The Poker Aficionado: An All-In Compendium of Lore & Legend, Wit & Wisdom, Tips & Techniques

Finally, we have a book for all poker lovers, not just the hardcore folks who are betting the ranch every hand. Since poker has always been a tad shady, much of the culture of the game has been hidden from view. Here, Fornatale--a supremely talented and highly underrated writer, reporter, researcher, and editor--brings to light some highly fascinating material from the fringes and the depths. A succinct, good-time read that fits in your pocket and stays with you long after you're done reading it.

This book is just a little bit bigger than a pack of playing cards, and cracking it open is just as satisfying as shuffling a new deck. Great design, facts and tips presented in a friendly way, and some hilariously far-out trivia (Grateful Dead lyrics about poker) make this a complete (and cheap!) gift for poker-playing friends. The small size means you can carry it to all your games.

Following in the footsteps of ADD-type books such as "Schott's Original Miscellany" and the "Bathroom Reader" comes this fun poker compendium. Coming in at about 6" tall with 200 pages, The Poker Aficiando contains an assortment of informative nuggets covering pretty much everything poker: strategy, rules, odds, percentages, history, lingo, tips, anecdotes, and trivia. Most of the strategy-related material is provided by Phil Gordon, John Vorhaus, and Robert Williamson. As the author states, a lot of the material comes from outside sources, so you may already be familiar with some of what this book has to offer. But having such a wide array of info in one pocket-sized collection makes this perfect for the novice and intermediate player, and it's a great time-killer. However, it's likely that you'll cover the bulk of it rather quickly, so here's hoping it won't be long until they come out with a second volume in the near future.