New GNR book club

[jplpool]

I wanna know what books, people are reading, feel free to offer reviews.

I'll get the ball rolling with a book I have just finished.

The Man Behind the Shades: The Rise and Fall of Stuey 'The Kid' Ungar, Poker's Greatest Player by Nolan Dalla & Peter Alson.

I picked this book up with the intention of learning about professional play, instead I found myself utterly compelled, by a riveting life story.

Stuey Ungar was the son of an illegal bookmaker in new york city, such was his talent for cards he was funded by new york crime syndicates at the age of just 13, as an adult he won the world series of poker 3 times, he won millions playing cards but lost millions betting on sports. Destitute, 10 years after he won his second world title, he borrowed $10,000 to enter the tournament, he won it for a third time. Needless to say, it did not take long for him to lose the money, his addiction to not just Gambling, but, Cocaine & Crack, was ferocious, he died aged 47, broke & cracked up, to the eyeballs, in a filthy hotel room.

This book has it all, it could quite easily be a novel, one of the best biographies i have read in many a year. And to think, I didn't even know who he was, when I picked up the book.

Stuey Ungar R.I.P 

[Chaser™]

Well in a few weeks I am getting the Vince Neil biography entitled Tattoo's and Tequila.
I love biographies, philosophy and sports books 

[Euterpe]

I'm reading Dear Sir, With Love.

Don't have much to say about it considering I've only read 5 pages.


But I plan on getting Heroin Diaries and The Dirt Sheet from my sister's boyfriend to read. I wouldn't mind finishing Slash either

[Chaser™]

Heroin Diaries is a good read, but you can tell some of it is errr questionable.
The Dirt: The official autobiography of Motley Crue is another good read 

[Euterpe]

I would imagine that its questionable, but it seems like all of them are in a way
I didn't even realize I added a word to the title

Hopefully he can remember to let me read at least Heroin Diaries, I've been wanting to read it for a while

[abaraxas]

Well Im currently re reading "Chickenhawk" by Robert Mason- his account of flying Huey "slicks" (troop transport) in Vietnam in the mid sixties. Its a phenomonal book,scary,honest,witty,depressing and just about everything else.

[Chaser™]

I'll check it out 
When I do read history I always go for the same subjects, Greece, Rome, Egypt and most of the modern wars (from WWI to today)

[abaraxas]

You wont regret it-its epic.

Another classic one for me is "It doesnt take a hero" by Colonel David Hackworth,who was the most decorated US soldier ever. Thats the most brutal book Ive ever read-he was shot through the head in Korea and kept on going to overrun an enemy position-this guy was the real deal.

He ended up speaking out about the military and was pretty much exiled to Australia.

[Chaser™]

I haven't read that one by him but I have read About Face: The Odyssey of an American Warrior and Price Of Honor. That man was a real hero 
But like many others who dared question the big boys he was forced out. Then we've kinda run his name through the mud here.

[abaraxas]

fuck Im dumb-About Face is the book Im talking about!!

It Doesnt Take A Hero is Schwartzkopfs book 

Thats awesome youve read it-unreal book huh.

[Chaser™]

Yeah man, just kinda surreal at some points

[abaraxas]

Chickenhawk and About Face are two of the best books Ive ever read-the way Chickenhawk ends is typical for a man who went through hell serving his country too.

Aside from that, the last book I (re) read was Hunter S Thompsons "Kingdom Of Fear"

[Coma16]

I wanna know what books, people are reading, feel free to offer reviews.

I'll get the ball rolling with a book I have just finished.

The Man Behind the Shades: The Rise and Fall of Stuey 'The Kid' Ungar, Poker's Greatest Player by Nolan Dalla & Peter Alson.

Stuey Ungar R.I.P 

I seen this movie. It is pretty good but really dark. Poker has changed so much since then.

I'm currently reading Siddhartha. I like it so far and I'm almost done. Short book so it's a quick read.

[jplpool]

I seen this movie. It is pretty good but really dark. Poker has changed so much since then.

I'm currently reading Siddhartha. I like it so far and I'm almost done. Short book so it's a quick read.

 

Now that's a movie I gotta see

[NewGNRnOldGNR]

 

Now that's a movie I gotta see

It's a documentary, which was entitled "One of a Kind: The Rise and Fall of Stu Ungar". The documentary had interviews with his wife and daughter and several other people who were connected to him in some manner. It also featured excerpts from tapes he recorded in the last year of his existence for an autobiography that never occured.