Book Review: Annie Duke: How I Raised, Folded, Bluffed, Flirted, Cursed, and Won Millions at the World Series of Poker
by Chad Holloway of Predictem.com
There are hundreds upon hundreds of books dedicated to poker strategy, especially since the poker boom in 2003; on the flip side, there are not nearly as many books that capture the lives of poker superstars. Poker biographies and autobiographies do exist, but they are few and far between. Annie Duke: How I Raised, Folded, Bluffed, Flirted, Cursed, and Won Millions at the World Series of Poker is a biography of a poker icon, who happens to be one of the most notable woman players in the world. In fact, Phil Hellmuth Jr. has said, "Not only is Annie Duke arguably the greatest female poker player ever, but she is poised to become one of the greatest poker players of our time, period."
Duke, who collaborated with David Diamond, released the book in 2005, a year after she won her first bracelet at the 2004 World Series of Poker.
The book's chapters alternate between flashbacks of Duke's life and her experience at the $2,000 Omaha Hi-Lo Split Event at the 2004 W.S.O.P. Along the way, the reader is provided with glimpses of poker strategy, introductions to some of poker's biggest names, and history lessons regarding the game. The alternating chapters are excellently constructed and allow the reader the chance to bounce between two storylines that they know will ultimately converge. This technique makes the book a smooth, easy read, while keeping the material fresh and engaging. Aside from poker material, the book reveals details from Duke's life including her childhood with her brother, Howard Lederer, educational pursuits, marriage and family, and an embarrassing vomit-inducing anxiety problem. The book also documents Duke's victory in the 2004 World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions where she outlasted nine of the world's greatest No Limit Texas Hold'em players to win the $2 million first place prize. Written at a time when the poker world was flooded with numerous publications looking to cash in on the game's popularity, Annie Duke should not be lumped into the category of another repetitive, lame, and opportunistic poker book; instead, it should be recognized as an excellent biography of one of poker's biggest superstars.
At 260 pages, and a $24.95 price tag (which can almost certainly be found at a better bargain online or in a used book store), Annie Duke is a highly enjoyable read. Though the grammar is choppy at times, Duke's style is endearing and puts the reader inside her head. Duke's friend and fellow poker player, Erik Seidel, summed the book best when he stated, "Annie Duke is one of the best poker players, of any gender, in the world. Her book is an intimate and frank account of her struggles and triumphs in becoming one of the top all-around players and the top female money winner in World Series history. An engrossing memoir and a description of the road to winning her first World Series title, this book tells a fascinating story, cover to cover, and will thrill, entertain, and educate anyone who reads it."
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