Amazon.com
George Alston, an expert dog handler for more than 30 years, teams with author Connie Vanacore on The Winning Edge: Show Ring Secrets. Combining sports psychology and dog showing, topics include psychocybernetics, the making of a show dog, learning from the competition, and etiquette and sportmanship. The Winning Edge: Show Ring Secrets is "an essential for every dog exhibitor's bookshelf."
Book Description
George Alston has been one of the country's preeminent professional handlers for over thirty years. Now, the secrets of his success are shared with every dog fancier.
The Winning Edge is the very first book to apply sports psychology to dog showing. Here, serious exhibitors, including the seasoned veteran, will have the opportunity to develop and polish the skills necessary to take a place in the winners' circle. With award-winning author Connie Vanacore, George Alston shows us all how to gain consistent success in the only sport in which amateurs compete directly with the professionals. Chapters focus on the advantages of being an amateur and underscore the necessity for the mental preparation and psychology that are essential to every exhibitor's success.
The authors cover every ingredient in the recipe for show ring success, with chapters on the perfect handler, the making of a show dog, psychocybernetics, where and how to focus when in the ring and learning from the competition.
The Winning Edge, an essential for every dog exhibitor's bookshelf, now makes George Alston's professional know-how available to everyone with the desire to win.
A Howell Dog Book of Distinction
Customer Reviews:
FANTASTIC.......2007-09-19
This book is an absolute must have if you want to enter the wonderful world of dogshows!
I've been showing for some time, and this book tought me so much, made me think things differently and be a better handler.
I absolutely recommend it to everyone involved in showing!
Puppy Intensive Care: A Breeder's Guide to Care of Newborn Puppies.......2007-07-22
nicely put together also I would recemmend this book to people that are just starting in the breeding world.
For an experience breeder I would want more infos ans explainations.
But over all a great book
Pay Attention!.......2007-07-20
That seems to be the main message George Alston is giving. Pay attention to your dog, the judge, the ring conditions, and your competition. He gives great advice on how to adjust your stride, the leash, your grooming, etc. to give your dog the best opportunity to win. He also includes wonderful chapters on Psychology and Ring Etiquette, something that can make or break the handler - not just the dog. He shows showing as the art, not just the mechanics.
Must have for a Show Dogs Library.......2007-01-18
When I spoke to my dogs breeder, her comment was that I needed this book. I was happy to tell her I had already ordered and read it! She is a veteran and reads it every Spring before she steps into the Show Ring to brush up on things. I found it to be very helpful as a beginner and I've found it even more helpful after I've been in the ring a couple of times. It leaves out a lot of the "fluff" but is a great companion book to some of the others that start out at the very beginning. Very easy to read. Confidence builder!
The Winning Edge:Show Rings Secrets by George Alston.......2006-12-08
Haven't been showing dogs for long so I was looking for any pointers to polish up my act. This book was great I read it from start to finish and about to turn around and do it again. Highly recommended !!!!!!!!!!
Book Description
A survival manual for the corporate jungle Office politics are a fact of corporate life. From new hire to experienced executive, everyone needs to learn how to effec-tively play the game to win. From sizing up the political climate in the office, to building positive relationships to increasing political power, Secrets to Winning at Office Politics is the handbook for achieving on-the-job success. Marie McIntyre, organizational psychologist and corporate coach, reveals proven strategies to: -Turn adversaries into allies -Counter colleagues' powerplays -Develop an influence strategy -Cope with quirky bosses and annoying coworkers -Achieve personal and professional goals.
Customer Reviews:
how to achieve your goals and increase your influence at work.......2007-05-13
The book is very descriptive of what to do to get ahead in any organization. I really enjoying it
Yep, it's true........2007-02-20
Reading this book is like reading the manual for just about any corporation with more than 20 people. It doesn't matter where you go, you will run into a lot of what you will find in this book. It certainly doesn't hurt to be prepared.
A "must read" for every professional!.......2007-02-07
I read this book before staring my new job. I feel more prepared than ever for what I need to do to be successful. This book was so thorough and content-rich, I put tabs in it and carry it with me to work . . . just in case I need to reference something or need a "refresher course". I recommend this book for seasoned professionals as well as those just entering the workforce!
Give this book to graduates and employees!.......2005-08-01
The title of Chapter One in Secrets to Winning at Office Politics says it all, "Politics is not a dirty word." Office politics has always had a negative connotation but in reality it has just taken a bad rap. Secrets reminds us that office politics is simply the reality of relationships and Dr. Marie McIntyre shows us all how to play the game - honestly, ethically and successfully.
McIntyre uses real life examples from her experience working for a Fortune 500 company and her consulting business to give the reader an excellent view of the real world at the office. Her straightforward yet entertaining style is refreshing and her practical advice and self-assessment questions and surveys make the book a gem.
Secrets lays out in very practical and anecdotal style how one can succeed simply by understanding the unwritten rules of working with and for someone. What is unique about the book is the openness with which the subject is discussed - the real life examples are those we can all relate to as an employee, a boss, a parent, a teacher or a friend. It provokes a kind of self-evaluation that some people never seriously consider.
Give this book to every high school or college graduate you know! If you are the boss, read it, and then encourage your employees to do the same. It's a keeper.
Amazon.com
If you've been laboring under the illusion that your grandmother just smashed berries into a jar or that pickles grew on exotic pickle trees, prepare to be enlightened with Linda J. Amendt's Blue Ribbon Preserves: Secrets to Award-Winning Jams, Jellies, Marmalades & More. Canning, as shown in this exhaustive edition, is as much a science as an art, and this book includes every detail to educate the uninformed on what it takes to make great preserves.
Her recipes include the standards, such as strawberry jam, and the obscure, such as Garlic and Onion Jam. Amendt also does the public service of explaining the real difference between jams and jellies. Special caution about food safety holds a prominent place in Blue Ribbon Preserves and Amendt teaches us how to chose optimal foods for canning as well as how to safely store preserves to avoid potentially lethal food contamination. Be prepared for a bit of a chemistry lesson, which can be a long and sometimes didactic read, but it's well worth it for the critical food-safety information.
So complete is the book that Amendt, herself a recipient of countless state-fair awards for her preserves, includes pointers on how to succeed at such competitions (in a very thorough chapter which includes insights into how judges pick their winners). Blue Ribbon Preserves covers everything that goes into a ball jar and more, and in the process earns not only a tight seal of quality but its own blue ribbon. --Teresa Simanton
Book Description
Blue Ribbon Preserves features the award-winning recipes, canning tips, and methods for making preserves that have made Linda J. Amendt one of the top prize-winning cooks in the nation. This handy and helpful volume explains how to make the finest jams, jellies, marmalades, preserves, conserves, butters, curds, fruit, vegetables, juices, sauces, pickles, vinegars, syrups, and specialty preserves. Plus, it has a complete canning guide with the latest methods and safety precautions.
Customer Reviews:
My new best friend for preserving.......2007-10-20
I found that this book had some really interesting recipes that I am inclined to try. One of which has already been done. Looking forward to taste testing this winter.
Excellent recipes! .......2007-08-28
Finally! A canning book that has recipes that I have never seen before! Awesome!
Loved it!.......2007-01-15
I have several canning / preserve books. I had originally picked up a copy of this book at a second hand book store. I was interested in making some liquor reciped for holiday giftgiving and this book had several. After looking through the book, I became more endeared to it. It reviews how to make each recipe in the best way in the hopes of winning the "Blue Ribbon" at teh fair. I am not interested in participating in the fair. I am interested in preparing delicious, beautiful canned items for myself as well as gift giving. This book gives great recipes. I loaned my original book copy out to a friend who shares the same love of cooking as myself. Knowing the friend, I realized I may never get the book back (she's a little crazy and I knew she would love it too!). I let her keep my copy and used this as an excuse to purchase a nice new copy for myself. If you are interested in canning/preserving/gift giving, I recommend this book for yourself or as a a gift for someoone else.
From a Long-Time Canner.......2006-11-06
I have been putting up jams and other preserved food for more than thirty years, and of the many books I have on preserving, this is my favorite. It would probably be overwhelming for first-timers, who should buy the Ball Blue Book to start, but for anyone with experience these recipes are wonderful.
I cannot vouch for the pickling sections - my husband cannot eat pickles so I don't make them, but the jam, jelly and marmalade recipes are fabulous. The nectarine jam recipe alone is worth the price of this book - I made several batches of nectarine and next year I will make more - these jars are flying off the shelf. The "Peach Melba" recipe, using the classic combination of peach and raspberry is incomparable, and the Apricot-Plum and Apricot-Pineapple recipes are just excellent. I have not been disappointed in any recipe, and I envision using a number over the coming seasons for which I didn't have time this summer.
Real Life Success With These Recipes.......2006-08-12
Here's a news story from my local paper about this book:
"The road to blue ribbon recognition began appropriately enough for Jane Radford, when her best friend Sarah gave her the book Blue Ribbon Preserves by Linda J. Amendt as a Christmas gift.
"Canning is a lost science and I've always thought it is sad to let this tradition fade," says Radford.
So for a few months she read up on the art of canning and then when her husband and son gave her a canner as a Mother's Day gift she was off and running.
Radford entered in 68 categories in the fair. She came away with 50 ribbons, 29 Blue 1st place (19 in Food Preservation; 10 in Baked Goods and Candies; 13 Red 2nd place; 7 White 3rd place and 1 Yellow 4th place ribbon.
She also took five Grand Champion ribbons:
Jellies (Blackberry); Pickles- (Spiced Sweet Peach Pickle); Collection of 5 Cannings (Fruit); and Candies (Butterfly Mints)"
Book Description
Through extensive research and interviews, Scatoni and Fornatale have found that there are specific traits that these successful gamblers share. By combining elements of traditional business analysis with proven handicapping methods and practical lessons learned in the wagering trenches, these unique professionals have developed a model for consistent success. They not only understand the fundamentals of value analysis, money management, and betting strategy, but also have developed the discipline and mental fortitude that ultimately separate the knowledgeable enthusiast from the successful investor. After interviewing more than two dozen professional players, the authors have identified the six secrets that all of these successful individuals have in common. Whether you're a casual weekend player or a serious fan contemplating turning pro, al of the practical elements for success are candidly revealed in this truly fascinating journey into the gambling habits of the world's greatest players. Interviews with horseplayers Andrew Beyer, Paul Braseth, Dave Cascuna, Paul Cornman, Steven Crist, Ernie Dahlman, Steve Davidowitz, Cary Fotias, Brad Free, Len Friedman, Randy Gallo, Dave Gutfreund, Jim Mazur, Barry Meadow, Gerry Okenuff, James Quinn, Roxy Roxborough, Andy Serling. Other gamblers interviewed include blackjack expert Kevin Blackwood and poker champions Clonie Gowen, Howard Lederer and Amarillo Slim Preston.
Customer Reviews:
Lacks Focus.......2006-10-11
I thought this book lacked focus and detail. Its basically a collection of thoughts from a number of so called "Pros" who use various methods and comment on what I consider to be the basics. I didn't buy it looking for handicapping advice(which is fortunate it has none)but I did expect some detail about wagering based on the books title. Instead it is a bunch of philisophical ramblings from a few well known handicappers and some who chose not to be identified. You'll laugh,(not really) you'll cry, you'll kiss 20 bucks goodbye. I can't reccomend it.
This book talks about all the essentials of horse handicapping.......2006-09-06
This book uses the words from the mouths of successful bettors to tell the readers what the essential factors on horse handicapping and betting are. These essential factors include edge, track bias, record keeping, money management, and some psychological factors etc. This book is good in the sense that it offers the readers a quick look on the factors that lead to successful horse handicapping and betting. It is then up to the readers to explore in details each of these factors in other books so as to strengthen their horse handicapping and betting skills.
As an experienced horse player who have read over 20 books on horse handicapping and betting, I cannot find any more secrets from these successful bettors. However, this book refreshes me and reconfirms my knowledge again.
Solid advice with a different approach.......2006-08-09
This isn't a book that will greatly improve your handicapping, but it does explore the insights of professional gamblers and how they are able to make a living in the game. I found this was a more relaxing read than usual handicapping books that keep my nose in the pages for fear of missing some nugget of information. Though the subject matter is a group of professionals, it works for the recreational handicapper who gains a better understanding of what the pro's do to approach their business.
Interesting Perspectives from the Pro's.......2006-01-20
This book won't teach you how to handicap thoroughbred races. However, if you are already an experienced handicapper, it will give you some interesting comments to digest, all from well known professionals.
The six secrets aren't very secret anymore, but the views expressed are worth reading, and are particularly entertaining when the pro's disagree.
six secrets of successful betters.......2005-08-17
it kept my intrest , however i expected it to cover more of what type of plays these guys make at the track.
Amazon.com
Even if you fervently disagree with the party bias they tout proudly and often, you probably concur that Democratic political consultants Paul Begala and James Carville know what it takes to craft a winning strategy. In Buck Up, Suck Up... and Come Back When You Foul Up, the two lay out 12 of the rules they developed while separately and jointly masterminding some of the hottest political races in recent years. And with entertaining and enlightening behind-the-scenes anecdotes drawn from both effective and futile experiences along the campaign trail--most notably their work with Bill Clinton during his two presidential terms--Begala and Carville present a practical course that can be followed in business as well as politics. "If the audience you're trying to reach is smaller than the one hundred million voters we spend our time trying to reach," they write, "we believe these lessons are even more important because your target audience is even more sophisticated, even more interested, even more up-to-the-minute."
At first glance, some rules appear blatantly obvious ("Don't Quit," "Turn Weakness into Strength") and some intentionally controversial ("Kiss Ass," "Know How to Recover When You Really Screw Up"). But, in their explanations, the relevancy and potential application of each consistently comes through. For example, in "Frame the Debate," they note how Ronald Reagan controlled the agenda in his 1980 challenge to Jimmy Carter through early attacks on the incumbent's most unpopular policies--showing precisely why "military strategists know that most battles are won ... by the side that determines where, when and how an engagement is fought." Likewise, in "Know How to Communicate," they bring five tips (tell a story, be brief, be emotional, be unique, be relevant) to life by explaining how their use aided campaigns for Hillary Clinton, Tony Blair, and others. The result, while perhaps too profane for some and definitely not Republican-friendly despite its grudging acknowledgment of a few masterful GOP performances, is nonetheless uniformly readable and genuinely practical. --Howard Rothman
Book Description
The political strategists who directed the Clinton campaign's War Room reveal the lessons and secrets from their hard-fought battles -- and how to use these highly effective strategies for success in business and everyday life.
James Carville and Paul Begala have waged political war all across America and on three continents. They've won some of the most spectacular political victories of the twentieth century and lost a few campaigns too. Along the way, they've learned a few lessons. Some sound simple, like "Never Quit," some comic, like "Kiss Ass," and some are more complicated and nuanced, like "Strategy Ain't Tactics." But each lesson contains tried-and-true wisdom, illustrated with colorful stories from long political experience:
• Find out how Carville's mother used a bass boat to "frame the debate" in
selling encyclopedias.
• Learn the War Room tricks for sharpening your message and delivering the perfect sound bite.
• Discover what success secret Hillary Rodham Clinton and Tom DeLay share.
• And much more.
Whether you are a senior executive or a secretary, a political junkie or the president of the United States, the rules to live by can be found in Buck Up, Suck Up...and Come Back When You Foul Up.
Customer Reviews:
Left a bad impression .......2007-06-29
It has been quite some time since I read this book and my review may not be fair since I have lost respect for Carville due to his poor speech at the Speaker Series. Yet, my impression now is that the book was simplistic with few insights. Except for a reinforcement of common sense there is little need to read this book.
Marketing for Marvels and Mavens.......2006-11-04
This is a must read for anyone who fancies themselves as a marketer. Common sense-based practicalities prevail in this quick, sharp and witty read.
There is just too much mediocrity masquerading as best practices. Here are two masters of communication who cut to the quick and leave an indelible impression.
Like a great caramel, this is a sticky, rich experience.
Reviews by Nan Kilar and Bobby Miller.......2006-04-13
This is a book by authors who put reality before party. Still, I don't know who Carville thinks he's fooling when he describes George W. Bush as a buffoon; he knows better. Bush is playing a part that was scripted by some of the best scriptwriters in the business. And he's giving an academy award performance.
These two authors are right about one thing for sure. The Moral Majority elected and re-elected a man who epitomizes the word Christian. With the blood of thousands on his hands, the missaporation of billions of tax dollars and a tongue that has told one needless lie after another, George W. Bush arrogantly parades around apparently proud of the fact that he has become the second most hated man to live in the last two hundred years. He appears unconcerned about tossing away a unique opportunity to represent America at her best instead of at her very worse. I cannot hate Bush for pitying him.
"Three great forces rule the world: stupidity, fear and greed." --Albert Einstein
Yawn! More of the same dribble........2006-01-21
You'd think these guys would run out of ignorant statements and wildly inaacurate predictions. Not these two.
With a combined I.Q. equal to that of an orange dish rag, Begala and Carville offer nothing new, nothing interesting, and nothing compelling. Neither have for years.
If it were not for the accidental presidency of a piece of white trash named Willie Clinton, both of these guys would be flipping burgers.
I really liked this book, certain chapters especially........2006-01-19
My wife gave this to me for Christmas. I loved it! It's not perfect, but some of the chapters are gems: strategy vs. tactics, how to communicate, and frame the debate. Those chapters alone are worth the price of admission! They're not very precise or technical, but that's the beauty of this book. They've honed it down to the simplicty on the OTHER side of complexity. That takes genius. It also helps that my politics happen to line up nicely with theirs.
Average customer rating:
- Interesting and easy read on Harrah's and the industry!
- Motivate yourself
- best marketing book I ever read
- This book is a "winner!"
- "very FUNNY book"
|
Jackpot! Harrah's Winning Secrets for Customer Loyalty
Robert L. Shook
Manufacturer: Wiley
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0471263230 |
Book Description
The inside story of the gaming company that hit the jackpot playing by its own rules
Robert L. Shook, a New York Times bestselling author, delves into the business behind one of the world's foremost gaming and entertainment companies, Harrah's. Since Bill Harrah took over a small card game business in 1937, Harrah's has become a top casino, dominating Nevada and beyond. The first gaming company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, Harrah's is a $4 billion-dollar business driven by smart marketing and smarter leadership. This book is the first to examine Harrah's and its leader, a man who dominated an industry and amassed a staggering fortune while refusing to deal with mobsters and corrupt politicians. Though Bill Harrah died in 1978 and the company has since been sold, Harrah's has retained its sense of history and remained an industry leader. Following the company's growth, Shook uncovers rich business lessons about marketing and customer loyalty, increasing market share in fiercely competitive industries, and maintaining a sense of integrity in a cutthroat business world. This is a compelling and intriguing story of a company that gambled and won, and it offers business readers an opportunity to benefit from the hard-won lessons of a paragon of the entertainment industry.
Robert L. Shook (Columbus, OH) is a seasoned business journalist and the ghostwriter behind several New York Times bestsellers. He is the founder and former CEO of Shook Associates and the American Executive Life Insurance Company. He is the author or coauthor of thirty-five books, including The IBM Way, Mary Kay on People Management, and Mary Kay's You Can Have It All.
Customer Reviews:
Interesting and easy read on Harrah's and the industry!.......2006-11-29
This book tells in an easy, readable fashion the story of Harrah's from the humble beginnings of a small parlor in Reno to the multibillion dollar behemoth it is today. Although the primary focus is on Harrah's, of course, the book covers the growth of the industry in the US overall from the early days, through the mob years in Vegas and the entertainment explosion that happened, to the proliferation of boats, reservation gambling and other gambling alternatives such as the lotteries through many US states.
This is a great book to read for reminders on the basics of "getting it right" when it comes to customer service, treating employees right, thinking strategically and executing on a vision. It is amazing what Harrah's has done in the area of parlaying customer information into long term, profitable relationships!
I have read many business books, this is my most favorite in recent months, for sure.
Read on, and watch out for that river card :)
Motivate yourself.......2003-02-08
Great book -- the lessons taught are for all service based organizations. Learn how to create customer loyalty and enjoy your business more. Must read!!
best marketing book I ever read.......2003-01-16
I have read other books by Robert L. Shook, and he is an accomplished writer of business books. He's at his best with Jackpot. This book is both informative and entertaining. Shook takes his reader behind the scenes at Harrah's, a gaming company with 26 casinos and reveals how the company is able to compete so successfully against billion-dollar properties in the Las Vegas market. Harrah's secret, as the subtitle states is how it wins customer loyalty and does it better than its competition. This is an excellent book for any business reader engaged in a highly competitive industry, and, in particular, goes head to head with the big boys. Shook's writing style is superb--he interwines anecdotal material that makes for a fascnating read. True, this is a business book, but at times, it's such a page-turner, you feel you're reading a novel.
This book is a "winner!".......2003-01-14
This book is about an outstanding culture that is culminated from the founder's passion, integrity and leadership.
Jackpot provides cutting-edge lessons and ideas that are being exposed for the first time in topics such as: marketing and customer loyalty, building market share, and preserving high integrity.
Harrah's placed its chips on integrity and serving the customer. It's no wonder they are so successful.
"very FUNNY book".......2003-01-08
This book is a riot! I could not put it down. One of the funniest books on gambling I have ever read.(and I've read 100 books on Vegas/Gambling.Go straight to page 43 first- "there is no underworld presence today in Las Vegas"- this author really knows how to write satire.The book is just filled with one funny story after another about how everything now in gambling is on the up & up.Robert Shook is more humerous than that Connecticut Senator whose trying to protect children from the entertainment industry.Another fun thing to do with his book- circle the word "lawyer" and then underline all the Federal & State laws that his book exposes.God Bless America! We should all feel blessed to have a comedy writer like Robert.
D.Matthew Hayden
author
Vegas Stories
Product Description
World champion Kevin VanDam reveals tips and tricks that have made him one of America's most revered bass fisherman. In Secrets of a Champion, he details how he chooses and customizes lures, where he fishes them, tricks for getting stubbon bass to strike, and fishing secrets he's never shared with the angling public.
Customer Reviews:
Must Have Books.......2007-08-10
If you don't have these books your not catching all the fish you should. This guy knows how to catch fish and lets you in on all of his secrets. Must have book if you are serious about bass fishing.
Great Book.......2006-05-18
This is a great book if you want to get more bass in your boat. This is written by one of the greatest anglers of all time Kevin VanDam. I would strongly recomend this book. The first time I went out after reading this book I was able to catch more fish. Everything you need to know from tuning lures to selecting the right equipment is in this book. One of the best books out there.
Customer Reviews:
Probably the ultimate bridge tip book.......2005-09-27
From the Rule of 20 to the right and wrong way to use the Big Double, Marty Bergen has set the standard for modern bridge tip books. His engaging storytelling style and insightful teaching provide clarification to readers of all levels, although the book is clearly aimed at the novice to intermediate crowd.
A great re-entry to the book arena by Marty. I just miss the mad scientist who wrote the "Better Bidding with Bergen" books!
Entertaining and helpful.......2003-09-24
Marty Bergen's "Points Schmoints" is a fun-to-read book that offers a dozen tips on how people who've already mastered the basics of bidding and play can improve their game. The Law of Total Tricks, in particular, is extremely useful for duplicate games.
While Bergen writes with wit and flair that keep this book engaging, I wish he'd done a bit less story-telling and provided a bit more depth of content instead. For the price I feel his book is a bit thin, and that's the one thing that keeps me from rating it 5 stars.
Improve every facet of your game.......2003-05-02
This book is filled with entertaining stories along with easy-to-understand tips and techniques that will improve every facet of your game. 1996 Bridge Book of the Year.
Fantastic Book.......2001-04-05
This is the perfect book for players who more-or-less have the basics in place. This will correct your misconceptions and raise your game a couple of levels. The first half of the book is all about bidding, and rather than just talking about basic bidding, tells you what to do in those tough borderline situations. A great example is his "Rule of 20", used to decide whether to open the bidding or not: If the sum of your HCP and the number of cards in your two longest suits is 20 or more, open with your normal 1-level bid; else pass. Very effective, and better than counting short-points or long-points, since this takes into account the ENTIRE distribution.
The second half of the book is about declarer play and defence, and is equally good. What distinguishes this book from the rest is that the author doesn't waste space on the basics, and instead concentrates on the intermediate-to-advanced stuff.
Fantastic Book - already a classic.......2001-04-05
This is the perfect book for players who more-or-less have the basics in place. This will correct your misconceptions and raise your game a couple of levels. The first half of the book is all about bidding, and rather than just talking about basic bidding, tells you what to do in those tough borderline situations. A great example is his "Rule of 20", used to decide whether to open the bidding or not: If the sum of your HCP and the number of cards in your two longest suits is 20 or more, open with your normal 1-level bid; else pass. Very effective, and much better (and easier) than counting short-points, long-points, or quick tricks, since this takes into account the ENTIRE distribution. The second half of the book is about declarer play and defence, and is equally good. What distinguishes this book from the rest is that the author doesn't waste space on the basics, and instead concentrates on the intermediate-to-advanced stuff.
Another selling point of this book is Bergen's great sense of humor. Peppered through the book are short anecdotes of actual hands played by him, his friends or students. Most of them are very funny. One gets the sense that Marty was "saving up" his experiences for this book, and has put all his best stuff on paper here. None of his other books come close to the standard set by this book for content or organization, though "More Points Schmoints" tries hard.
Customer Reviews:
nice title.......2007-08-13
this is a worthwhile book to read if one is a beginner, or interested in some casual reading to supplement other material. but the title is hilarious. not only does the book contain almost no information that is not fairly basic or remotely "secretive," but there are numerous hold em books out there that are far superior, and that do contain far more insightful type information that perhaps not as many players might be aware of, that pros are.
there is one particular line in this book, which, although very commonly reiterated, represents very poor, and lazy, logic. "most large online sites have their random number generator audited by major accounting firms and mathematical consulting firms. any of them would be crazy to maximize their short term gain when they are making plenty of money on the up and up."
first, the authors are a bit generous with their use of the word "major" before accounting and mathematical consulting firms. second, this reviewer has actually read some of the reports produced by these so called "major accounting" firms. it is not just the fact that they are extremely flawed that makes this a considerably larger question than many seem to wish to presume, but the fact that this has gone largely unnoticed and unquestioned, as well. that is, some firm, somewhere, writes some abstract formulation stating that the hands are completely random, and it becomes the accepted law of the land. yet the reports this reviewer read barely touched the surface of this complicated question, which goes far beyond the overly simplistic issue of whether over a several million hand sample, the "statistically reasonable" number of overall winning hands follows a statistically reasonable distribution pattern.
the authors reprint, with "permission" (which they go overboard to point out, as if that was needed in this instance) the online site pokerstars' public statement that "to ensure this and avoid major problems we use two independent sources of truly random data: user input, including summary of mouse movements and events timing, collected from client software........."
how are user mouse movements and events timing truly random? more importantly, why in fact should anything to do with user input (such as mouse, keyboard, timing movements, etc.), whether it be theoretically random or not, have anything whatsoever to do with the continual ongoing shuffle of cards? (in online poker, unlike live, the deck is smartly reshuffled after each card, which does not affect overall randomness, and is a necessary precaution to prevent hackability). whatever affects, controls or otherwise is used as input for the random shuffle, should have nothing whatsoever to do with anything associated with those involved with the usage of the cards (in this place, the players), or any other exogenous events, for that matter.
presumably there is a sound theoretical explanation for this, but it is hard to find. in combination with the atrociously simplistic and barely surface skimming "major" company reports "verifying" complete randomness, and the rather unquestioning faith in it (perhaps bolstered by the otherwise irrelevant presumption that so many randomness doubters are in fact simply poor players who lack the objectivity to recognize the variance inherent in the game), far more questions are raised than are answered. but the prevalent unthinking attitude, such as this printed in a full length book on poker strategy, tends to slam the door on critical analysis, and simply render all questioning, whether reasoned and legitimate, or mere griping over poor luck, as one and the same.
the second sentence by the authors', again although a fairly common assertion, is roundly illogical. that is, that the sites would be "crazy to maximize their short term gain...." in fact, often the general assertion that the authors play off of here is even worse, with many others (although not so often in book form) stating that there would be little or no benefit at all.
first, examine the potential benefit. the sites make money by hands played per hour, and the percentage of hands that reach the maximum rake size. the more playable situations, the more this would be achieved.
more importantly, poker is an unforgiving game. live, this is of little import, as one can only play one game at a time, the games tend to be slow, and one usually needs to travel (for many people, this means hundreds of miles) to play them. online, one needs to travel 20 feet. (the profound implications of the difference between twenty feet and many miles can not, as many online players wells know, be overstated, by the way). the games are often more than twice as fast, constantly available, and, one can play multiple tables at the same time (which the sites often understandably promote, through the use of frequent player points and the like). variance averaging which would occur over months if not years live, can sometimes be reduced to weeks, if not a few days, online.
phil helmuth; "poker is 100 percent skill, and 50 percent luck." without excessive amounts of play over x period of time, that luck factor offers a level of protection to some players. this fades online, particulary as players play more, or above the nickel dime stakes (both of which are greatly in the sites' interests). there are a number of players who simply do not understand enough of the basics of the game, who, playing the amount that they do, would and should be losing whatever their available bankroll is to play, quite quickly. one could argue that, observationally, they don't. or, logicallly, whether they do or they don't, that it would be in the interests of the sites that they don't, as these hordes would then have to cease playing, simply play much less, or play much lower (and far less profitable) stakes. the end result in revenue differential could be quite substantial.
to say that a company would be crazy to maximize this, when companies are charged with maximizing profits, is a bit of a crazy statement itself. however, sometimes maximizing profits means long term profits as well, so how does this balance out? first, while poker seems here to stay, who knows how the landscape may change over the next few years, particularly online. secondly, an enormous profit now is usually worth far more than a potentially even larger overall long term profit.
most importantly, what would be the ramifications to the companies? many players do not thoroughly 100 percent believe in true randomness online as it is (whether through paranoia, reason, suspicion, etc). yet many still play. more importantly, what if online play was not truly random, but did not specifically favor any player over another rather than certain unpredictable or at least mathematically incalculable long term play pattern combinations (even non randomness, actually, can be "random," in some sense, but that gets highly theoretical). the idea that this would destroy the companies' ability to attract players in the future, if known (let alone if intelligently and aggressively addressed from a public relations standpoint) is naive, to say the least.
And this assertion makes the presumption that if incomplete randomness were the case, it would be fully known, and purposeful. these are also flawed assumptions. first, something could be built into the programs that few know about, with most of those in the industry who earnestly swear by its randomness, from their perspective, telling the truth, and often perhaps lacking the highly theoretical technical knowledge to fully understand what is a very complicated and difficult set of statistics questions. and second, and oddly often ignored altogether as a possibility (let alone perhaps even the more likely possibility) it may very well not be purposeful.
regardless of the issue of knowledge or lack thereof, just how difficult are these questions? just a few decades ago, we could put a man on the moon. yet it is an accepted fact that we could not achieve or replicate complete manufactured "randomness." (can we now?). and randomness when the question has far more to do with just whether a full house hits 1 out of every 694 five card hand combinations, for example -- given the almost infinite multitude of factors that go into and various situations that comprise, hand play -- can be pretty complicated. yet all these so called "experts," and authors, like krieger, make presumptions otherwise.
(incidentally, assuming that there are legitimate questions, the thinking person often questions why many of the same players still do well online, and, more importantly, the fact that many recognized "good players" do. however, such results would not be at all inconsistent, but the analysis is well beyond the purview of this review, which was merely to illustrate the lazy presumptiveness inherent in this promisingly titled book, regarding a far underanalyzed and important question regarding online poker play given the "sports'" (activity?) almost meteoric rise in visible popularity.)
perhaps krieger and bykofsky can be expected to simply presume otherwise, since so many others do. but given their title, "secrets the pro's won't tell you," they raised the bar for themselves. and while the book is an okay read in its own right as a decent beginner review, when they venture into speculation, they are far far out of their field, let alone for those who claim to be divulging some great secret.
Sure helped me.......2007-04-14
As I read some of the other reviews of this great book I was amazed - I guess they didn't read the same book I did. This book has made a huge difference in the way I play, how often I win and most importantly how much I enjoy the game.
If you want to win and enjoy the process this is a must read.
Winning Hold'em Poker.......2007-03-30
If knowing the correct starting hands to play was all it took to play winning poker, we would all be winning players. This book goes into detail on playing your opponents, in spite of and because of the two cards in your starting hand.
The best chapter, in my opinion, is the one titled Minimal Math. It was also the hardest. I had to read it several time. However, at the conclusion I had a good understanding of how the math works, and how I could apply it to each hand I play; in effect, having the mechanics to play high percentage poker.
A lot of the points in the book were not secrets. They had been mentioned in other poker books I have read. What made this book good study material is that the authors did not merely "mention" playing tips; they gave clear explanations as to why the pros play the way they do.
For me, the book is well worth the time involved in reading it. It is not light reading. It is a text book for serious poker study.
A wealth of inside information.......2007-03-05
"Secrets the Pros Won't Tell You" is a first-rate insider's guide to all the essential components of winning poker play. Comprehensive and easy to understand, this book is loaded with smart advice that can make a major difference in your game. Everything you need to gain a solid understanding of poker is here --- from strategic basics, to more advanced tactics, table image, money management, tournament play, calculating odds, and more. For anyone who wants to start winning money at poker, or simply win more, this book is a great place to begin.
80 x return on investment.......2006-10-29
An easy book to read and understand.
read the book
sat in @ the Hilton 1-2 no limit
played 3 hours made $800
even after losing to a straight flush with ace flush.
a few hands later executed best bluff in all my years of playing
oppponent layed down 3 kings , I had a queen high.
must have absorbed knowlwdge from the book.
Customer Reviews:
amazing! .......2006-05-27
Great book. Extremely readable - you won't want to put it down. And it ties in the latest scientific evidence to real life. I'm a scientist and I love it. My friend is a writer and loved it. For all people.
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