This month we’ll be taking a look at some books that have nothing to do with poker strategy and everything to do with poker. They might not make you a better player, but they’ll give you something entertaining to read on a flight or while you’re chilling in a hammock in the backyard enjoying the summer.
Note for authors – If you would like us to review your book, and it has something to do with poker, ship it to us with a $20 bill tucked inside the cover. For a four aces review, tuck a $50 in there instead, $100 if it really sucks. But seriously, we need more books to review and since Black Friday we’re too broke to buy em, so send us your book and we’ll write it up.
Last Call 
by Tim Powers
Our favorite work of poker fiction, this is a great story with well-developed characters and a brilliant plot that only happens to revolve around a poker game. A very creepy poker game. We have to warn you that this book will skew reality for you, especially at the tables. Even the most steadfast and unsuperstitious players will see the game a little differently after reading Last Call. Good Stuff.
Girls’ Poker Night: A Novel of High Stakes 
by Jill A. Davis
To be honest we didn’t really enjoy this book, but our wives loved it enough for us to give it three aces. Girl’s Poker Night is a little more Chick Lit than poker novel, but is written well and engaging. Buy this for your wife or girlfriend and she’ll be quite happy—unless you’re dumb enough to use it as a Valentine’s or Birthday present. A book about poker is not a good Valentine’s Day present.
Positively Fifth Street
by James Mcmanus
The story of the man who started the world series of poker and his family and fortune is fascinating reading and Mcmanus writes it well. The man did his research and covers a lot of ground without becoming boring. If you’re curious about the Binions and enjoy a good murder, you’ll love this book.
The Professor, The Banker, and the Suicide King
by Michael Craig
Craig was able to get an inside look at the highest stakes poker game ever played as billionaire, Andy Beal, took on a coalition of the best players in the world at stakes as high as $50,000/$100,000 heads up. As the action comes fast and furious, Beal nearly cleans out a group of high stakes pros led by Doyle Brunson that included Ted Forrest, Phil Ivey, Jen Harmon and Howard Lederer. The swings are as big as the game and Craig covers it all remarkably well. The most entertaining true to life poker story we’ve read.
Check-Raising the Devil
by Mike Matusow
The Mouth is certainly a fascinating character, and the story of the portion of his life that’s chronicled in Check-Raising the Devil is intriguing. Mike’s trip from video poker junkie to poker grinder to big name poker pro and his subsequent hard fall is rendered by coauthors Amy Calistri and Tim Lavalli. While the story is a great one, it is written fairly simply. We enjoyed the book, and it was a quick read, but we wish Michael Craig had written it.
