Moneymaker: How an Amateur Poker Player Turned $40 into $2.5 Million at the World Series of Poker

This is anything but a self-help poker manual. It's much more a warts-and-all account of how a fairly ordinary guy with an extraordinarily apt name and an almost uncontrollable problem managed to parlay a small-stakes online satellite tournament entry into a seven-figure sum at the WSOP Main Event and in the process drag his life away from the gutter into which it had previously been headed.While you won't learn how to play poker better, there's much of interest in following Chris' career (both senses of the word) develop and seeing how the biggest tournament in world poker unfolds. It's rather refreshing, though, to discover that Chris isn't painted as some poker genius, or even a particularly successful - or likeable - human being.Probably just about worth reading once, but give it away or sell it thereafter: there's nothing that you'll want - or need - to go back to.

Yep, well worth the money - you won't be disappointed

Moneymaker in many respects reminds me of John Daly, the professional golfer who was sporadically great and always wanted to "grip it and rip it". But Daly is known for his aggressive style and addictions to drinking and gambling which have kept him from truly being a great player. Moneymaker had the same problems but improbably was able to rise, at least once, to the top of the poker world. He's only had limited success in tournament poker since, but that doesn't mean that he can't play.His life story is fascinating and very funny in places, but it also is a cautionary tale. I've read a number of poker books recently that focus more on the personality of the pros rather than the strategy underlying their games and there always seems to be a dark undercurrent of gambling addiction and other problems. I thought Daly was just an accountant who through pure luck won the World Series of Poker main event. His actual story is much more interesting.Why I'd recommend the book:*interesting portrayal of a World Series main event from the perspective of someone who never expected to be there*an insight into how someone might be attracted to pro poker*it's a funny read in places*how the element of luck plays out even in a strategic skill game*it's definitely a cautionary look at the perils of drinking and gambling from an early age.Cons against reading it:*if you are looking for a strategic playing or instructional book, this isn't it.

I read this book when it came out in softcover, but lost it due to a move. I felt it good enough to buy again.

Ok