BOOKS THREAD

I'm about to start reading the Obama Barack biography. Anybody know anything about this book? Is it worth getting into?

 

I flipped through it at length the other night at the store. It has its moments, but it's premature. It's like eating raw cookie dough.

 

Both excellent.

 

Sports

Can't make out the title on that second book

 

The Gambler, the Banker, and the Suicide King.

It's the story of a very high stakes poker game that occurred in Vegas from 2001 to 2004 between Andrew Beal on one side and the "Pros" on the other side. The pros are the people you've heard of if you watch any poker at all -- Howard Lederer, Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, etc. Fascinating account of the games and stakes. The players pooled their resources and would send one guy at a time against Beal, with the stakes rising to as much as $100/$200K blinds.

Great work of reporting to get all this info without a lot of stats and records being kept ala football or baseball or other sports. And the author does a good job of giving all the different people characters. That he got cooperation from Beal helps, but is a bit surprising considering Beal is a pretty private person and has never taken any of his big business ventures (the big one being Beal Bank) public.

 

Here's one for Alabama fans:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1589792793/qid=1117816274/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/002-4876670-2671225?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

 

Way behind on this, but I've been reading ESPN: The Uncensored History on advice from multiple members of the board. Very, very interesting read, particularly once you get past the dry, but necessary opening section on how the network was founded.

Now that the site's back up, I'm sure I'll have a harder time finishing it.

Does anyone have an opinion on Halberstam's "The Teammates?" bought it for a short flight -- read half on the way and the other half on the return flight. very readable. Didn't like how halberstam insisted on putting himself in the story, though. it wasn't terribly handled, but seemed unnecessary.

 

I just finished Generation Kill on advice of many on this thread. An outstanding book, highly recommended....

 

I'm about halfway through Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs by Chuck Klosterman. The chapter about the Guns n' Roses tribute band is one of the saddest/funniest things I've ever read.

 

Goldmatt,

I finished that a few months ago. Generally enjoyed it, although the quality of the stories was uneven. If you're on the GNR chapter stilll, you probably haven't gotten to my favorite one... There's one essay toward the end of the book, and a small part of it is devoted to why sports reporters hate sports. I found it pretty amusing.

 

Yeah, I haven't made it that far yet. I just finished the chapter about soccer and his experience as a little league coach.

 

i'm convinced klosterman is the greatest writer of our generation

love sex, drugs and cocoa puffs... also fargo rock city. so awesome.

can't wait until his new one comes out next month