Customer Reviews

Hustler Days: Minnesota Fats, Wimpy Lassiter, Jersey Red, and America's Great Age of Pool

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In HUSTLER DAYS, R. A. ?Jake? Dyer captures the turbulent lives of three lions who prowled the green felt jungle during the 1960s: Fats, Wimpy, and Red. Readers, such as myself, who play the game will feel as comfortable as if they were in their neighborhood poolroom. Readers less familiar with the game will discover it in all its varying nuances, through the colorful, yet accurate, depiction of these three anti-heroes.

I got this book as a gift and had no idea what to expect. Having no background or real knowledge about pool, I was completely delighted and mesmerized by an era of American culture I didn't even know existed. R.A. Dyer's storytelling of this time in history alowed me to be a voyeur of an age gone by; feeling the pool halls come alive with each page I read. I couldn't put the book down, needing to know what was coming next. Thank you R.A. Dyer for taking us on a rockin adventure with the likes of Fats, Red, Wimpy, and the rest of the boys!

My husband can't put this book down long enough for me to get my hands on it. He even drifts off to sleep holding it. It's amazing to me because he hasn't read a book in quite some time. I think his words were "never". He says it is extremely interesting and well written. A brand new pool table was just delivered, hum. Must be of great inspiration, a perfect Christmas gift for anyone.

I was absolutely fascinated by this book , I expect to see a movie with these characters to come in the future. John Goodman
as "Fats"? As a child of 12 I used to hang out at the local pool hall and watch guys who were inferior players to the likes
of R.A. Dyer's heroes grind it out for a few measly bucks a game.
This book accurately depicts how serious these guys were about
winning and being the best. This book took me back to my coming of age and answered a lot of questions I had about pool hustling
that I had been curious about for the last 30 years. You don't have to play the game to enjoy this dramatic telling of the golden age of pool hustling and that is the highest compliment any piece of literature can receive. Time to get the Meucci out
of the case again!

As a Middle School teacher, pool is not a topic I find particularly interesting. However, I became so wrapped up in the personalities of the characters I hated for the book to end! This is a must read as it provides insight into a period of time in American culture. As the holidays approach, Hustler Days by R.A. Dyer will certainly be at the top of my gift list for the men and sports lovers in my family!

R. A. Dyer's book is an interesting read that gives you an insight into the lives of three of the greatest legends to ever play the game of pool. He takes takes you back to the days of dark, smoky pool halls and the hustlers that made a living off of the innocent wanna-be's. However, this is not just a book about Fats, Wimpy, and Red, it's a book about life in a most difficult of times. If you love the game of pool and the history of the game, this is a must-read.

Watching the lives of these truly American sportsmen as they intersect is a fascinating human drama. Dyer draws you deeply into their worlds and then places you alongside them on their collision course. I'm not a pool aficionado, but I found this book impossible to put down. Highly recommended.

Pool is probably one of the few sports that the general public knows virtually next to nothing on. Ask anybody to name one pool player and the majority will say "Minnesota Fats". Most of the public would be amazed to find out that he wasn't a champion, never won a tournament, probably couldn't even beat half the country. This book explains how he could con a nation into thinking he was "the greatest" and in the process become single handedly the biggest promoter to the sport the game has ever known. Yes, this book is really about the true story of Rudolph Wanderone (Fats) and it is a very good read.

Who wouldn't want to be a pool hustler, being rich without ever having to work a day in your life? It's an exciting fantasy. To live in Little Egypt during the early 40's shooting pool with Minnesota Fats would've been incredible. Or riding with Sonny Barger in the mid 60's or any other kind of walk on the wild side fantasy one could concoct.

The author clearly feels the same way in a midlife crisis sort of way. The subject matter is definitely fascinating, but I wish R.A. Dyer could've taken himself out of the text more. The book reads like he learned all his tough guy speech patterns from Scorcese films.

Another thing that would've helped the prose is to explain the games more within the text. To an outsider it could get difficult during the game decriptions. It've been nice to not have to constantly check the glossary in the back.

This book is outstanding! It garners that rating because it accurately depicts the character and lifestyle of the three spot-lighted players. I know; I played Wimpy and the Squirrel in 1962 in Johnson City. I wasn't in the tournament per se, ( I had a real job) but came down on one weekend from Chicago with other Bensinger and 20th Century players ( Youngblood, Mexican Johnny, and Billy the Kid) for the action. I saw Fats there but never saw him play. He was side-betting and looking for prop plays. I saw Jersey Red at 20th Century in either the fall of '63 or '64, I can't pinpoint which. I'm "Inky".