The 10 Best non-strategic poker books of all-time Part 1

When it comes to lists of the best poker books people’s minds immediately gravitate towards the poker primers like Super System, Harrington on Hold’ Em, and The Theory of Poker. Lost in the shuffle are the books that do not detail the strategies of poker, but instead offer insights and background into the most American of strategy games. So here is my list of the 10 best non-strategic poker books that should be on every serious poker player’s bookshelf.

Before I begin I should point out that I have not read The Doyle Brunson Biography, Mike Matusow’s Biography, the new Devilfish Biography, The Roy Brindley Biography, Bigger Deal, or the Michael Craig book that details the Andy Beal game.

I’ve ranked the books with #1 being the best in my opinion, and #10 the least of the best Here are the first five entries on the list beginning with #10:

• 10. Tie between Poker Nation, by Andy Bellin and Shut Up and Deal, by Jesse May

As I didn’t want to leave either of these books off my list I decided on a 10^th place tie. Both of these books detail about the same period in poker (just before the online poker explosion) and while they take place in different locales you’ll notice the similarities.

• 9. Cowboys, Gamblers and Hustlers, by Byron “Cowboy” Wolford

I’d rank this book higher but for the lack of an editor. The grammar and spelling mistakes can make this book tough to read at points, but it’s still worth reading. Wolford details the life of a road gambler perfectly, and the short-story format makes the book fairly easy to digest.

• 8. One of a Kind, by Nolan Dalla

Dalla took on the difficult task of detailing the life of gambling’s biggest enigma, Stu Ungar. The reason I say the task is difficult is because Ungar was so many extremes, from a drug addict degenerate gambler, to a savant when it came to poker, gin rummy, and other games. Detailing such a complicated life and complicated person is such a monumental task that few writers would even want the job. But Dalla proved his chops with his compelling story of Stuey.

• 7. Amarillo Slim in a World Full of Fat People, by Greg Dinkins and Amarillo Slim Preston

Amarillo Slim is one of those people that you don’t know how much of what he says is true, false, or exaggerated, but in the end the story is so good you really don’t care! I like when poker players use an author to detail their adventures as the writing is just so much better, and Dinkins did an excellent job with Slims Biography.

• 6. Fast Company, by Jon Bradshaw

Many people don’t care for Bradshaw’s idealized writing style, but for me it’s a home-run, especially when you are painting a picture of the greatest gamblers and hustlers in the history of the United States. Bradshaw details six legendary gamblers: Tennis Legend Bobby Riggs; Poker Pros Puggy Pearson and Johnny Moss; pool hustler Minnesota Fats; Backgammon Champion Tim Holland; and finally Titanic Thompson.