I am trying to get this post to benefit a lot of players. Many people have read different books, and the similar books it is fun to see the diffrent oppinions of people. So if everyone could list their favrotte book and something or a lot of things you loved about it then please do so.

I'll start I guess. i have read 12 hold'em books and 1 omaha book, but the best poker book I think I have read is Dan Harrington's: Harrington on Hold'em, a very respected player makes a very respected book. It discusses probably everything you would need to become a make-money player (of course with plenty of practice under your belt).

Anyway Volume 2 to harrington's book is coming May 1, so i'm ordering it then.

There are so many good ones.

Small Stakes Hold'em
Theory of Poker
Hold'em Poker for Advanced Players

Those three, in order, are my favos.

These aren't really "lesson" books but I enjoyed reading them.

Positively Fifth Street by Jim McManus
Big Deal by Anthony Holden
Poker Nation by Andy Bellin

I also enjoyed:

The Biggest Game in Town by A. Alvarez but I like the other three books above better while many readers swear that this is the best one.

More gambling related but still enjoyable to read:

The Man with the $100,000 breasts by Michael Konik
Telling Lies and Getting Paid by Michael Konik
Bringing Down the House by Ben Mezrich

Improve your poker by Bob Ciaffone. Really aided my understanding of the game.

SSHE and Theory of Poker by Sklanksy.

Also, I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that Monster_Josh would say Hellmuth's book.

Which, for the record, I am not saying.

For limit, plus Middle Limit Holdem by Ciaffone (seriously, a good book, advice is a little weak but over all completely solid)

Real Hands II by roy cooke, Inside the Poker Mind, Poker Essays Vol 1-3. Lots of books.

NL tournies: sklansky's book and HoH.

Killer Poker and Killer Poker Online by John Varhous
Zen and the art of Poker by Larry Phillips

one taught me to play it, the other taught me to not complain about it

I heard someone talk about how much a waste of money the vorhaus books were but I thought they were the best poker books out there (until I read Harrington on Holdem) and I love the Zen book.

I've benefited a little from each book I've read. The most recent I've picked up is 'Diary of a Mad Poker Player' by Richard Sparks.

"Diary..." is not overly technical, but still informative regarding strategy and it is sprinkled with bits of historical information and poker trivia that I find interesting.

I think the difference is that Sparks is a professional writer turned poker player, rather than the other way around.

http://www.madpokerplayer.com

Koroshiya :spadesa:

Harrington's Book by a mile for me.

Poker Nation by Andy Bellin is the best ever, I loved it and couldn't put it down...I think the readers can definitely identify with him in so many situations...I love the fact that it was written before the big "poker explosion" , when poker was still a sub-culture...now its totally mainstream.

Positvely Fifth Street may be the best poker book ever written. seriously. read it.

If you already have a decent understanding of poker, and you like to play tournaments, Slansky's Tournament poker for advanced players is by far the greatest book. Every chapter is full of useful info, which, even if you don't use it all, is good to know. One recommendation for NLH tournaments is that you act a bit more aggressively than he suggests with a good hand. TJ's book is not to bad either, though it is a bit too tight for my tastes.

Volume 1 from Harrington is the best book I have read, and I have read a fair number...I am anxiously awaiting Volume 2.

Why was Harrington's the best? Many different reasons, but the main one for me was the sample hands that he goes into great depth in analyzing. My NL tourney game has improved greatly since I read it (finish in the money 60% of the time in SNG's according to pokertracker since reading it), and I attribute it to these sample hands analysis.

A must read for anyone looking to improve their game. :wink:

I agree. I just read the first few chapters of Harrington on Hold Em and I am already playing better. His clear examples and solid tactical reasoning regarding on-line NL play are great.

Koroshiya

Thanks, guys. May you never feel a "disturbance in the Force".
Larry Phillips

P.S. I just finished reading Richard Sparks book, 'Diary of a Mad Poker Player". I never had such a range of reactions to a book-- I went from thinking "this is poor, elliptical, and unecessarily rambling" to "wow, this is brilliant", and then back again. Good parts on internet poker, and how safe and trustworthy it is. Nice fella-- I played O/8 online with him a week or so ago.

Well said. The book has brilliant bits and is a refreshing break from the more technical publications. It is exactly what it suggests in the title- a diary.

Richard is a good guy. I have played with him as well.

Koroshiya

i have a huge collection of poker books, and my favorite as far as entertainment is aces and kings. cool info about my fav players, reese and greenstein.

If you play low limit LHE and you haven't read SSHE, you're throwing money away.

The NLHE and Stud sections of SS are my favorites

I picked up Mike Sexton's book at an airport and read it straight through in one sitting (on the flight). Lot's of insight into the game and the people who play it.

Really good read and the guy knows what he's talking about.

Koroshiya

This is a good question, but it can be broken down depending on what you are looking for (games, limits, NL, etc.):

Games Variety (advanced play as well) - "Super System 2" by Doyle Brunson... hands down, this book has really elevated my game in not only Holdem (Limit & NL), but Omaha, Stud, & triple draw

Limit Holdem (Low Limit) - "Winning Low Limit Holdem" (WLLHE) by Lee Jones...this book is awesome, it really shows you the power of position, check-raising, raising (to gain a free card, value betting, hand protection...etc), playing shorthanded, into many opponents...I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ANYONE WHO PLAYS LOW LIMIT HOLDEM AT THEIR LOCAL CASINO (I.E. $2/$4, $3/$6, $4/$8)

Tournament Play - "Championship Limit & No Limit Holdem" by TJ Cloutier and Tom McEvoy...solid book by 2 of the games most solid tournament players

There are a ton of others but these are the books in my poker library...also, serious players should definitely subscribe or pick up CardPlayer magazine (its free @ the casino)...its another game helper

Someone already mentioned Bringing Down the House...while not a poker book, it's an amazing read for anyone who has the time. I did the whole thing in one sitting.

Trying to get through HEPFAP, but the quality of writing (especially the organization) is much, much worse than SSHE, which is making it harder.

There is an abundance of good literature out there on HE. Other games, not nearly as much. That's why I love SS2 so much.

Mine was HoH 1 until I got HoH 2. Seriously this book has helped me see things in a totally different order of decisions regarding tourney play. Hoh 1 has the ground work. HoH 2 tells you how to use it. Fantastic book.

The Theory of Poker is the best book for poker I've read.

These books are the best books on No limit tournaments (The in thing) hands down. Also read Tournament Poker for Advanced Players and you should be set.