Playing Off the Rail: A Pool Hustler's Journey

Rating:
Summary: Great True to life story
Review: A day, actually several, in the life of a pool hustler and his stakehorse. A very colorful and well told/written story. Sometimes the language gets a little ruff; but that's what happens when you write a true life account. Worth the read, especially for anyone considering pool for more than just a hobby.

Rating:
Summary: If you love shooting pool, you'll love this book.
Review: A journey into a world with some real "originals." Well written, great characters, a real love of the game. I don't finish many books any more, but I read this one right through

Rating:
Summary: the soul of pool
Review: A superb documentary on the culture and characters of pool, and side-splittingly funny to boot. Non-players will find the detailed descriptions of actual gameplay heavy going, but as with Michael Lewis' expose of Wall Street, "Liar's Poker", advanced knowledge of the game is not required to enjoy the pungent character sketches, richly evocative slang, and laugh-out-loud incidents. Warmly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Just Ho-Hum
Review: Although some of the situations were strange and funny, the story just seemed to wander along to an uneventful ending. I know this was real life on the road, but the author failed to keep my interest in the flow of the story.

Rating:
Summary: Just Ho-Hum
Review: Although some of the situations were strange and funny, the story just seemed to wander along to an uneventful ending. I know this was real life on the road, but the author failed to keep my interest in the flow of the story.

Rating:
Summary: Seedy, Gritty, Authentic
Review: Author McCumber, though no doubt a better stick than you or I, isn't up to world-class hustling or tournament play, but wants the life, so he instead backs Tony Annigoni, a not-too-well-known top flight player. Toss in some poolroom denizens like Bucktooth and meet the famous, the talented, the shortstops and the action, all reported with zest and a keen eye for detail. If you like pool, The Hustler, or The Cincinatti Kid, you'll like this.

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Summary: The true story of my trip into the world of high-stakes pool
Review: Hello! I'm David McCumber, author of Playing Off The Rail. If you love pool, we have a lot in common. I'm certainly not a great player, but I have always been fascinated by the game and the place it occupies in our culture. Playing Off The Rail was my effort to delve into the milieu of high-stakes pool and portray the characters, language and customs found therein. Since I couldn't play well enough to go "on the road," I found someone who could -- Tony Annigoni, a "renaissance pool hustler" from San Francisco. Tony doesn't fit the stereotype of the hustler. He doesn't drink or smoke, is a student of history, philosophy and eastern religions, and views the game as a martial art. He's also a world-class wisecrack artist, so he made an interesting traveling companion. The book is the true story of our several-month trip around the country, finding high-dollar games and tournaments. We didn't always win, of course -- nobody does, on the road -- but we won our share, and had some unforgettable experiences along the way. I hope you enjoy the story!

Rating:
Summary: A book that grows on you
Review: I have to admit that a quarter of the way into this book I was fairly disappointed. I didn't feel any affinity for the main characters and felt overwhelmed by the details of nine ball, a game I had never played before. The shots that were described were simply not making much sense to me, and the handicapping talk was over my head because of my lack of experience with the game. I felt like the book needed to include a CD ROM which demonstrated nine ball technique. But as the book progressed, however, I found myself getting more and more engrossed with the characters. I began to cheer when they won and cringe when they suffered losses. The detailed descriptions of the games also began to make more sense - I actually found myself wanting *more* detail as the book progressed. A wonderful glimpse into the world of pool hustling, in many ways similar to "24/7 : Living It Up and Doubling Down in the New Las Vegas" by Andres Martinez. Both books make you feel like you were at the author's side the whole way.

Rating:
Summary: Doesn't get any more realistic than this
Review: I just read it again--for the third time and I still found myself laughing out loud at McCumbers dead on the money descriptions of high level pool hustling. The players he describes are authentic, anyone who has met Keith McCready or Bucktooth can vouch for that, and that is what makes this book so entertaining, that it is an authentic glimpse of big time pool gambling. If you would like to see this in real life, just go to Louisville Kentucky during the first few weeks of January every year and check out the Derby City Classic tournament.

Rating:
Summary: Great !
Review: I read this book because I play a lot of billiards. Play in tournaments and this is a great read for all billiards players. He tells it like it is! But unforunately, I don't play for money!