Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

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!

In a way it's fitting that the most entertaining poker book ever written contains total detail about the most dramatic game of poker ever played, by the greatest card man of the twentieth century. I'm talking about the truly legendary, Thomas Austin "Amarillo Slim" Preston. His amazing book, Amarillo Slim In A World Full of Fat People, is for poker what the BBC's Top Gear is to motoring: funny, wicked, informative and entertaining. If Jeremy Clarkeson is reading this, that wipes out any future poker debts I might accrue!

In the early nineties, Slim was invited help launch the Casino de Caribe in Cartagena, Columbia by casino boss Lynn Simon. Amarillo was flattered to be asked at this late stage in his career only to discover that he would be playing some of the deepest untaxed pockets in the world:namely, the major drug lords of the Columbian cartels. Playing poker for the very highest stakes is nerve racking at the best of times: now just imagine that you're about to have a showdown with Pablo Escobar, probably the most feared cold-blooded killer on Earth. Turns out Pablo just wanted to be friends and show Slim his mansion, his zoo and that he was in charge of Columbia. Once this had been established, Escobar's helicopter dropped Amarillo back at the Caribe. The tall Texan then proceeded to financially disable some of the deadliest Cartel bosses, under protection from a Swiss style physical safety agreement, which they honoured under pain of death from Escobar. Apparently Pablo himself didn't fair well at poker against the card playing cowboy, leaving the Columbian poker challenge to come from his under bosses, who lost the equivalent of 'a week's supply' to the six foot four American.

By the third day the physical safety agreement broke down when one of the Cali Cartel bosses decided to shoot a disloyal girlfriend with a pump action shotgun about a yard from where Amarillo was standing. This should have been Slim's signal to catch the next jet home to Texas but he readily confesses to a liking for danger and besides, a quote from the man himself betrays another reason to stay: "I'd never seen men with more money and less brains than these drug lords." The cowboy stayed and rounded up a mountain of cash before high-tailing it back to cattle country.

In the lives of most card players, the above true story would stand out as the most remarkable of adventures, but trust me, to a man who had won a million dollars by the age of 19, played poker with two Presidents and driven a golf ball over a mile, it was just one of many.

I feel with the sudden explosion of Poker in popularity,will we begin to see even more of these type books.Amarilo Slim takes us from his early days as a Pool hustler to exciting times as a road gambler.I feel as a Poker Player myself the book intersted me most
with his stories of being on the road with Doyle Brunson and Sailor Roberts. I highly reccomend this book if you want to learn the history of how Poker was before the present day acceptance of it.

Amarillo Slim is the true all American Hero. His stories of traveling the world and gambling with virtually everyone will have you riveted to the pages. I highly recommend this book. If poker is your game, sports betting, pool or any other gambling type activity, Slim will thoroughly entertain you till the early hours of the morning.

Nothing serious here, but an amusing accounting of one man's unusual life (and profession). Slim's colorful turn of phrase is most amusing, and his exploits entertaining. Breeze through it in one sitting, then pass it along.

This one reads and feels like a movie. Upon finishing it, its hard not to question that someone actually lead a life like Slim has, but unlike that Hollywood film, this is all real. This book is not winning any literary awards, nor will it stand the test of time, but for what it is, a light-hearted, good-natured, very quick read, it couldn't be more suited for a beach chair, or an escape from a stressful workday. Definitely enjoyable.

This has to be of the most entertaining books I've ever read. From rafting down the "River Of No Return" in winter to beating Minnesota Fats in pool with a broom, this book is filled with amazing stories and insights into the unbelievable life of Amarillo Slim.