistress. The police are also sniffing around because they believed he may have had help getting to the bottom of the cliff where he died. Adam starts a journey to get to the truth of the matter complete with flashbacks of his own problems with his father. An ok read.

The Last Refuge by Ben Coes This Dewey Andreas novel finds him on a rogue mission to rescue Kohl Meir the Israeli commando who saved him at the end of the last novel. Meir is kidnapped in New York by Iranian operative and sent back to Tehran. When informed of this Andreas investigates and finds that Meir wanted to talk to him about Iran having a nuclear bomb. Armed with these facts and little else to go on Andreas rounds up help to try and save his friend. Similar to Coup d’état this book is action packed with twists, turns, bombs, explosions, and commando raids. Excellent read

The Inner Sanctum by Stephen Frey This book follows a high level cabal of money managers and politicians seeking to make money from insider deals. David Mitchell a money manager and Jesse Hayes a young IRS agent are caught up in it. Can they escape with their lives and break up the cabal. Very similar to The Takeover Ok read

Whitey Bulger: America's Most Wanted Gangster and the Manhunt That Brought Him to Justice by Kevin Cullen, Shelley Murphy This book tells the tale of James Whitey Bulger the Irish mob boss from Boston who used the FBI and spent 17 years on the run on the FBI’s most wanted list. His rise to power his early imprisonment including a stint at Alcatraz and his rise to become the most powerful and feared boss in Boston, very similar to Black Mass though this book which is newer covered Bulger time on the run and the trial of FBI agent John Connolly who covered for Bulger and the other members of Whitey’s gang many who turned State’s evidence and will testify against him.

Pirate Alley by Stephen Coonts This Jake Grafton Tommy Carmellini novel by Coonts finds a cruise ship hijacked near Somali and held for ransom. The naval commander on the scene is Grafton old aide de camp Toad Tarkington. After a blunder by political hacks gets some of the hostages killed Grafton is placed in command. Weaving a intricate plot involving marines, seals and the Cia he comes up with an ingenious plan involving the Pirates and the local Al Queda cell. Good read nonstop action.

Desperate Sons: The Secret Band of Radicals Who Led the Colonies to War (Hardcover) by Les Standiford Didn’t like that fact that this author attempted to bring his personal political bias into a book about the Revolutionary War, he refers to the Patriots as liberals and the Tories as Conservative’s. He also doesn’t weave that great of a storyline, the Sons of Liberty storyline in Boston which makes up the bulk of the book is much better covered in many books on the Adams’s, Sam and John. It does have some interesting points about Albany and some other not as well covered part of the Sons of Liberty story but they were few and far between. Stuff by David Mcollough and Joseph Ellis cover the period better.

Running Blind by Lee Child This Jack Reacher book finds Reacher being blackmailed by the FBI. They need someone to help them track down a serial killer who is killing former women in the Army who filed sexual harassment claims. They believe that it is a current or ex-military person like Reacher. It was okay but I thought a little unbelievable.

Echo Burning by Lee Child This Jack Reacher book finds Reacher picked up hitchhiking in Texas by a woman who is looking for someone to help save her from her abusive husband who is due to be released from prison any day. Reacher agrees to try and help her but refuses to murder the husband. Shortly after the husband is released he ends up dead with the wife arrested for the crime. Can Reacher help the woman stay out of jail. Some nice twists and turns, good read.

The Last Coyote by Michael Connelly Another good Bosch novel from Connelly. This book opens with Bosch on administrative leave after a confrontation with his Lieutenant. Forced to speak to the department shrink he starts to think about his mother's murder and starts to investigate. When bodies start to drop he realizes that this cold case from the 60's may not be so cold after all. The his Lieutenant ends up dead and he is the prime suspect can he find his mother's killer and clear his name. Good investigative novel with some good twists and turns.

 

[SJHovey]

Re: Book Thread number ?

Looking to maybe buy a couple books on gambling (cards)/related (not instructional/strategy).

Probably am going to buy a biography I found on Stu Unger, the one on the MIT blackjack team, and have a couple good leads on the history of Hold 'Em. The latter, I am looking for any suggestions/recommendations. I really would like to find a good one that covers the origins of the game, and covers the history to as current of a point as possible. If there's a separate book that can be a companion piece, covering the more noted players over the years, those recommendations would also be welcomed.

Finally, if there's a good book on the origins of Las Vegas and their casinos, that would be good, too. Looking for more a general history, not something specific like Nicholas Pileggi's book (which was made into the movie "Casino").

Sorry I didn't see your post earlier. I have an extensive library of poker and Las Vegas books and can probably give you some good suggestions.

1. The Biggest Game in Town, by A. Alvarez. This is a classic. It details the development of the World Series of Poker, set during the 1981 event. A must read.

2. Big Deal, by Anthony Holden. Holden is an author, and amateur poker player from Britain, who happens to be friends with Alvarez. In 1990 he got the idea that he wanted to try to be a professional poker player for a year, and this book is his "diary", so to speak. He is a very funny writer.

3. Bigger Deal, by Anthony Holden. Holden comes back in about 2006 or 2007, in the midst of the poker boom, to try his hand again. Every bit as good as the first book.

4. Positively Fifth Street, by James McManus. McManus was an author/teacher, as I recall, from Chicago. He was hired, and given an advance/expense money, to go out to Las Vegas and cover a story of a murder trial that related to the murder of Ted Binion, son of the famous Benny Binion who started the WSOP. Instead, he took his advance money, played a bunch of satellite tournaments, and managed to win his way into the main event of the World Series, all while covering the trial. He managed to make it all the way to the final table that year as a complete nobody.

5. Cowboys Full, by James McManus. This is McManus' tome on the history of poker. It's not bad, but a bit of a slog in the beginning. He has also gotten some criticism from poker historians who claim he played a little fast and loose with some historical facts. But in terms of the overall history of the game, probably none better.

6. The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King, by Michael Craig. This is one of my favorites. It tells the story of Andy Beal, a self made billionaire from Dallas. He develops an interest in poker, and in particular, heads up limit poker. While in Las Vegas, playing in the regular high stakes game, he talks a number of famous pros into a heads up match in which the betting limits (depending upon the session), get as high as $20,000/$40,000 per bet. $5, 10, 15 million are exchanged each session. The pros form a group and designate one to play Beal each session. Taking on literally the greatest poker players in the game, there are points during these sessions (which last a number of years) in which Beal has basically broken them by winning $15-20 million, before ultimately losing it all and more.

If you're interested in sports betting books, Michael Konik's book Smart Money is a good start. It tells the true story of Billy Walters, reputed to be the most dangerous sports bettor alive, and his use of Konik as a runner to place bets for him.

The Odds, by Chad Millman is another great book on sports betting. He follows the story of 3 people involved in betting sports in Las Vegas, including a college drop out and the head of a sports book, and the toll it takes on everyone involved.

I also have a really good book on the history of Las Vegas. As I recall, it was written in about 2005 for the one hundred year anniversary of the City. If I can find it I'll put the name here.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Book Thread number ?

Thanks much!

And remember folks, "Beautiful Unique Sparkleponies" by Chris Kluwe comes out in a couple weeks!

 

[jen]

Re: Book Thread number ?

Just finished 19 Minutes by Jodi Picoult - about the family of a school shooter and the aftermath. Relatively quick read, and interesting to consider it from a different point of view.

Now reading "I am Half-Sick of Shadows" by Alan Bradley (Flavia de Luce series).

I also picked up "Bushville Wins!" about the 1957 World Series between the Milwaukee Braves and the Yankees - looking forward to it.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Book Thread number ?

My new book order (with thanks to SJ):

Cowboys Full, by James McManus
One Of A Kind: The Rise And Fall Of Stuey "The Kid" Unger, by Nolan Dalla
The Biggest Game In Town, by Al Alvarez
Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, And The Lawless Years Of Prohibition, by Karen Blumenthal


Previously ordered, waiting arrival:

American Biker: The History, The Clubs, The Lifestyle, The Truth by Bill Hayes
Beautifully Unique Sparkleponies: On Myths, Morons, Free Speech, Football, And Assorted Absurdities by Chris Kluwe

 

[The Rube]

Re: Book Thread number ?

My new book order (with thanks to SJ):

Cowboys Full, by James McManus

One Of A Kind: The Rise And Fall Of Stuey "The Kid" Unger, by Nolan Dalla Amazing. I really don't know if I should have read Alvarez's book first or not, as this book quotes that one in a few places, but man. I knew the basic story, this really fleshes it out. Tragic story. What coulda been.

The Biggest Game In Town, by Al Alvarez Although a very short read, it captures the feel and the style of high rollers and leaves you with wanting juuuust a bit more. It's like having a very satisfying meal, but you can't have dessert.

Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, And The Lawless Years Of Prohibition, by Karen Blumenthal This is a nice outline to what I really want to read about, as to the Prohibition Era. I'd really like a book about the moonshiners themselves. How they operated, the tricks they used, how they dealt with the law (at least, more in depth than this book provided). Worth reading if you want some highlights and such, but I'd rather read something much more in depth.


Previously ordered, waiting arrival:

American Biker: The History, The Clubs, The Lifestyle, The Truth by Bill Hayes
Beautifully Unique Sparkleponies: On Myths, Morons, Free Speech, Football, And Assorted Absurdities by Chris Kluwe

Notes bolded.

 

[SJHovey]

Re: Book Thread number ?

Notes bolded.

The thing to remember about Alvarez' book is that it really was groundbreaking. No one wrote books about poker, or the people who played the game professionally back when he wrote that book.

I really think you'd like the The Professor, the Banker and the Suicide King, as well as Anthony Holden's books.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Book Thread number ?

The thing to remember about Alvarez' book is that it really was groundbreaking. No one wrote books about poker, or the people who played the game professionally back when he wrote that book.

I really think you'd like the The Professor, the Banker and the Suicide King, as well as Anthony Holden's books.

I agree. Just the novelty of reading about someone's first experience with poker, and he's writing about the high-rollers...and nailed the attitude (? for lack of a better word) of them. I may branch out into those other books you suggested, but have to get through the remaining books I ordered first.