I recently completed a second book that I was asked to review – which means I also completed another book earlier and wanted to write a review and I’m just now getting around to ‘catching up’. While I seem to never find the time to just sit down and bury my face in a book, I do the second best thing, read as time permits and seriously make myself commit a few minutes a day until I’ve completed it. The following are my thoughts on the books:

The Professor, The Banker, and The Suicide King written by Michael Craig is the must read of all books that have surfaced on poker and the big limit games. This book manages to give an in depth view of the personality and lives of the people that play high limit on a regular basis and pooled their finances and pitted their skills against Andy Beal, a banker from Texas. While I deal to these people regularly, and have dealt to Andy, the book brings much more to the picture than one would see in a poker room.

Michael has done something that would seem almost impossible in the poker environment, especially in the high stakes games. Each player, in the game and behind the scenes, has been explored and discovered in this book. It is well written and filled with factual happenings and events. All the threads of the tapestry come together to reveal what everyone wanted to know about the biggest limit game ever played in poker history to date. Buy this book today! You won’t regret it.

Michael is also a member of The Forum.

*****

One Of A Kind by Nolan Dalla and Peter Alson. This book opens the hidden corridors that Stu carried with him all the time – he had an incredible talent but couldn’t get past himself long enough to completely utilize the gift. The picture of Stu’s life, portrayed by this book, allows the reader to follow events and circumstances that would otherwise be lost. And, according to the book, there is nothing left of his personal life (pictures, notes, jewelry, mementos) except memories of those that loved him.

Even though I dealt to Stu, more than once, and can honestly say I never had a good experience with him at the table, I can’t help but wonder where he would be now if he could have maintained a solid focus on his skills and the future.

The book is a great read. I would recommend it for everyone. I would doubly recommend it for someone that wants to play poker professionally – for a living. The innuendos are countless on the pitfalls of not being able to manage yourself, your money, and your life. Read and heed!