When it rains, it pours. I haven’t gotten asked about books for a long time, and suddenly, this past week, four people pseudo-independently of each other have contacted me and asked me for advice on what the first book on poker they should get is.

I had the same answer every time. And for some bizarre reason, none of them really bought my answer. They ask, they get an answer, they decide they know better than me.

Here’s my answer: Getting Started in Hold ‘em, by Ed Miller.

If you play Texas Hold ‘em, if you want to read your first book, then this is really the book to pick up first. I don’t care that you don’t feel like a beginner - if you haven’t read a book before, you almost certainly are. I don’t care that you’ve played for six (whole!) months already and think that you know pot odds like the back of your own hand already.

Start with this book. If you think that a book titled “Getting Started” is too lame for an expert such as yourself, you desperately need a lesson in humility. Your first lesson is to check your pride aside and pick up this book. If you think that any book without “advanced” or “expert” in the title is a waste of money, you’re wasting money.