Rating: 
Summary: "Gambling,a hard way to make a living.."
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir. It is very well written and without a doubt exceedingly well researched .Although I am not a gambler,I found it gave an excellent look at life in the world of high stakes gambling.As with any profession there are all sorts at the top.I like the comment by Oscar Wilde who said,"There are not good or bad people,only interesting or dull people."Amarillo Slim has to be one of the most interesting in the world of gambling which has always had some great characters.Slim is portrayed as a gentle giant but hard as steel.
This book is full of surprises.For instance;supposedly Minnsota Fats couldn't read or write--that's not to say he wasn't a super communicator.The most important ability that comes out as a fundamental requirement for a successful gambler is not knowing the ability of your opponent but knowing your own ,keeping an edge and living with the odds,win or lose.This is true in all walks of life.Here we see that even Slim breaks the rule at times,as in the episode with the alligator and shows even he is human.If there was any idea he always had to contend with it was :
"A guy like me ain't supposed to be scared of nobody.".
The book is full of good Texas talk and wisdom;for example;
"Straight pool was about as obsolete as washing clothes
on a rock in the river."
"You can bet whatever you can pay off."
"Texas Dolly is hotter than a widow woman's love."
"Stay close to your friends and even closer to your enemies."
"Don't p--- on my shoes and tell me it's raining."
"You can shear a sheep many a time,but you can skin it only
once."
And finally;
"Don't argue,if there's anything worth arguing about,either
bet on it or shut up."
Hope you like it,I sure did!
Rating:
Summary: great story of amarillo slim
Review: i was able to use this to make a good amount of money online at partypoker.com use the following sign up codes:
100EXTRANOW for up to 100$ bonus on first deposit (20% bonus)
PP25EXTRA for $25 on First Deposit
Rating:
Summary: No Gamble: Great Book
Review: I'm a poker player. I have very high standards for anything written about my favorite hobby. And, I can't say enough about this book by America's favorite rogue. Sure he's dishonest. But what a great story. Actually there are MANY stories -- all of them compelling. I don't know if I would ever make a bet with Amarillo Slim --but I sure would like to have a beer with him. Fascinating stories all wonderfully told. Great book.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent read
Review: I've had dinner with Amarillo Slim. In fact, I've known him for about 10 years. And yet, until I read this book, I had never heard more than a few of these classic Slim stories. And boy, there are stories. Beating Bobby Riggs in table tennis with a frying pan, beating Minnesota Fats in pool with a broom handle, fixing baseball games for big money, fleecing Willie Nelson at dominos... As a semi-professional gambler, I was intrigued to find out how old Slim got the best of so many of the greats... His philosophy, "Find a champion and make a sucker out of him," makes sense. Ego has separated more than one man from his pocket book. And good old Slim was there to pick up the money. If you want to know Slim, and you should because he's one of the most interesting people in the world, read this book. You will not be disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: A GREAT BOOK ABOUT A GOOD MAN
Review: Like a previous reveiw said this book was a lot of fun to read anybody that has a fair interest in poker especially texas holdem has heard about amarillo slim. While in the title or description of the book it describes Mr. slim as one of the greatest gamblers,i dont know if gambler would be exactly fitiing with the propisition bets that he describes they were not a gamble as he did his homework such as playing ping pong against bobby riggs with a skillet or another man with coke bottles.This man definitely had many talent from track to golf of course poker and many other things playing aginst the likes of jimmy the greek snyder minnesota fats and the likes.
For me one of the funniest parts of the book was when slim doyle brunson and sailor roberts were going to mexico to hunt dove and pigeons they make a deal not to bet amongst themselves and of course this does not last as it seems most professional gamblers will bet on anything and in this instint was a bet how fast doyle could make it up a mountain.Another was a bet withther someone could eat quail for thirty days straight. This follows slim every where from book making to the world series of poker and alot of the old cronies he ran with.Thing that impress me was the fact that he was such a gentleman it open numerous opportunities for him and he has such a reputation he does not have to go look for bets he just has to sort through all he gets and decide which ones to take . If you like gambling your are really going to like this book.
Rating:
Summary: great for a plane ride
Review: Nothing serious here, but an amusing accounting of one man's unusual life (and profession). Slim's colorful turn of phrase is most amusing, and his exploits entertaining. Breeze through it in one sitting, then pass it along.
Rating:
Summary: great for a plane ride
Review: Nothing serious here, but an amusing accounting of one man's unusual life (and profession). Slim's colorful turn of phrase is most amusing, and his exploits entertaining. Breeze through it in one sitting, then pass it along.
Rating:
Summary: Best Book Ever, Man
Review: Slim is a slice of Americana--a real piece of Texas and the last living cowboy. This memoir tells the fascinating tales of his fascinating life and has you laughing out loud after every page. Not only is this the best memoir I've ever read, but it's the best book on hustling and gambling, putting every other book on the market to shame. You'll not only be entertained with every one of Slim's tall tales, but you'll also learn about life and what it takes to make millions of dollars without ever having to hold down a steady job. A must read for anyone interested in a living legend and an American icon.
Rating: 
Summary: What's The Point?
Review: So I guess what makes a man "legendary" is that he's willing to take advantage of and even cheat anyone he comes in contact with. I expected gambling stories when I unfortunately bought this tedious book. Instead I got a bunch of self-gloryfying tales about a one dimensional lowlife. If this excites you great. But I prefer the books by T. Holden and M. Konik for real insight into the mind of gamblers as opposed to con artists.
Rating: 
Summary: A lot of Fun
Review: The most striking thing about Slim's life is his ability to win money gambling on so many different things. I wouldn't think a good pool hustler that could beat Minnesota Fats could also win the World Series of Poker. I'm surprised that Slim could win thousands playing dominoes with Willie Nelson and also beat Bobby Riggs playing Ping Pong. The one unifying factor is that Slim has had an amazing ability to figure out an edge against an opponent. Once he can find an angle he can beat people at their best game. The book provides numerous examples of how Slim has used that edge. Brains have also kept Slim from harm. He was more than willing to risk a misdemeanor to run his Texas Bookmaking business, but when Federal Law made bookmaking a felony, Slim immediately quit the business whereas his friend Sailor was stubborn and eventually went to jail. There's a good amount of material about run-ins with Slim's nemesis Jimmy the Greek. Slim didn't like the Greek. Some of it was due to the Greek's inflated ego and iffy character, and though some explanation is provided it seems that the reasons for the animosity go deeper than the basic descriptions. I bet a whole book could be written on their associations. What Slim doesn't do in the book is explain big bets that he lost. There isn't any reflection on the times people have outsmarted him. I'm sure very few have, but it would have been interesting to hear Slim explain what he learned from those events. The book flows nicely and I laughed I quite a bit at Slim's down home witticisms. If you like gambling or the people who do, this book will provide an entertaining afternoon at the beach.
| 
