All In: The (Almost) Entirely True Story of the World Series of Poker [Paperback]

Jonathan Grotenstein (Author), Storms Reback (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 19, 2006

All In is the story of the greatest tournament in the world---the World Series of Poker--- from its humble beginnings in 1970 as a mere gathering of Texas road gamblers to its present status as a cultural phenomenon, attracting exhaustive national television coverage, legions of fans, and thousands of players.
      Professional poker players themselves, authors Jonathan Grotenstein and Storms Reback take an entertaining look at this unique experience, recounting its history through the breathtaking and sometimes brutal hands played at the Horseshoe's tables. They introduce the colorful and seemingly fearless characters who have been lured by huge paydays---and the chance to play against the best in the world; including the legends Doyle Brunson, Amarillo Slim, Stuey "The Kid" Ungar, and Chris Moneymaker.
      All In is a no-limit look at the phenomenal transformation of poker from a vice hidden in shady back rooms into the hottest game on the planet.

 

"Jonathan Grotenstein and coauthor Storms Reback, have done a remarkable job of research in writing All In."
---PokerMag.com
 
"If you've ever played a hand of Texas Hold'em, you won't want to miss this book."
---Amarillo Slim Preston, 1972 World Series of Poker champion and author of Amarillo Slim in a World Full of Fat People
 
"Almost every poker aficionado will greatly enjoy this book."
--- Card Player magazine
 
"Reading this book is like having Johnny Moss, Doyle Brunson, Amarillo Slim, and every single one of the World Series of Poker champions over to the house for dinner, a beer, tall tales, and a fine game of No-Limit Texas Hold'em."
---Phil Gordon, coauthor of Poker: The Real Deal and cohost of Celebrity Poker Showdown

 

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The authors, both professional poker players and writers, offer the definitive history of a tournament that has grown from humble beginnings in 1970, with a mere eight players, into a cultural phenomenon with over 2,500 entrants and millions of dollars in prize money. In the world of poker, there are as many side stories as there are players, and Grotenstein and Reback mine to good effect the lore surrounding old school legends like Doyle "Dolly" Brunson, as well as the new generation of players who have gained notoriety; there are stories of booms and busts, of preternatural abilities to "read" opponents, of breathtaking bluffs and sometimes tragic flaws. Much of the book is devoted to recounting the pivotal hands that decided the outcomes of the 30-odd years of tournament play as well as insightful analysis of those hands. The allure of tournament poker—no doubt built in part on the fantasy that anyone, like the amateur 2003 WSOP winner Chris Moneymaker, can beat the Michael Jordans of the poker world—will bring many readers "all in."
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"There is something for everyone in this entertaining account, history, description of pivotal hands, family feuding, criminal investigations." - The New York Times Book Review."

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (September 19, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312360371
• ISBN-13: 978-0312360375
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #328,175 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jonathan Grotenstein is a reasonably successful author and ghost-writer (read: working), less-than-successful screenwriter, and recovering professional poker player.

After spending much of the '90s on an Internet thrill ride, Grotenstein realized he could make a far more honest living at the poker table, where there's no need to suspect that everyone is lying to make a buck. (They are.) He succeeded more than he failed, but quickly discovered that he could achieve significantly more consistent results as a poker-playing writer than a writing poker player.

In 2004, he and Phil Gordon co-authored "Poker: The Real Deal," which became, thanks to a lack of any serious competition at the time, one of the best-selling poker books in history. Grotenstein collaborated with Gordon on two sequels, ghost-wrote "Online Ace" for poker pro Scott Fischman, then teamed up with Storms Reback to write "All In: The (Almost) Entirely True History of the World Series of Poker." He contributed (and, in some cases, donated) dozens of articles to the poker magazine "All In" and primers on poker and blackjack for the Lonely Planet's guide to Las Vegas.

He has also authored several feature-film screenplays, a couple of which have actually generated significant interest. (Translation: numerous time-consuming meetings, note sessions and extensive rewrites, adding up to approximately $700 in material compensation.) He played the not-at-all-pivotal role of "Poker Dealer," opposite the late, great Patrick Swayze, in an episode of A&E's "The Beast."

Grotenstein resides in Pasadena with his wife and two sons, where, when he's not toiling away at his crappy novel, he continues to ghost-write for TV stars, NFL veterans, celebrity dog trainers, and the occasional fictional character. His current project, "Ship It Holla Balla!" -- the true story of a group of teenagers who made ridiculous money and even more ridiculous life-decisions during the late '00s online poker boom -- will be published by St. Martin's Press in 2012.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All In the way in it's told, December 11, 2005

By 

C. Mehringer (Miami, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: All In: The (Almost) Entirely True Story of the World Series of Poker (Hardcover)

A story is all in the way it's told, and Grotenstein and Reback do it remarkably well here. They bring the Series to life in a way that makes the book an engaging narrative rather than a standard chronology. Similar to McManus's POSITIVELY FIFTH STREET in that it provides rich background on the game's most colorful players. However, ALL IN is more tightly written and edited. I especially liked the coverage of Stu Ungar. All told, ALL IN was a great read-- challenging enough for poker veterans yet accessible to those unfamilar with the WSOP and its storied past.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fun, historical ride of the World Series of Poker., April 13, 2006

By 

Daniel A. Olson (Colorado) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: All In: The (Almost) Entirely True Story of the World Series of Poker (Hardcover)

Nope. There are no discussions of how to play poker here. But whether or not you play poker you will enjoy this book. As the title says, it's (almost) the entirely true story of how the WSOP got started, the bumps along the way, and of course, the characters involved. It takes you from the humble beginnings to the behemuth that it is today.

And such stories...like the 1972 WSOP had 13 entrants, but only 8 of them played because they would rather play in the lucrative sides games than the WSOP. 1972 is also the year that Benny Binion made it a $10,000 buy-in...but paid half of it for the players who entered.

You'll watch the rise of the Binion family only to see it implode along the lines of a "Dallas" script. You'll read where a tournament director was fired because he refused to move old grumpy Johnny Moss who didn't want to sit by the railbirds during the tournament. Stories of great poker players like Jack Strauss, Doyle Brunson, Amarillo Slim and others fill this book. Read how Jessie Alto, who made the final table 6 times, went on a full tilt after he was bluffed out of a pot.

It's a fast read and I definitely recommned it to anyone who has a passing interest in poker.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You CAN handle the truth., October 3, 2005

By 

Dmitry Portnoy (Studio City, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: All In: The (Almost) Entirely True Story of the World Series of Poker (Hardcover)

A fast-paced, suspenseful and hysterically funny inside account not just of the WSOP, but of the secret fraternity of poker in Post-WWII America. Every paragraph contains a surprising fact, a shocking detail, a colorful anecdote, and frequently all three. The authors' concise and lucid blow-by-blow of the most famous hands in poker history is more than matched by their color commentary on the personalities involved. Although the book contains no photographs, the players, their styles, their histories are described so vividly that you'll recognize them in a second if one of them sits down at your table. For that alone, this book is indispensable.