Anyone who knows me will be surprised to hear that I found this book too acerbic, too cynical, too judgemental. I am often "too" all of those things, but even I have my limits. The writing here is good, the subject is interesting, and Whitehead is often very funny (in a rueful and/or cutting way.) Quickly though it became hard to hang out with him. It was like a buddy movie starring a brilliant depressed writer and his faithful companions Despair and Misanthropy. Only when he spoke about his daughter (referred to as "The Kid") did a glimmer of hope, a sliver of optimism, and a bucket full of love show through. It was not enough to temper Whitehead's Colson Whitehead character who was like a mashup of Schopenhauer and Larry David. I am not sad I read this, but it could have been so much better with less snark or maybe more Lexapro. ( )

Whitehead, who I've never read before, is comped the 10K to enter the WSOP, by Disney (via Grantland). The book tells is WSOP story, rather like The Biggest Game in Town or Positively Fifth Street. Poker has changed since those other books, mostly becoming much bigger, and there's really not a lot more to be said about playing in the WSOP unless you go a long ways (spoiler: Whitehead doesn't). So while there's not a lot more to be said about poker, Whitehead milks it by talking a lot about himself, who is actually a fairly interesting guy (despite being, as in his memorable first line, half dead inside), and a very funny writer. There were more than a few places in the book where I laughed out loud, and for a book that only takes a couple hours to read, that's not bad. ( )

This book is more about Whitehead than it is about poker, and for someone who has read The Underground Railroad, it is nice to get to know the author a little better by hearing him read his own story of being staked as an entrant to the World Series of Poker. Whitehead is an engaging narrator, and the story is interesting, as we meet various characters who help him in his quest to cram as much poker knowledge into his head in the short period before he must head to Vegas. These are some interesting personalities, and they are portrayed with some insight and sensitivity in between Whitehead's self-deprecating humor. The book is by no means hilarious, but it is engaging and not overlong. If you're looking for a poker book, this isn't it. But if you want a little insight into how an amateur feels taking part in an event of this stature, it has good insights. There are also interesting observations about Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Whitehead's attitude may be a bit annoying if you're a true poker fan, but he definitely respects those who are successful at what is a demanding and stressful occupation. ( )

nonfiction/amateur poker player at WSOP. ( )

Noble Hustle
Author: Colson Whitehead
Publisher: Doubleday
Publishing Date: 2014
Pgs: 234
Dewey: 795.412 WHI
Disposition: Irving Public Library - South Campus - Irving, TX
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REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

Summary:
The author self describes this book as “Eat, Pray, Love” for depressed shut-ins. A participatory journalism piece that grew into a treatiste on life. A magazine sponsored him into the World Series of Poker. So, he took his weekly small game skills and practiced, got some coaching, and took his shot at the big time. Brilliant, hillarious, profound, moving, overblown, and ridiculous...and clever, incredibly clever.

All praise the Republic of Anhedonia in all of her meh and pfft glory.
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Genre:
Poker
Biographies
Humor
Essays
Philosophy
Life
Gambling
Strategy

Why this book:
Poker.
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Favorite Scene / Quote/Concept:
Anhedonia, the inability to experience pleasure. Wow. Taht’s those people we’ve all met who are dead inside. Of course, sometimes, that’s all of us. Me...sometimes that’s me.

Win or die, the growing blinds are sweeping around the table like a tidal wave that grows on each turn.

Republic of Anhedonia...once you go bleak, you never go back.

Hmm Moments:
Poker face dynamics...and genetics. Plus odds, M-theory, and four-betting, gotta protect your blind when you’re already in the pot.

His depiction of stereotypes he’s played poker with...damn...I’ve played cards and/or rolled dice with most of those people. Wow! “Iggy Pop take a look at these guys and says, “Wow, he’s really let himself go.””

The Sigh:
No Fold ‘Em, Hold ‘Em...never heard the term, but I’ve played those games.

Wisdom:
I’m a fool. I read this whole book thinking it was about poker. It’s about life. It’s about the daily grind. It’s about being a little depressed...a little out of touch. It’s about hope buried in the mythical land of Anhedonia. And it’s about buried treasure. Life is a game of cards, are you All-In? I haven’t been All-In in a long damned time. I don’t know what’s on the other side of Anhedonia, but I’ve been living there for nigh on 20 years. Heimdall just yelled “Wake up!” at me in an Anhedonian accent.

Juxtaposition:

The Unexpected:
And then, he hits the reader with the 2 paragraph denouement. The “you know what, forget it.” No, I don’t think I will.

Missed Opportunity:
Letting the story be the story without robbing it of it’s thunder. This is a repeating motiff in Whitehead’s writing.
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Author Assessment:
The writing is clever. How clever? Clever enough that this is my 3rd Colson Whitehead book in a row. First one the story didn’t catch me. Second, the ending threw what was a solid 4 stars into 2 ½ star range. And here we are, third time's the charm.
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The writing is delicious even if the entire enterprise never really achieves any kind of urgency or rises beyond its roots as an extended magazine article. Also, Colson Whitehead is a furious namedropper! Who knew? We get poker coach and author [a:Helen Ellis|183538|Helen Ellis|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1309262438p2/183538.jpg], college buddy Darren Aronofsky and other assorted slebs casually dropped into the narrative. But it's all good. There's plenty of room for them because it's a bit thin anyway. Probably not the book I should have chosen after the triumph of The Underground Railroad. ( )

Full disclosure: I only read this book because I wanted to read something by Whitehead, who's been on my wishlist forever. Neither Zone One nor Underground Railroad were available at the library, so I snagged this one, which is a memoirish account of his experience playing in the World Series of Poker a few years ago. It was my first Whitehead, but it won't be my last. I learned that he is a marvelous writer, dexterous with language in ways that are both witty and thoughtful. The book and subject are rather slight and not really my bag, since I have never played a hand of poker in my life, but I still enjoyed his tale and look forward to reading another of his books with a little more meat on its bones. ( )

The Noble Hustle: Poker, Beef Jerky, and Death by Colson Whitehead is a very highly recommended, humorous and informative account of the author's foray into the world of high stakes poker games.

The premise seems simple: Whitehead was staked by a magazine to see how far he could get in the World Series of poker. But, as the title implies, The Noble Hustle: Poker, Beef Jerky, and Death is much more than the story of one man playing some poker games and reading some manuals to prepare himself for the big time. He discusses all sorts of other related or vaguely related topics while telling the story of his poker-playing career.

Whitehead defines "anhedonia: the inability to experience pleasure," and explains that he is a citizen of "The Republic of Anhedonia." He says, "I have a good poker face because I am half dead inside. My particular combo of slack features, negligible affect, and soulless gaze has helped my game ever since I started playing twenty years ago, when I was ignorant of pot odds and M-theory and four-betting, and it gave me a boost as I collected my trove of lore, game by game, hand by hand. It has not helped me human relationships–wise over the years, but surely I’m not alone here." (Location 47)

Whitehead really seems to be having a great time writing this book. I truly hope it was as enjoyable to write as it is to read because this book is engrossing and funny. He points out that "In one of the fiction-writing manuals, it says that there are only two stories: a hero goes on a journey, and a stranger comes to town. I don’t know. This being life, and not literature, we’ll have to make do with this: A middle-aged man, already bowing and half broken under his psychic burdens, decides to take on the stress of being one of the most unqualified players in the history of the Big Game. A hapless loser goes on a journey, a strange man comes to gamble." (Location 79)

Although he's not a man who is generally interested in competitive sports, "Sure, now and then I mixed it up in a Who Had the Most Withholding Father contest with chums, but that’s as far as it went for me competitive sports–wise. (Location 234) he had..."been playing penny poker since college. College kids counting out chips into even stacks, opening a case of brew, busting out real-man cigars—these were the sacred props of manhood, and we were chronically low on proof."( Location 251)

This is an incredibly well-written, astute account of what players go through, or at least what he went through, in the various poker tournaments along the way, and is full of many insightful observations about poker - and life.

Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Knopf Doubleday for review purposes.




( )

It's really more like a 4.5 out of 5 (a couple pacing quibbles, etc) but honestly? When a book is this much of a joy to read, what else matters? I laughed perhaps more consistently in this book than I maybe ever have at a book not written by a guy with the last name Pratchett. Seriously, it was like every 1.5 pages, there was something that made me want to laugh out loud. Anyway, plenty of people who never play poker will read this book - and plenty who would never have otherwise read Colson Whitehead will, in a vice-versa sort of thing - do the same. It's a pleasure to know that they're going to come away with a newfound understanding/respect/pleasure, regardless of how they came into it. I just hope that some of that entertainment gets back to Colson somehow, makes him (heavens no) feel good. May you always have a big M, sir - because as long as you're at the table, we at least know we're in for a damn good night.

More at RB: http://ragingbiblioholism.com/2014/03/07/the-noble-hustle/ ( )

It's really more like a 4.5 out of 5 (a couple pacing quibbles, etc) but honestly? When a book is this much of a joy to read, what else matters? I laughed perhaps more consistently in this book than I maybe ever have at a book not written by a guy with the last name Pratchett. Seriously, it was like every 1.5 pages, there was something that made me want to laugh out loud. Anyway, plenty of people who never play poker will read this book - and plenty who would never have otherwise read Colson Whitehead will, in a vice-versa sort of thing - do the same. It's a pleasure to know that they're going to come away with a newfound understanding/respect/pleasure, regardless of how they came into it. I just hope that some of that entertainment gets back to Colson somehow, makes him (heavens no) feel good. May you always have a big M, sir - because as long as you're at the table, we at least know we're in for a damn good night.

More at RB: http://ragingbiblioholism.com/2014/03/07/the-noble-hustle/ ( )

Tore through as a break from reading a longer work, would be a good road trip or flight book. Slacker (no doubt overplayed a bit) gets stacked to play WSOP. Hilarity and angst ensues. Reads like a more sober HST. Also, tough way to get booted from the WSOP - get process doesn't always yield good results. ( )

You think it's about poker? It's really about "anhedonia" -- the world of those of us who don't feel, or don't feel enough (according to other people). ( )

Strangest and funniest book on poker, beef jerky, single fatherhood and the writing life ever written. Read it in your Sit and Goes. ( )

Ante up

The Noble Hustle: Poker, Beef Jerky and Death by Colson Whitehead (Doubleday, $24.95).

Colson Whitehead’s first nonfiction book—following incredible novels like The Intuitionist, John Henry Days, and Zone One—is a first-person report on high-stakes competitive poker.

Initially undertaken as an assignment for Grantland, Whitehead participated in the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, where he went from a proficient regular player to competing with the big boys, holding his own and offering up insights about things like what makes a poker face (including a long digression on the inability to experience enjoyment, known as anhedonia).

He trains in Atlantic City and moves, as he does in his novels, from his apparent subject—poker—to his real subject—the human condition. As one might expect from the alienation experienced by so many of his characters, there’s a bit of emotional distance here; he doesn’t seem to be enjoying poker so much as grappling with it.

Reviewed on Lit/Rant: www.litrant.tumblr.com ( )

Note: I tried reading the author's first book but gave up when I would loose track on what sentence I was on because he used words that can be used in a spelling bee. I feared the worst with this book but I enjoyed it. A good poker book can suck you into the world of poker and make you want to play the game. This book does that. He tells a tale of going to the biggie-The World Series of Poker. Something I doubt he had on his sports bucket list. He tells how it came about and what happened during his "ride." The author also includes stories about his friends (the director of Black Swan for one), and the people he meets on the way. Loved the story. ( )

the last bit of the book wasn't quite as strong as the rest, and it seemed abrupt at the end. but i had a lot of fun reading this book. it's a great summer read, or a bit of an escapist read for any time, really. ( )