Amarillo Slim in a World Full of Fat People: The Memoirs of the Greatest Gambler Who Ever Lived [Hardcover]

Amarillo Slim Preston (Author), Greg Dinkin (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 6, 2003

If there's anything I'll argue about, I'll either bet on it or shut up. And since it's not becoming for a cowboy to be arguing, I've made a few wagers in my day. But in my humble opinion, I'm no hustler. You see, neighbor, I never go looking for a sucker. I look for a champion and make a sucker out of him."

Amarillo Slim might be the greatest gambler who ever lived, but it's his down-home charm and folksy storytelling that have made him an American idol and media darling. Slim is a legend, as American as Paul Bunyan, Jesse James, and P.T. Barnum. In Amarillo Slim in a World Full of Fat People, T.A. "Amarillo Slim" Preston will tell the tall tales of his fascinating life. Slim will describe some of his greatest gambling exploits -- from winning the World Series of Poker to creating extraordinary proposition bets to running the biggest black market in Europe during the war while giving pool exhibitions (read: hustling) on military bases for Uncle Sam. Among others, Slim beat Willie Nelson for $300,000 playing dominoes; Larry Flynt for $2 million playing poker. He has played poker with presidents Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon, and drug lords Pablo Escobar and Jimmy Chagra. He was also one of the pioneers of Las Vegas. Plain and simple, Amarillo Slim is America's greatest gambler of all time.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Legendary gambler Amarillo Slim Preston, who captured the World Series of Poker in 1972 and has legitimately snookered more money out of more people than most of us make in a lifetime, steers clear of elaborating on the particulars of such games as Texas Hold 'Em in this off-the-cuff, even flighty tour through his often literally death-defying adventures. Since he's played with the likes of Evel Knievel, Willie Nelson and Minnesota Fats, it is a smooth narrative decision on Preston's part to devote his folksy charm to describing the various characters he has encountered, not the mechanics of how he always beat them (his first rule for poker success is "Play the players more than you play the cards"). He was eventually able to make a career out of gambling, sending his three children to college and leading a comfortable life on his winnings (perhaps the most revealing episode arrives late in the memoir when the nationally known gambler who charmed the now- deceased drug lord Pablo Escobar talks about his joy in coaching his children's Little League team). Like all natural-born sharps, though, Preston knows the virtue of keeping his cards close to his chest, which is a fine strategy at the poker table, but a poor narrative one. Passing phrases such as "I got into some tax trouble" are left curiously unexplained while the author's more self-aggrandizing adventures garner elaborate attention. But when an author has won $2 million from Larry Flynt, and tells the story of it so good-naturedly, readers will pardon the selective nature of his reminiscences.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Pool hustler, sports bookie, and card player Amarillo Slim is a champion of the World Series of Poker, which he also helped create. But he's probably best known for the many outrageous "proposition" bets he's won--including playing one-pocket pool with Minnesota Fats using a broom handle, golf with Evel Knievel using a carpenter's hammer, and ping-pong with Bobby Riggs using an iron skillet. Although this autobiography is a bit heavy on the braggadocio, Slim and coauthor Dinkin provide a stacked deck of amusing anecdotes guaranteed to bring a smile to the toughest poker face. As readers follow Slim from his school days in Arkansas and Texas all the way up to a near-fatal fall he took in the Idaho backcountry last year at age 74, they'll pick up a gambling education as well, learning how to hustle the suckers by guessing which sugar cube a fly will land on, or by hitting a golf ball a mile. Frank Sennett
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: HarperEntertainment; 1 edition (May 6, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060542357
• ISBN-13: 978-0060542351
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #668,754 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Angela's Ashes for High Rollers May 7, 2003

By louienapoli

Format:Hardcover

Among poker players, Slim is already a legend as one of the Founding Fathers of modern poker. His memoir, which I understand is being made into a movie (Nicholas Cage reportedly wants to play Slim), should broaden his audience. Slim's distinctive voice is in every sentence, and it's a voice that makes you want to listen forever. One of the startling things that comes through, though Slim doesn't push it at all, is the fact that this man has an amazing mathematical mind (I'd bet his IQ is well north of "Exceptional"). Coupled with an insight into people that would make Freud envious, Slim has all the right ingredients for a millionaire gambler who made his first million at nineteen--while serving a tour of duty in the Army. This book could be required reading for the business crowd who gobble up books by CEOs and politicians. Except you won't find palaver in here about corporate spirit, etc. Slim is a lone wolf who chose, in his words, "a hard way to make an easy living." Henry Miller said that for him, reading I.B. Singer was "like eating pie," pure pleasure that went down easy and made you want more. That's what reading this memoir was like for me. I have the attention span of a gnat, but once I started reading, I didn't want to do anything else. When the book was over I wished I could have opened Volume Two. The literati might treat this book with condescension, like it's a novelty item. If gripping narrative, life lessons, laugh-out-loud humor and sheer honesty don't add up to literature, I want to stay clear of the Critics' Picks. This is a memoir that conveys the entirety of the writer on every page, and it does it without a drop of pretension.... If you dislike gambling, this book might not be for you, but if you like gambling, or are indifferent to it but enjoy books that deal with business strategy and tactics, I think you'll like this a lot. It made this New Yorker want to move to the Lone Star State, put on a ten gallon hat, and make regular trips to Vegas for some action. Read more ›

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars A lot of Fun September 28, 2003

By Thomas Stamper VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

The most striking thing about Slim's life is his ability to win money gambling on so many different things. I wouldn't think a good pool hustler that could beat Minnesota Fats could also win the World Series of Poker. I'm surprised that Slim could win thousands playing dominoes with Willie Nelson and also beat Bobby Riggs playing Ping Pong. The one unifying factor is that Slim has had an amazing ability to figure out an edge against an opponent. Once he can find an angle he can beat people at their best game. The book provides numerous examples of how Slim has used that edge.

Brains have also kept Slim from harm. He was more than willing to risk a misdemeanor to run his Texas Bookmaking business, but when Federal Law made bookmaking a felony, Slim immediately quit the business whereas his friend Sailor was stubborn and eventually went to jail.

There's a good amount of material about run-ins with Slim's nemesis Jimmy the Greek. Slim didn't like the Greek. Some of it was due to the Greek's inflated ego and iffy character, and though some explanation is provided it seems that the reasons for the animosity go deeper than the basic descriptions. I bet a whole book could be written on their associations.

What Slim doesn't do in the book is explain big bets that he lost. There isn't any reflection on the times people have outsmarted him. I'm sure very few have, but it would have been interesting to hear Slim explain what he learned from those events.

The book flows nicely and I laughed I quite a bit at Slim's down home witticisms. If you like gambling or the people who do, this book will provide an entertaining afternoon at the beach.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book Ever, Man May 22, 2003

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

Slim is a slice of Americana--a real piece of Texas and the last living cowboy. This memoir tells the fascinating tales of his fascinating life and has you laughing out loud after every page. Not only is this the best memoir I've ever read, but it's the best book on hustling and gambling, putting every other book on the market to shame. You'll not only be entertained with every one of Slim's tall tales, but you'll also learn about life and what it takes to make millions of dollars without ever having to hold down a steady job. A must read for anyone interested in a living legend and an American icon.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "Gambling,a hard way to make a living.." February 25, 2004

By J. Guild TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover

I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir. It is very well written and without a doubt exceedingly well researched .Although I am not a gambler,I found it gave an excellent look at life in the world of high stakes gambling.As with any profession there are all sorts at the top.I like the comment by Oscar Wilde who said,"There are not good or bad people,only interesting or dull people."Amarillo Slim has to be one of the most interesting in the world of gambling which has always had some great characters.Slim is portrayed as a gentle giant but hard as steel.
This book is full of surprises.For instance;supposedly Minnsota Fats couldn't read or write--that's not to say he wasn't a super communicator.The most important ability that comes out as a fundamental requirement for a successful gambler is not knowing the ability of your opponent but knowing your own ,keeping an edge and living with the odds,win or lose.This is true in all walks of life.Here we see that even Slim breaks the rule at times,as in the episode with the alligator and shows even he is human.If there was any idea he always had to contend with it was :
"A guy like me ain't supposed to be scared of nobody.".
The book is full of good Texas talk and wisdom;for example;
"Straight pool was about as obsolete as washing clothes
on a rock in the river."
"You can bet whatever you can pay off."
"Texas Dolly is hotter than a widow woman's love."
"Stay close to your friends and even closer to your enemies."
"Don't p--- on my shoes and tell me it's raining."
"You can shear a sheep many a time,but you can skin it only
once...."
And finally;
"Don't argue,if there's anything worth arguing about,either
bet on it or shut up."
Hope you like it,I sure did! Read more ›