Rating: 
Summary: The Best Cigar Book Ever Written - It Smokes!!
Review: I'm enjoying an Ashton Cabinet right now as I write this review in the predawn hours of Christmas Day 2000. I can't say enough about this book. I spent north of $1500 buying cigars and related stuff before I read this book, much of which could have been better spent had I read it first. Richard, beyond being the consumate cigar afficianado, is a likeable guy, and has a great sense of humor. For instance, when discussing how to smoke a cigar and the ash that forms at the end, he refers to this as "leaving the Mother Ship". What a funny guy! The best parts: 1) How to light a cigar (stop offending others by doing it right, 2) The comprehensive list of brands in the back, which offers not only great info but a nice shopping list upon your next trip to the tobacconist. This is a guy I would love to enjoy a cigar and a fine port with, discussing his many cigar adventures. Buy this book!
Rating:
Summary: The Best Cigar Book Ever Written - It Smokes!!
Review: I'm enjoying an Ashton Cabinet right now as I write this review in the predawn hours of Christmas Day 2000. I can't say enough about this book. I spent north of $1500 buying cigars and related stuff before I read this book, much of which could have been better spent had I read it first. Richard, beyond being the consumate cigar afficianado, is a likeable guy, and has a great sense of humor. For instance, when discussing how to smoke a cigar and the ash that forms at the end, he refers to this as "leaving the Mother Ship". What a funny guy! The best parts: 1) How to light a cigar (stop offending others by doing it right, 2) The comprehensive list of brands in the back, which offers not only great info but a nice shopping list upon your next trip to the tobacconist. This is a guy I would love to enjoy a cigar and a fine port with, discussing his many cigar adventures. Buy this book!
Rating:
Summary: Just Buy This One First
Review: The title speaks for itself, it is indeed the ultimate cigar
book. Written for the newcomer as well as the long time cigar
aficionado. Perhaps Mr. Carleton Hacker will bless us with
an exclusive book on Cubanos and elaborate on their rich history,
current markets, counterfiting, proper storage and enjoyment.
Go ahead and buy this one first, you won't regret it!!
Rating:
Summary: A fully comprehensive starters guide to the world of cigars
Review: This has been my first cigar book. I have found it very comprehensive and informative. Now, I enjoy other fields of cigar-world as well after so many books on the subject but still this had been most informative for a novice.
Rating:
Summary: Informative and Wonderfully Politically Incorrect!
Review: This is an outstanding guide to cigars. It is humorous, emphasizes consideration for others, but also stands up against the PC "nannyism" infecting much of the USA. Bravo for a well-done job.
Rating: 
Summary: The Ultimate Penultimate
Review: This work has been highly overrated, since it is far from being the "ultimate" cigar book.
Firstly, it is no book for an experienced cigar smoker: it covers all of the basics soley for the novice, and only for the American novice, at that ("...our own Connecticut leaf..."). Admittedly, Mr. Hacker does this quite competently, although he either is unaware of myriads of cigar lovers outside the U.S., or has chosen to ignore them.
Secondly, this book would be more aptly entitled "The Ultimate Ego Trip," for the text is riddled with rather annoying examples of the author's unabashed conceit regarding his supposed expertise and his influence on - get this - the Cugan cigar industry!
Worst of all, however, is Mr. Hacker's claim - and in this he aligns himself with his American cigar commentator collegues - that non-Cuban smokes have now equaled, or even surpassed, the quality of Habanos. This absurd pretense - which is unknown amongst any of the scores of non-American cigar veterans I am familiar with - has its roots in the insidious Cuba-bashing campaign initiated by "Cigar Aficionado" magazine, which sought to promote sales of non-Cuban cigars by grossly exaggerating their positive attributes while debasing the quality of Habanos. It is most unfortunate that novice (American) smokers are liable to be influenced by this illusion in their quest for a premium cigar.
My advice, then, is that if you feel compelled to purchase this book, do attempt to separate fact from (Mr. Hacker's) fiction.
Rating:
Summary: The Ultimate Penultimate
Review: This work has been highly overrated, since it is far from being the "ultimate" cigar book.
Firstly, it is no book for an experienced cigar smoker: it covers all of the basics soley for the novice, and only for the American novice, at that ("...our own Connecticut leaf..."). Admittedly, Mr. Hacker does this quite competently, although he either is unaware of myriads of cigar lovers outside the U.S., or has chosen to ignore them.
Secondly, this book would be more aptly entitled "The Ultimate Ego Trip," for the text is riddled with rather annoying examples of the author's unabashed conceit regarding his supposed expertise and his influence on - get this - the Cugan cigar industry!
Worst of all, however, is Mr. Hacker's claim - and in this he aligns himself with his American cigar commentator collegues - that non-Cuban smokes have now equaled, or even surpassed, the quality of Habanos. This absurd pretense - which is unknown amongst any of the scores of non-American cigar veterans I am familiar with - has its roots in the insidious Cuba-bashing campaign initiated by "Cigar Aficionado" magazine, which sought to promote sales of non-Cuban cigars by grossly exaggerating their positive attributes while debasing the quality of Habanos. It is most unfortunate that novice (American) smokers are liable to be influenced by this illusion in their quest for a premium cigar.
My advice, then, is that if you feel compelled to purchase this book, do attempt to separate fact from (Mr. Hacker's) fiction.
Rating:
Summary: The Ultimate Penultimate
Review: This work has been highly overrated, since it is far from being the "ultimate" cigar book.
Firstly, it is no book for an experienced cigar smoker: it covers all of the basics soley for the novice, and only for the American novice, at that ("...our own Connecticut leaf..."). Admittedly, Mr. Hacker does this quite competently, although he either is unaware of myriads of cigar lovers outside the U.S., or has chosen to ignore them.
Secondly, this book would be more aptly entitled "The Ultimate Ego Trip," for the text is riddled with rather annoying examples of the author's unabashed conceit regarding his supposed expertise and his influence on - get this - the Cugan cigar industry!
Worst of all, however, is Mr. Hacker's claim - and in this he aligns himself with his American cigar commentator collegues - that non-Cuban smokes have now equaled, or even surpassed, the quality of Habanos. This absurd pretense - which is unknown amongst any of the scores of non-American cigar veterans I am familiar with - has its roots in the insidious Cuba-bashing campaign initiated by "Cigar Aficionado" magazine, which sought to promote sales of non-Cuban cigars by grossly exaggerating their positive attributes while debasing the quality of Habanos. It is most unfortunate that novice (American) smokers are liable to be influenced by this illusion in their quest for a premium cigar.
My advice, then, is that if you feel compelled to purchase this book, do attempt to separate fact from (Mr. Hacker's) fiction.
Rating:
Summary: Informative and Wonderfully Politically Incorrect!
Review: We all have plenty of work related reference matierials, but few of us can say that we have great reference matierials for our leisure actities. I have been an cigar smoker for 7 years and an avid smoker for the last three. I have purchased many books to elevate my knowledge of the subject. The other books are nice, but I could have saved considerable time and money if I had purchased "The Ultimate Cigar Book" first. This book takes you from the very first cigar smoked in public to the most recent develpments in the world of cigars. Hacker covers the processes of cigar production and the places that they are made. The Author essentially fills the middle section with tips and sage advice in an easily readable style reminiscent of the "Idiots Guide to..." Books. By my last comment, I don't mean to say that Hacker's approach is simplistic or lacking in any way. The end of the book has an index of cigar brands which covers the spectrum from Absolute to Zino, and gives great information on the Cuban brands as well. If you are a person who loves a great cigar, ( or would like information to help make your selections more successful) "The Ultimate Cigar Book" is a must read!
Rating:
Summary: This work is the most comprehensive cigar book in print.
Review: We all have plenty of work related reference matierials, but few of us can say that we have great reference matierials for our leisure actities. I have been an cigar smoker for 7 years and an avid smoker for the last three. I have purchased many books to elevate my knowledge of the subject. The other books are nice, but I could have saved considerable time and money if I had purchased "The Ultimate Cigar Book" first. This book takes you from the very first cigar smoked in public to the most recent develpments in the world of cigars. Hacker covers the processes of cigar production and the places that they are made. The Author essentially fills the middle section with tips and sage advice in an easily readable style reminiscent of the "Idiots Guide to..." Books. By my last comment, I don't mean to say that Hacker's approach is simplistic or lacking in any way. The end of the book has an index of cigar brands which covers the spectrum from Absolute to Zino, and gives great information on the Cuban brands as well. If you are a person who loves a great cigar, ( or would like information to help make your selections more successful) "The Ultimate Cigar Book" is a must read!
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