Positively Fifth Street

Positively Fifth Street author: James McManus rating: asin: 0312422520 binding: Paperback list price: $15.00 USD amazon price: $10.20 USD

There may be a something of a negative public perception of the author of Positively Fifth Street, Jim McManus, due to a couple of grumpy TV appearances in the WSOP and the NBC Heads-up Championship. He's also well known, no doubt to his chagrin, as the guy who made a tilty call with a "jack" (really a queen, not that that's much better) high against Ellix Powers at the WSOP (speaking of calling with an actual jack high, you might want to see a guy do just that, which is even more amusing given that he's up against quad 5s).

That all being said, Positively Fifth Street is a tremendous book. It's my favorite poker non-fiction book of all and I can't recommend it enough to anyone who might enjoy a good real-life poker story mixed together with a lurid murder mystery. McManus gets assigned by Harper's to cover the 2000 World Series of Poker, so he heads down to Las Vegas with his advance cheque in his pocket. Like so many others he figures he might as well take a shot at the big prize when he's there, and wins a $1000 satellite to get an entry into the Main Event. I won't tell you what happens, but suffice it to say, he doesn't donk off all his chips in the first hour.

The book gets spiced up with a somewhat gratuitous, but fascinating account of Ted Binion's murder and the subsequent trial of his killers. McManus isn't afraid to talk about his virtual angel and devil on his shoulders, which he refers to as Good Jim/Bad Jim, who inform his decision-making at strip clubs. He's also forever calling his wife for approvals/negotiation/rebuking, which I'm sure will resonate well with married readers of this book.

McManus has a terrific perspective on his experience. He's obviously a little insecure, given that he's an amateur swimming with the sharks, but he lays it all out in this book. He's very perceptive, passing along a lot of detail that really brings the tournament to life. Many of the big hands in the tournament are recounted and while this isn't a strategy book, there are quite a few useful concepts explained.

This book defines "poker literature" for me. I think you'll love it.