Book report: "Moneymaker"
I got my g/f to buy it for me because I was embarrassed. Chris Moneymaker has a bit of a stigma attached to him: he may be a world champion, but for some reason a lot of people still consider him to be the amateur he was. I have no real opinion of him in that regard, but I was aware enough of the stigma to ask Natalie to buy the book. And to read it at home.
Alone, in a locked room.
It's a damn good book. It's not going to win the Pulitzer Prize or anything, but for fans of the game of poker, it's great. First of all, he doesn't waste time with a whole lot of his background. Sure, there's some of it in there, but he knows his target audience, and he knows what they want: poker.
More specifically, details on how he won the WSOP. So, the book is for the most part just that. He outlines specific hands, what he was thinking, what he wasn't thinking but should have been... etc. Really not much there in the way of advice--as a matter of fact, you kind of get the feeling that he didn't know what he was doing sometimes. The reason for this is because he didn't know what he was doing sometimes. But it has to be said: some of the plays he made required a whole lot of 'intestinal fortitude', and I admire him for having been able to make them.
The book takes you through his Stars satellite win, etc... and all the details of how and why he sold pieces of himself off. The Stars stuff is interesting; he mentions some familiar names along the way, like Earlbry, I think, and ALT_Angela, etc... some familiar screen names. He has Jim 'KrazyKanuck' Worth with him at his first table at the Main Event, and talks about him.
It's a short book--just over 200 pages--and it's chock full of poker action. Very entertaining stuff, and that kind of rags to riches, amateur-beats-pro story would be a bit of a pick-me-up if you've been running bad. What's more, it'll make you want to play in the Main Event of the WSOP. Badly.
I'd recommend it to any poker player.
Alone, in a locked room.
It's a damn good book. It's not going to win the Pulitzer Prize or anything, but for fans of the game of poker, it's great. First of all, he doesn't waste time with a whole lot of his background. Sure, there's some of it in there, but he knows his target audience, and he knows what they want: poker.
More specifically, details on how he won the WSOP. So, the book is for the most part just that. He outlines specific hands, what he was thinking, what he wasn't thinking but should have been... etc. Really not much there in the way of advice--as a matter of fact, you kind of get the feeling that he didn't know what he was doing sometimes. The reason for this is because he didn't know what he was doing sometimes. But it has to be said: some of the plays he made required a whole lot of 'intestinal fortitude', and I admire him for having been able to make them.
The book takes you through his Stars satellite win, etc... and all the details of how and why he sold pieces of himself off. The Stars stuff is interesting; he mentions some familiar names along the way, like Earlbry, I think, and ALT_Angela, etc... some familiar screen names. He has Jim 'KrazyKanuck' Worth with him at his first table at the Main Event, and talks about him.
It's a short book--just over 200 pages--and it's chock full of poker action. Very entertaining stuff, and that kind of rags to riches, amateur-beats-pro story would be a bit of a pick-me-up if you've been running bad. What's more, it'll make you want to play in the Main Event of the WSOP. Badly.
I'd recommend it to any poker player.
Comments
I mean even if the poker isnt great, i'll read it. I watch celebrity poker challenge dont I? It's poker right?
Thanks all_aces, i think i'm gonna pick this one up.
I recommend "Poker, the real deal" By Phil Gordon. very interesting. more of a how-to book on what books to read, and how to live the poker life than a How-to-play-better book
thanks,
johnny
It's funny you talk about the stigma attached to him, if anyone has the the
rounders DVD with the audio track of Moneymaker, Helmouth, Ferguson and Chan it's sure easy to see he isn't accepted in their ranks.
He is the only one that makes alot of comments during the movie and everytime he does
he almost sounds as if he is begging to fit in.
that being said, I know if I won the world series my head would be so big I'd end up making Helmuth look humble...
Hell I would probably even try to market my own perfume...
After reading this book, I was actually playing poker in a B&M room, and I got to talking to the guy sitting next to me. He mentioned that he played in a single-table $100 buy-in tournament at the Nugget last year against Moneymaker. He said that Moneymaker was "Nothing" and he's a "terrible player." Nothing pisses me off more than these off-the-cuff comments. Clearly, Moneymaker is a skilled poker player. You absolutely cannot dispute that when he is a World Champion, came in second in a WPT event, and has cashed in other WSOP events. It's ridiculous to claim otherwise. I suppose this gentleman's sample size of 1 confirms his statement.
However, he solidified his ignorance when he said that "Howard Letterman" is the greatest poker player alive. I said, "Who? Letterman?" He said, "You know, Patty Duke's brother." As yes, Howard Letterman, the brother of the world famous child actress. Now I understand. He is pretty good I hear.
Anyways, I'm glad you agree with me that the book is fun to read and I wasn't delusional in my own appreciation.
Cheers,
Phil
(And how about that bad beat he took in the 2005 main event? He could have been a contender!)
thanks all_aces i needed that :biggrin:
I might check this one out now, hopefully its at Chapters or something online.
Glad you enjoyed the review!
That just doesn't sound like my kind of fun! :eek:
Cheers
Magi
I didn't get it at the time (because I had just bought a whole bunch of other poker books), but I saw the Phil Gordon book at Costco for $13... since they rollover the stock so quickly, I don't know if it will still be there, but if anyone is interested, that might be a bargain price for the book.
hork.
I honestly love the way the book is written. Very entertaining and well done.
I would recomend it. It is basicly a detailed account of the WSOP trip report and how he felt sitting at the table with the big names. There is also a lot of history on he personal life. The trip report is worth the book so far.
I have read half of it so far (he just finished knocking out Jonny F... Chan), and it calls me to read the rest tonight.
Book for sale as of tomorrow.
Gee, I wonder how it ends.
Rob.