Product Description
Poker has taken America by storm. But its not just any form of poker that has people across the country so excited its no-limit hold em the main event game. And now thanks to televised tournaments tens of thousands of new players are eager to claim their share of poker glory. In the first volume of this series, Harrington on Hold em: Volume I: Strategic Play, Dan Harrington explained how to play in the early phases of tournaments, when most players at the table had plenty of chips, and the blinds and antes were small. This book, Harrington on Hold em: Volume II: The Endgame shows you how to play in the later phases of a tournament, when the field has been cut down, the blinds and antes are growing, and the big prize money is within sight. Harrington shows you how to make moves, handle tricky inflection point plays, and maneuver when the tournament is down to its last few players and the end is in sight. Hes also included a whole chapter on heads-up play, whose strategies up to now have been a closely-guarded secret of the games top masters. Dan Harrington won the gold bracelet and the World Champion title at the $10,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold em Championship at the 1995 World Series of Poker. And he was the only player to make it to the final table in 2003 (field of 839) and 2004 (field of 2,576) considered by cognoscenti to be the greatest accomplishment in WSOP history. In Harrington on Hold em, Harrington and two-time World Backgammon Champion Bill Robertie have written the definitive book on no-limit hold em for players who want to win and win big.
Customer Reviews:
Harrington continues.......2007-09-14
Excellent continuation of vloume 1. I know that reading these books will improve my game with time, it's a lot to learn and try to implement. Anyone can improve using the guidelines and tips given.
Great Book.......2007-09-08
Strategy illustrated in the book seems to work well. This is a definite need for any poker player. Highly recommend.
Terrific Book.......2007-07-25
I've now read both Harrington's Volumes I & II on Texas Hold em - terrific books. This volume (II - Endgame) is an essential follow up to Volume I. I've read Brunson's Super System. He's got some good insights, but alot of rambling too. Alot of these poker books are about the authors philosophy of poker and the great accomplishments they had - who cares? Just tell me how to make good bets! And that's just what Harrington does. Harrington's book really gives you the nuts and bolts of good poker. When I was at my first tournament, I remember most of the time not really knowing what decisions to make, whether it was pre-flop, post-flop etc. I was always going by my "instincts". Well guess what? My instincts suck - as do most people's. Yeah, you may get a good read once in a while, but that's it. I finally feel like I can make good decisions. I never had any idea the game was so complicated, but I have a much better appreciation for it now. One of the best things it taught me, and that I wasn't doing, was to try and figure out what the other players had based on their betting and their styles. If you do read this book, I hope I never have to play against you!
Please Don't Buy This Book - I Want to Beat You.......2007-07-20
My success has gone up dramatically since I have read and applied these concepts. I do not want the Harrington Way becoming well known or standard play because right now I have an advantage. Concepts like M, Q, Randomizing, and his concept review of late stages - all just brilliant.
a must read for serious players!.......2007-07-15
great follow up book to volume 1.
dives into the finer points of no limit holdem.
i'm looking forward to reading volume 3.
Customer Reviews:
Harrington's Great Works!.......2007-08-01
Another Super Harrington Work!
Great workbook format!!
Helps organize the way one approaches tournament no-limit hold-em poker!!!
Very well written........2007-07-09
It must be difficult to write a book to a market of poker players of greatly varying skills, but I feel Harrington has done it masterfully. It educates without pandering, and amuses enough while making the reader think and rethink moves that he might otherwise perform on auto-pilot. Pot odds (a now abused catch-phrase amateurs spit out at the table tautologically to compensate defensively for their bad play) are gone into in depth from both points of view (the player and his opponent...i.e. pot odds given and pot odds offered), and rationally shows that no-limit doesn't have to be all about mindless chip-shoving. Looking very forward to his other books. Do me a favor and don't read it.
Good Hold'em Workbook.......2007-07-03
This was a great book with real-life examples. Dan shows all points of views for each of the hands (not just what he would do). Talks about ramifications about different ways to play each of the hands. Good for the intermediate to advanced player.
Hold 'em.......2007-05-13
The workbook is beneficial if you have already read part I and II. The workbook has problems for a person to work, based on the knowledge gained from the first two books.
If you want to improve your game........2007-05-13
If you are tired of contradictory advice read this book.
The author gives an excellent tutorial with loads of real world examples.
Customer Reviews:
this is a beginner's book.......2007-08-01
See Wookborm's review for a more complete discussion of what is wrong here. I don't mind beginner's books, but they should be marketed as such. I think you'll be hard pressed to find anything new in this book, if you have spent any time reading up on no-limit on any of the popular online forums. Mastery of the material in this book does not look sufficient to beat the 25 cent big blind game online. I could only recommend it if you have no other no-limit book at all; but then, why not buy Harrington volume 1 or something else? This book is superfluous. I felt ripped off.
Book needs more practice and less theory.......2007-05-31
This book gets a three star rating because it does some things very well whilst omitting some critical details. The first portion of the book talks about bet sizing. It gives some very practical advice about how much to bet to encourage your opponents to make mistakes, how much to bet when bluffing, how to size your "blocking bets", how much to bet preflop and so forth. This section is excellent.
Some of the other topics are covered in a rather haphazard manner. In the check raising chapter, he covers the very specific case of check raising heads up on the river. For other situations, the book says "Only expert players recognize the best opportunities for the play...A book really can't do the subject justice". Sometimes the calculations are based on figures that in real life are simply prohibitively difficult to obtain. One example begins "So if you have one chance in three of stacking your opponent if you catch a straight...". How exactly one deduces the probability of stacking an opponent when you river your straight is never quite explained, perhaps because it falls into the "A book can't really do the subject justice" category. The second section of the book is titled "Concepts and Weapons" and it does provide useful and practical tips that should improve anyone's game.
The main shortcomings of the book revolve around the topics it doesn't cover. The book does not mention concepts such as pot equity and hand ranges, two ingredients that I believe are critical to today's game. Sure it's important to know how to price your opponent out of a flush draw if you're sure that is his exact holding. However, real life scenarios are rarely that simple. What happens if there is a flush draw on the board and an opponent bets into you and you suspect he's holding a flush draw half the time but will be holding top pair top kicker the other half of the time? This book does not provide the tools for dealing with this type of problem and others like it that no limit players face repeatedly on a daily basis.
To wrap up my review I will use a medieval analogy. If you're already well equipped to deal with the battle that is no limit hold em, this book will certain give you some extra weapons and patch up some holes in your defence. However, if you're looking for your sword, shield, helmet and body armour I would recommend starting with other resources.
Good theory poker book.......2007-05-13
A very good book on poker. Be prepared to learn!
Great Read for Serious Players Only.......2007-05-02
Read this book only if you are serious about improving your game. Sklansky did a good job in capturing into words the intuitive nuances that I have come to recognize after so many hands of playings, and take them even further to horizons I have yet to explore (and can't wait to try). It is not a book for beginner and you are expected to be somewhat a good player already to even start reading this. A "fish" would most certainly get lost within a few pages. A lot of the math in the book is probably not going to be too applicable while you're at the table, but rather just as his way of showing that the decisions are mathematically correct. There is a list of tips at the end of the book that sums up everything quite nicely. To me, the Sklansky-Chubukov rating is unheard of before and it will take me a while to digest its significance and importance in improving my play.
pick one up.......2007-04-14
i've bought plenty of poker books and by far this is my favorite one. Beginners can read it and develope their game, while intermediate to advance players can learn these concepts and apply them to their game. If you read this book over and over and fully realize the concepts and the insight sklansky has on no limit play, you should be able to sit down at a poker table whether it be at the casino or at home game and become a confident solid player.
Book Description
Ace on the River is designed to improve the play of everyone from beginners to seasoned professionals. The unique play-by-play section will challenge readers to think beyond simple starting hands and make better decisions on other streets.
Ace on the River addresses elements of the game that are unfamiliar to many players. Included are chapters on the poker society, money management, family matters and even sex. This complilation of philosophies and real-table scenarios provides a rare chance to see the poker world through the eyes of someone who lives it.
Customer Reviews:
Gritty, riveting, and very well done.......2007-08-20
"If you read all the poker books and become a technical expert on which hands to play and how to play them, you are still likely to end up broke."
If you just want a book on how to play poker, keep looking; there are lots of those. Although this book has play lessons and elaborate mathematical charts, it's more about the life of a pro. I recommend it for everyone with or without professional aspirations. This started out as part of Doyle Brunson's book, but it became a book in itself.
BG discusses cheaters (and he names names! and casinos), deadbeats, critics, his own life and ethos, who to tip and why (that was a real eye-opener!), sex and how it can affect one's game, superstition, tournament strategy, and much more. There is poker etiquette I had not read elsewhere, such as how to win gracefully, and why it's important.
It is illustrated with COLOR plates (how's that for a switch?). It's chock full of color photos of famous players and casinos, like a scrap book. It has an index, plus a separate index for the photos so you can see who's in them.
One caveat: My worst poker days (in terms of losses) started with me reading from this. Every time. Superstition? No, but for whatever reason it put me in the wrong frame of mind to play. (I found it a bit depressing in places.) After a few of those, I would only read it on days I did not play.
A collection of random thoughts.......2007-07-16
I bought this after having read the works of Harrington, Gordon, Sklansky, Brunson, etc. This book is a mixture of Greenstein's thoughts on the poker society in general and some strategy examples. My impression of the book is that it just seems to be a series of random thoughts by the author and that it was not very comprehensive. Each chapter is fairly short and the book is full of color photos that serve as filler material and don't add any value (no captions on the pictures). A couple of points I did like were the points Greenstein made about buying in for the minimum instead of maximum in cash games and his theory to accumulate chips early in tournaments (instead of playing tight early as many others advocate). I would only recommend this as an addition to a comprehensive poker library and not as an early read (it is subtitled as an advanced poker guide).
nothing good.......2007-07-09
I have 7 poker books. This one is by far the worst! No good tips, no insight, no strategy. Greenstein rambling on about his career. And it is huge in size and doesnt fit on my bookshelf with all my other books. What a waste.
One of the best.......2007-06-20
The title says it all. This is one of the best poker guides I've read so far. Barry points out and makes you think about things that you really can't put to words. It helped me a lot.
easy read.......2007-05-12
Interestingly enough after reading this book I did not win any of the poker tournaments I played in. Which is sad really, with the high expectation of implementing all of my new tools for no limit poker. But that really was not what the book was meant to do and I am glad because that is what every other poker book I read was trying to do. What Greenstein does and what makes this book so powerful is that he gives a solid foundation for a serious poker player to follow not just at the tables but also with the social scene, family life, and financial side of playing the game.
If you are looking for a get rich quick guide to no limit hold em, you should go read Helmuths book (chances are you will go broke you Jackal). If you want a guide into the world of poker that will explain how to handle almost every aspect of the game then Barry is your man.
Oh and the pictures are cool too!
Book Description
Considered by many magicians and card sharps to be the one essential guidebook to attaining the highest level of card mastery. Includes author’s own systems of false shuffling, false riffling and cutting, dealing from the bottom, palming cards, "skinning the hand"—even three-card monte, plus 14 dazzling card tricks.
Customer Reviews:
A Cheater's Book.......2007-01-19
I bought this book as a gift for my brother, expecting him to learn a few showy tricks to impress me with. However, he told me later that basically the whole book was about cheating. He wasn't really interested by that, and the book is still sitting on a shelf at my house. I wish I'd been better informed about what kind of tricks were in the book.
Excellent techniques and written very well.......2006-08-22
I am fairly new to card magic / artifice / subterfuge and this book was great. I find his way of explaining hand positions superior to that of Hugard and Braue's material. I also enjoy the way he writes far more... The introduction alone is worth the price. The techniques are great because one doesn't have to rely on diversion, most of the sleights can be pulled off with the spectator's eyes directly on the pack.
A Must Have for Magicians.......2005-10-28
Some book are just required. As a professional magician this book is absolutely a must have in my collection. The material is sometimes difficult to understand, but if you are truly serious about it, then you will get through it and the rewards for your performance skills are practically endless.
[...]
Earn 10,000 a day!.......2005-09-17
The tips and strategies in this book were extremely helpful. Now whenever I play with my friends or illegal poker rooms, I always win! Just don't try any of these strategies at the Bellagio.
Good book!!!.......2005-09-08
The book helped me in understanding the basic moves and other subtleties in card manip... Knowing the purpose of each of the moves is worth it.
Book Description
Written by World Champion players T. J. Cloutier and Tom McEvoy (8 titles between them), this is the definitive guide to winning at two of the world's most exciting poker games! All the answers to players most important questions are here: How do you get inside your opponents' heads and learn how to beat them at their own game? How can you tell how much to bet, raise, and reraise in no-limit hold'em? When can you bluff? How do you set up your opponents in pot-limit hold'em so that you can win a monster pot? What are the best strategies for winning no-limit and pot-limit tournaments, satellites, and supersatellites? Rock-solid and inspired advice from two of the most recognizable figures in poker.
Customer Reviews:
Meh.......2007-08-10
I'm not sure who this book is intended for. The down home, folksy style of writing makes it easy and accessible, like a good beginners book. But some topics that beginners absolutely need to learn, like pot odds and implied odds, are skimmed over and barely touched on. Other times, they'll simply repeat the same thing over and over again, with different ways of phrasing it. I get that you need "iron balls" to play hold 'em; no need to word it 5 different ways in the span of two pages.
The authors also like to make grand pronouncements and hold fast rules, as if they're reading from a stone tablet or something; "Thou shalt not draw to a flush unless ye have the nut flush draw AND two overcards!" Ignore, for a second, the absurdity of that statement; I just hate it when poker players say things like that as if they're the gospel truth. There are going to be times where you should put money into the pot with a non-nut flush draw or even simply two overcards, let alone both of them. The overall strategy described in this book is uber-tight, to say the least. They're much more concerned with protecting their own chips then taking them from others. At a table full of weak players (i.e. your average home or online poker game), I'm not sure why you would want to play in this manner.
This book is not without it's highlights. The discussion on how to play small pairs is refreshing, if only because two dissenting viewpoints are discussed. T.J. doesn't really like them, Tom will play any pair. Personally, I agree with Tom, especially if the stacks are deep. The implied odds you get from hitting a set make it a very profitable hand to play, as long as you can get some action when you hit it. If you're at a table full of nits who don't pay off (players like T.J., for example), you probably shouldn't waste your money with the small pairs unless you're simply trying to steal the pot pre-flop (basically playing it like a semi-bluff.)
Overall, I was very disappointed with this book. I think the main problem is it's target audience. It seems like the authors wrote this with serious poker players in mind, but it reads more like a beginners book at times. If I had read this a few years back when I played ATC (any two cards) this would have been exactly what I needed. Now that I know how to play the good kind of loose, this book does nothing for me. If you're a real tight player, you may find this book comforting. Everyone else should move along, there's nothing to see here. If this is "the bible of poker", as the back cover claims, then call me an atheist, cause I ain't buying it.
I was hoping for more..........2006-05-11
This book contains many stories and not that much poker-tips.
The tips are pretty basic and many of them are told repeatedly throughout the book. The result of that is a book with 304 pages that contains a net total of maybe 100 pages of poker-lessons. Not good. Sure, the stories are very entertaining to read and the authors both have a LOT of experience, but I got this book to get better at tournaments. Not for entertainment reading.
I regret that I bought this book. Recently I threw myself into Dan Harrington's vol.1 and vol.2 and they're great. I highly recommend them. Actually I can't even think of a single bad thing to say about them.
Sorry T.J.!
Great book for reference!.......2006-05-10
I must admit this is one essential poker book that should be in every poker player's library. Tj and Tom give you expert analysis on the proper way to play particular hands. I really value their experience given all the bracelets and tournaments they've both won. Tj Cloutier gives great advice on knowing your opponents and tendencies to make your decisions at the poker table. Even though much of the advice in this book at first look can be interpreted as conservative, its really the best book on tournament poker strategy. Tj stresses no limit holdem is all about survival and making smart decisions where you don't have to take too many chances will ensure you do survive. For example Tj states "In the first round of the World Series, as well as in the first round of the smaller buy-in events at the WSOP, a pair of kings is not a big enough hand to get broke with. The only hand that is big enough to get broke with before the flop is two aces." Who'd a thought that at first glance!
Not the best available.......2006-04-11
As the title implies, the authors discuss every hand that [they] think is playable in a tourney and describe how to play them in limit, no-limit and pot-limit events. There's also a discussion of some important hands that were played in past WSOP championship events. However, I found the information and discussion to be a bit shallow.
McEvoy and Cloutier seem to take a cookie cutter approach when describing how to play the hands. When you have hand X you do action Y. While they [somtimes] modify the action to be taken based on position, there is almost no discussion of the changes that your stack size would dictate. Nor is there much discussion of how hands play differently early in the tournament at full tables vs. late at short tables.
Discussion of how to play various hands on the flop and later are seldom given much in-depth discussion.
Anyone following the advice would be fairly predictable.
Lastly it should be noted that the authors are two long-time successful players. While overall I was disappointed, there were a few points that struck me as very useful. Hence the two stars instead of one.
championship no limit&pot limit hold/em.......2006-02-25
there is some good stuff in this book and written in simple terms
Book Description
Scores of methods—previously known only to card experts—include passes, palming, false shuffles, false cuts, changes, crimps, jogs, reverses, rear palms and more. Altogether, 341 sleights and tricks. 318 illustrations show exact position of fingers and hands.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent book, however..........2007-05-06
This is a great book loaded with great material, however some of the material is false. For instance, the Faro Shuffle section is all entirely wrong. It is thought by some that this was done on purpose, and if so it is entirely unethical of the authors. Regardless, this book has a plethora of fantastic material, and I highly recommend it.
Second book to read.......2007-02-02
I consider this book the next step after reading the great Royal Road to Card Magic. I did not like some tricks, but, the really important part of the book is, as it is stated in the title, is the technique showed. Recommended.
318 Illustrations, averaging 1 illustration per page.......2004-12-04
I am not sure who this book is written by.
It's an encyclopedia, of card handling.
There is no connection from one chapter to the next and unless you are an english major, you will simply be very very frustrated trying to understand what to do and how.
This book is not for beginner but rather someone who has a very good grasp of handling cards and would like to know more than he already knows.
This book is like an english dictionary, you being a foreigner who knows half a dozen words. You'll find yourself trying to decrypt half the instructions. Do you have the time and patience for it? I sure didn't. You'll find this to be mysterious text that might become clear to you some day, unless you already know how to do half the material in it to begin with.
Essential Reading for the Cardician.......2002-06-01
This book is comprehensive in scope-it covers about all of the basic techniques the card worker needs to know. It goes far beyond this, however. All techniques taught are described in *excruciating* detail so as to leave nothing to the imagination. It also includes ongoing words of advice on and entire chapters devoted to the _real_ secrets of magic: misdirection and presentation. As if all this were not MORE than sufficient to recommend the book, it's written in a very witty, eloquent, and entertaining style that makes it a joy to simply read. But wait! There's more! Please find enclosed numerous card effects worthy of the most discriminating audiences at less than the cost of your favorite magic dealer's Trick O' the Day. With regard to my own experience I've read this book near to tatters and have annotated nearly every other page-I got my money's worth and so will you.
Classic and classy.......2001-11-25
Though there are numorous tricks and books out there deaing with almost every imaginable subject, the roots, like those in this book, will always live on..Nothing can compair to the captive audience that surrounds you while doing some of the most artistic and acrobatic gestures with a mere deck of cards. Own it, read it, study it, and practice it. I had the fortune to find a hardbound third edition in an old bookstore, which was not soon after I had already bought the paperback. Boy was this a find. The third edition has had two new chapters added, which were written by Dai Vernon and Dr. Daley. The paperback is based on an older edition of the book and does not include these two chapters, but it is still worth having on your shelf.
Book Description
Learn to Read Tells to Increase Your Chances of Winning! Anyone can win in poker if they hold the best cards; the trick is to win when you don't! That's where tells come in—those subtle ways in which opponents betray themselves through body language, table talk, chip moves, eye contact, and more.
Ultimate Guide to Poker Tells is a treasure trove of behavioral information to give you a huge edge over your competition. You'll learn when your opponents are bluffing, when they aren't, and why by improving your ability to read their speech patterns and mannerisms. With this knowledge you can exploit their weaknesses and win pots by betting or raising at just the right time.
Tells are rarely obvious, and it takes concentration to find them, but this book will teach you how to identify them and use them to your advantage. Ultimate Guide to Poker Tells is a must-read for anyone who wants to improve their play.
Customer Reviews:
Good book, but it doesn't have anything really new........2006-06-30
The strategies and facts in the book are well-presented and well-written, and there are several good tidbits of information inside... But as far as being what its title suggests, well, I reckon it's good marketing. It does provide much of the information from Caro's original "Book of Tells" and expands on some of it, but as I wrote a moment ago, it doesn't have anything that someone who's been playing live (not online) poker for a year or so wouldn't know already -- other than a few bits here and there.
I'd recommend this book to beginners and studious amateurs.
Eye-opening Book Helps an online player shift to casino play.......2006-05-26
I am an online player and therefore very familair with hand percentages, pot odds and basic betting strategy. However, in a live game I sometimes feel a little out of my element. This book opened my eyes to much of what I needed to pay attention too. To fully appreciate the book, you must have a pretty good knowledge of the game, but the book was helpful in that it put a lot of what happens at a live table in context. One would think some of the observations are obvious, but knowing what to look for and pay attention to truly does allow you to better trust your gut and instincts during a game. I don't even look at my cards until I have to anymore. Rather I study the table based on techniques garnered form the book. Not only do learn about the other players at the table through observation, but it helps you set up a strategy for your own behavior when its your turn. Bottom line...highly recommended for the fairly new but serious player.
Good stuff.......2006-05-24
This book isn't about strategy at all. It's about playing the players, and all the funky stuff they do. I haven't seen anything else like it (and I've read alot of poker books). It made me smile with recognition, as all the stuff I knew about how players act was on the page. A quick read and miles from the usual odds and outs!
New and different.......2006-05-23
I've been playing for about a year and a half, mostly tournaments and mostly online. But I have recently played a couple of live events and also play in a regular home game. I've read several of the strategy books mentioned by the other reviewers here and thought Harrington and Gordon were both great. But I don't agree that the Ultimate Guide to Poker Tells is bad -- granted I haven't read the Caro book, but I got a lot out of this one. The whole idea of how tells occur and how to look for individual ones was new -- I'd noticed some of the things they mention, or read about it as part of other books or articles, but I thought there was a lot of good stuff gathered here. I'm giving it five stars, because for me it was definitely a shortcut to reading tells in live games. Based on the other reviews, I'm guessing that more experienced live game players may already know alot of this stuff. But I think that paying $14 was a bargain vs. the price of learning this stuff "the hard way".
Dissappointing.......2006-05-23
Not much information here that one doesn't already know. Cheesy pictures of senarios of what I guy looks like bluffing and not bluffing. Don't waste your money. Take that money and go play some no limit poker, buy Harrington's books or Phil Gordon's Little Green book. If you want the best book on POKER TELLS, hands down Caro's Book of Poker Tells is what you need.
Postscript: I have to agree with J. Rubino. I expect to get blasted for only giving it a 2. In my opinion, I was being generous with a 2. Notice the people who give 5 stars. They always seem to give 5s on everything they read. Its not unusual for the author to come on here and down grade a review by an unbias reader. They know their book is being sold here. This book is sub-par. Save your money.
Average customer rating:
- The Bible Comes to Life
- Moses at his best..
- A True Spiritual Journey
- Very Enjoyable Read
- Orson Scott Card's speculations about the life of Moses
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Stone Tables
Orson Scott Card
Manufacturer: Deseret Book Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Contemporary
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Fiction
| Literature & Fiction
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
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Biblical
| Fiction
| Religion & Spirituality
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General
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ASIN: 1573456632 |
Customer Reviews:
The Bible Comes to Life.......2005-05-21
Card does a superb job making an exciting an provacative telling of probably the greatest Bible tale ever told! With interesting ideas about the "Egyptian" Moses and his "Egyptian" mother who literally became both his mother and father (this is explained in the story) and her struggle to keep the Pharoahship from the evil Tuthmose and his equally evil family.
Card provides a vivid narration of what happened to Moses during the time he was in exile in the desert and when he obtained his real education. We are presented with an "unsure" and self-doubting Moses that relies on the Lord to allow him to do the right thing and say the right things. We have a compassionate Moses who wants to see Pharoah punished but grieves for the innocent Egyptians that he causes ruin and death to.
This is a much deeper and more realistic telling of the tale than what Cecil B. DeMille portrayed in his Ten Commandments film. There is no glitz and glitter here, just the magnificient tale is presented with a lot of lessons to be learned and good advice for anyone to lead a better life.
A must read!
Moses at his best.........2005-01-18
Stone Tables, a play turned novel, is written by Orson Scott Card, a Mormon and esteemed, mostly science fiction author. He gets religious on us in this novel, and in his preface, says his goal was to explore the relationships between the characters of the book of Exodus. The result is a thrilling portrayal of Moses, Aaron, Miriam, and the Israelites in their quest for freedom, equality, and righteousness in the eyes of God.
The story begins with the birth of Moses to Jochabed and Amram. As everyone knows, Egyptian law at the time stated that all newborn Jewish boys were to be thrown into the Nile. Fortunately for Moses, his mother ingeniously devises a scheme that results in Hatshepsut, the Pharaoh's daughter, adopting him. Through a series of phony declarations, Hatshepsut becomes her father's wife, son, and the Pharaoh.
Moses is raised in the palace and considers his Israelite family a burden. After all, he is Egyptian royalty. Why should those slaves bother him? Life goes on this way until Moses takes Aaron's advice to shed his imperial robes and venture out among the people. He sees others being tortured and belittled; he himself is tortured and belittled. To save an old man, he kills an innkeeper and subsequently leaves Egypt to venture into the desert.
From here, to make a long story short, with the help of Jethro and Zeforah, whom he marries, he is enlightened and sets out back to Egypt to free the Israelites from bondage. He does the bush thing and is on his way.
Over in Egypt, Hatshepsut is murdered and Thutmose II takes the reins. He's a stubborn lad, taught be none other than Moses. Thus, Moses knows his enemy, and with the help of Aaron and God, the plagues are brought about Thutmose is trounced. Thutmose finally lets the Israelites go out into the desert to make their sacrifice, which essentially means he lets them leave. They're chased, but then Moses does the sea splitting act, and the Israelites are ready to go to the Holy Land! Except that they have to make a quick stop for a few Commandments.
There's a golden calf and a massive slaughter of its worshipers. Thereafter, Moses, Aaron, Miriam, and the rest of them live happily ever after-not that they lived to see the land God promised them or anything.
A True Spiritual Journey.......2004-11-01
This great novel is a fictional account of the story surrounding Moses, and it can be enjoyed by anyone. I am atheist and I loved the moral dilemmas that the characters faced. Furthermore, it was enlightening to learn the Mormon interpretation of these events.
In this book, as well as the women of genesis series, I was touched in two different ways. First, the story and the characters are involving and touching. The story is well told, and the writing is clear and concise. But on another level there is a sense of greatness. How the characters communicate and interact with one another, and the actions they undertake is spiritual and gives a sense that we can all be better people.
I would consider this book to be equal to if not better than Ender's Game. It's certainly different. Orson Scott Card deserves credit for taking risks in his writing. Not many writers would have dared to release something of this nature, and I think he presented the material with integrity.
Very Enjoyable Read.......2003-12-25
I'm very familiar with Card's SF, and his Alvin Maker series, so I expected this to be good. But I was wrong --- it was outstanding! By the end of the book, I felt like I knew Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, and even Pharoah --- or at least Card's "take" on these ancients. He also provided very plausible reasons why little or no archaeological evidence exists for Israel in Egypt, and for the absence of the name of Moses in Egyptian monuments.
Some might be put off or puzzled about the foreknowledge of the Messiah displayed by Moses in the novel. In fact, the Bible itself displays such foreknowledge and even says "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7) The fact is, the Israelites expected the Messiah, and knew at least something of his mission, and the Jews still do. So why wouldn't Moses know?
My only problem with the book was that it ended before it should have. But that doesn't detract from the 5 stars I'm giving it.
Orson Scott Card's speculations about the life of Moses.......2003-07-28
Orson Scott Card first presented his interpretation of Moses in the 1973 musical drama "Stone Tables" (the title comes from Exodus 24:12). This 1997 novel expands that story and reflects not only the book of Exodus, but the Mormon Book of Moses, and works of both history and speculation. As Card points out in his Preface, the account in Exodus says nothing of the life and achievements of Moses as a prince of Egypt and barely touches on his private life. Indeed, most scripture tends to be long on narrative and short on characterization. Card uses his formidable writing talents to make not only Moses, but his brother Aaron, sister Miriam, wife Zeforah, father-in-law Jethro, and the Pharaoh Tuthmose come alive as characters.
"Stone Tables" is speculation. The genesis for this speculation is Card's questions about the convoluted relationship between Moses and Aaron. In thinking over the life of Aaron, who watched his younger brother lead his people out of bondage, witnesses first hand the miracles of the plagues upon Egypt, and made a golden calf for the Israelites while Moses was up on Mount Sinai receiving the 10 Commandments from God, Card believed he saw a pattern of envy. However, "Stone Tables" goes well beyond providing a rationale for Aaron's actions.
For non-Mormon readers, such as myself, there are two major differences between the stories of Moses told in "Stone Tables" and that related by the book of Exodus (and the movies "The Ten Commandments" and "Prince of Egypt"). The first is that characters in the novel refer to their foreknowledge of Christ, which Card clearly states is part of the worldview of the Latter-day Saints. I have no problems with the idea that God let Moses and other member of the faithful know that a greater savior was going to redeem the people down the road. If God would let Moses stand in his presence and watch the passing of his glory, then sharing a glimpse of the greater design seems a small leap of faith to take.
The second and more interesting difference is that the fact Moses is the adopted son of the daughter of Pharaoh is never hidden. When Hatshepsut takes the baby from the Nile, she knows the child is the son of a Hebrew slave and that the little girl who knows of someone who can nurse the infant is the sister of Moses taking the boy to his mother. The river brought her a son and with the support of Pharaoh that story is taken as gospel by the people of Egypt. Consequently, Moses knows his "real" family from early in life and rejects his Hebrew heritage by conscious choice rather than out of ignorance. Aaron and Miriam assail him at every opportunity to free his people, but Moses will have none of it. Clearly in this novel the second element is the most significant and it provides the context for reexamining how Moses came to know God and why Pharaoh hardened his heart. In the case of the latter the emphasis is on making the power known to not only Pharaoh but the Israelites as well. Card also works out the cold logic of the escalating plagues visited upon the land of Egypt.
Ultimately, the most fascinating parts of Card's novel are the dialogues between the characters, which only makes sense. Such dialogues are at a minimum in scripture and they comprise the part of the story that will be seen as "new" by many readers. Many of the characters are capable of great humor, not to mention biting wit and caustic insights, and not only the dialogues but also the internal reflections of the characters are well thought out by Card. I was particularly fond of Jethro and Zeforah, who exhibit such great joy in expressing their faith, and appreciated the flaws that were both the strengths and weaknesses of Aaron and Miriam. The sibling rivalries, both in Egypt and in the land of Midian, are particularly fun as well, although reflecting clearly modern sensibilities.
Card's speculations hold together pretty well, although it is his characterization of Moses that makes or breaks the book. The transformation from a questioning creature of doubt into a true servant of God is captivating and well motivated. However, when Card includes the conversation between Moses and God in the presence of the burning bush the scene does not ring true. Card has presented Moses as fully willing to embrace God's plan for him, which makes him trying to get out of his destiny and arguing for a place for his brother seem a step backwards. That is the part of Moses that always confused me: if God makes a personal appearance and tells you he is going to be right by your side, arguing with him seems somewhat inappropriate. In Card's story the Moses who confronts Pharaoh is so supremely confident that it is hard to believe he showed such doubts in God's presence. Consequently, I of course find myself agreeing more with Card's speculations.
I would think that you would know before you pick up "Stone Tables" if religious fiction in general or this story of Moses in particular is going to offend your sensibilities. Card has amply demonstrated over the years that he is not only an excellent writer but a person of faith. The latter is the primary requirement for any author of religious fiction; the former is simply a big plus.
Book Description
Erick Lindgren, one of the most recognizable and successful players on the World Poker Tour, presents No–Limit Hold'em tournament strategies for surviving and thriving at the tables.
This follow–up to WPT: Shuffle Up and Deal from poker professional Erick Lindgren with contributions from other stars of the World Poker Tour provides the next level of poker strategies and insights for today's poker players. The popularity of the World Poker Tour has driven the huge spike in amateur players entering No–Limit Hold'em Tournaments. As a result the old strategies of conservative slow play are no longer effective. Only the strongest and most aggressive players like Lindgren are reaching the final tables. In this book he will share what it takes to be the last one standing. This will be a must have for all poker enthusiasts.
Perfect for fans of the World Poker Tour as aired on Network Ten and is a hot Foxtel favourite
Australian poker champion Joe Hachem has just been all over the media after he won $10 million.
Erick Lindgren has won almost $2 million on the World Poker Tour, including two first place finishes.
The World Poker Tour television series has revolutionized televised poker by offering expert analysis, and varying camera angles and close–ups of the players' hole cards, creating a whole new brand of high–tech, high–stakes, high–anxiety entertainment.
Customer Reviews:
Useless.......2007-08-03
I will not recommend this book to anyone as it doesn't have much content in it. For serious players, I recommend Dan Harrington's books.
Great for Advanced players!.......2007-07-03
Erick takes you into different ways to play No Limit Tournament Poker. It is a great book for the advanced player as it shows different ways to take down pots. A must for the intermediate player who wants to take their game to the next level!
Not exactly poker 101. But good info........2007-03-27
Some people complain this book is a lot of fluff and not much substance. But I disagree. Where this book really shines is as a component in your knowledge of tournament tactics. Combine this with "kill Phil", and the three volumes by Dan Harrington, and what you have are the gears you need to win. You always hear about the need to shift gears in order to win a tournament. Well these three books are definitely first second and third.
Harrington on holdem gives a rock solid foundation, Phil's book takes that up a notch and exploits the slightest advantage of each hand. His tactics will win hands that otherwise would most likely lose at the river or be folded preflop. "Kill Phil" is the book that explains the only defense against people like phil. So by reading all three you get a great understanding of just exactly what is going on at the table on any given hand.
Also, I think anyone who keeps making the money but never wins can benefit by having read this material. It reiterates over and over the strategy and necessity to win, not just survive. Distinguishing between the two is subtle yet monumental.
Not for beginners.......2007-02-24
I have read many many books. I enjoy tournament play much more than any other form. THis book strictly focused on how to win tournaments. I have been making the money alot but just can't seem to take that 1st. I learned a lot of new techniques. This book is not for beginners. If your new to poker and are looking for basic strategy and poker odds this book won't help. You need a fairly indepth understand of poker before reading this book. Very good book would recommend for the tourny player. On a side note, would like to comment on all poker books. Most pro players tell you how you should play and the correct plays in certain situations. Yes all these concepts work great when your playing other pros and good players. Most of these concepts don't work for the good poker player playing low limit games such as anything under $100 tournies. Most of these player are new, or poor players. They dont understand pot odds and correct plays. So, while this book was good. I don't forsee it helping my play much. Since unfortunatly I can't afford to play the pro, high limit tournies.
Nothing special.......2007-01-11
This was the fifth poker book I have read and I would rate it last of the five. It is short on details and could be summed up in a few chapters. Much of the book is nothing more than advertising for the World Poker Tour and about 20 pages are nothing more than a list of the first three seasons money winners on the WPT. The book does share some creative poker theory, but I would say start with Harrington's (Vol's 1 and 2) books or Doyle's Supersystem if you are looking for an informative, detail-based book to build your knowledge of the game.
Books:
- Hereditary Hearing Loss and Its Syndromes (Oxford Monographs on Medical Genetics, No. 50)
- Heroes and Saints and Other Plays: Giving Up the Ghost, Shadow of a Man, Heroes and Saints
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Books Index
Books Home
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Harrington on Hold 'em Expert Strategy for No Limit Tournaments, Vol. 1: Strategic Play
Harrington on Hold 'em: Expert Strategies for No Limit Tournaments, Vol. III--The Workbook (Harrington on Hold'em)
The Theory of Poker
Caro's Book of Poker Tells
Phil Gordon's Little Green Book: Lessons and Teachings in No Limit Texas Hold'em
