Customer Reviews

The Ultimate Cigar Book (3rd Ed)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

We all have plenty of work related reference matierials, but few of us can say that we have great reference matierials for our leisure actities. I have been an cigar smoker for 7 years and an avid smoker for the last three. I have purchased many books to elevate my knowledge of the subject. The other books are nice, but I could have saved considerable time and money if I had purchased "The Ultimate Cigar Book" first. This book takes you from the very first cigar smoked in public to the most recent develpments in the world of cigars. Hacker covers the processes of cigar production and the places that they are made. The Author essentially fills the middle section with tips and sage advice in an easily readable style reminiscent of the "Idiots Guide to..." Books. By my last comment, I don't mean to say that Hacker's approach is simplistic or lacking in any way. The end of the book has an index of cigar brands which covers the spectrum from Absolute to Zino, and gives great information on the Cuban brands as well. If you are a person who loves a great cigar, ( or would like information to help make your selections more successful) "The Ultimate Cigar Book" is a must read!

I'm enjoying an Ashton Cabinet right now as I write this review in the predawn hours of Christmas Day 2000. I can't say enough about this book. I spent north of $1500 buying cigars and related stuff before I read this book, much of which could have been better spent had I read it first.

Richard, beyond being the consumate cigar afficianado, is a likeable guy, and has a great sense of humor. For instance, when discussing how to smoke a cigar and the ash that forms at the end, he refers to this as "leaving the Mother Ship". What a funny guy!

The best parts: 1) How to light a cigar (stop offending others by doing it right, 2) The comprehensive list of brands in the back, which offers not only great info but a nice shopping list upon your next trip to the tobacconist.

This is a guy I would love to enjoy a cigar and a fine port with, discussing his many cigar adventures. Buy this book!

This has been my first cigar book. I have found it very comprehensive and informative. Now, I enjoy other fields of cigar-world as well after so many books on the subject but still this had been most informative for a novice.

This is an outstanding guide to cigars. It is humorous, emphasizes consideration for others, but also stands up against the PC "nannyism" infecting much of the USA. Bravo for a well-done job.

You definitely need a good book before start spending your money on this "expensive" habit.

This book answers your questions if you are a beginner, and enriches your pleasure if you are already in; it is very generous in information, history and smart notices that you better follow to avoid unecessary disappointments.

One minor defect: the writer give a lot of account for politic? and personalities? and attempts to give you an impression that: if you smoke cigars, you are a part of a community!! Actually, I do not think that Kenedy has anything in common with Saddam Hussein or Arnold.

However, this defect is minor, the book still the best in the market.

The first half of the book is a really well-written beginners introduction into the world of cigars, their history, making, smoking, storing and other vital knowledge.
The author's an expert, and he' renowned, no doubt about it. That said, I'd appreciated that much more if he would have missed just a single opportunity to ply the reader with that fact.
The second half of the book therefore is rather a description of the self-absorbed world of Richard Carleton Hacker - who I had never heard of before, but now I know he shared a cigar with Arnold Schwarzenegger - and he couldn't help including a photo of that.
That aside: A truly enjoyable read for everybody who is into cigars.

This book was pretty interesting and had a lot of detail to the history of manufacturers. My one complaint about the entire book is: I would have liked it if a 4th Edition were available, with updtated manufacurers and their histories. The author is very proud about his knowledge and definitely comes across pompous. I would recommend it to a cigar smoker...but at these prices for the 3rd Edition...I think you can do without the information.

This work has been highly overrated, since it is far from being the "ultimate" cigar book.
Firstly, it is no book for an experienced cigar smoker: it covers all of the basics soley for the novice, and only for the American novice, at that ("...our own Connecticut leaf..."). Admittedly, Mr. Hacker does this quite competently, although he either is unaware of myriads of cigar lovers outside the U.S., or has chosen to ignore them.
Secondly, this book would be more aptly entitled "The Ultimate Ego Trip," for the text is riddled with rather annoying examples of the author's unabashed conceit regarding his supposed expertise and his influence on - get this - the Cugan cigar industry!
Worst of all, however, is Mr. Hacker's claim - and in this he aligns himself with his American cigar commentator collegues - that non-Cuban smokes have now equaled, or even surpassed, the quality of Habanos. This absurd pretense - which is unknown amongst any of the scores of non-American cigar veterans I am familiar with - has its roots in the insidious Cuba-bashing campaign initiated by "Cigar Aficionado" magazine, which sought to promote sales of non-Cuban cigars by grossly exaggerating their positive attributes while debasing the quality of Habanos. It is most unfortunate that novice (American) smokers are liable to be influenced by this illusion in their quest for a premium cigar.
My advice, then, is that if you feel compelled to purchase this book, do attempt to separate fact from (Mr. Hacker's) fiction.

The title speaks for itself, it is indeed the ultimate cigar
book. Written for the newcomer as well as the long time cigar
aficionado. Perhaps Mr. Carleton Hacker will bless us with
an exclusive book on Cubanos and elaborate on their rich history,
current markets, counterfiting, proper storage and enjoyment.
Go ahead and buy this one first, you won't regret it!!

God like!

Best book all around, lot's of information, piles and mountain of it, no pro or against cigar propaganda, a work of art, and a must read for all cigar fans.