Books to help you learn poker, not about poker

I know there are alot of great books out there to help people learn poker. I was just wondering if anyone knows of any good books that will help a poker player in their career, that aren't specificly written about poker. Ie, statistics, game theory, etc. For that matter, any college course that will help a hopeful future poker player.

Any College Statistics course.

1 The Art of War
2 followed by Tournament Poker and the Art of War (he takes principles from the first book and relates it to tournament poker)
3 Books that teach how to read people's gestures. Can't remember the guy's name but he's a former FBI agent that wrote a book w/ Hellmuth about tells and stuff and how to read people

Mike Caro's book of poker tells, and phil Gordons little green book of poker.......(just googled them, from memory, so info might be wrong, lol)

"The Traits of Champions" is one of the best books I have read in ages. Google it, as it used to be a free download from the web. It uses golf as the subject matter, but relates the winning principles of professional golf to business and to everyday life. It clearly applies to poker and any other activities that one seriously pursues.

Texas Hold'em for dummies

I just finished this book (yes I'm very green ) and the author says 'I strongly recommend you cut your hold'em teeth on limit (instead of getting them busted out in no-limit), until you get a feel of the game.

Is this true, because frankly I thinks limit sucks big time, I started playing no-limit just with play money.

Do you have to be a good limit-player first in order to become a decent no-limit player ?

zz I actually read this book when I first started online, its a good book.
My personal opinion about the advice about playing limit is that it will cut down on your losses, when you first start playing, and if you only play the big hands to start with, the AA/KK/QQ/JJ etc, and limp with small pocket pairs, then you will do alright till you're ready to experiment.
I have little experience of limit, but I heard its 'purer' than no limit, as you have to play the cards/person more, theres less variance, and bluffs etc, thats my own personal thoughts, ok.
GL


but, if you cant wait to jump into NL holdem, then play the play money tables and freerolls(CC has excellent ones, 50 quality posts is the requirement) and experiment there, I still donk in freerolls just for fun, to try new plays, etc.

NL

ZZFLOP said:

Do you have to be a good limit-player first in order to become a decent no-limit player ?

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IMO no, you don't. limit and no limit are very different games. if you want to practice with real money though it's gonna cost you...

other than that - it really depends on your bankroll. for myself i can say that i've been playing only NL since i started playing poker. IMO you should practice in a lot of freerolls and play money games. when you switch to real money be very careful about the types of games you choose and don't jump over your head - being good with play money still doesn't mean anything about your capabilities and you'll probably loose miserably switching for real money... so keep your cool and focus on learning from every game you play.

you can also try pot limit - more interesting than limit and easier to handle than NL.

Barry Greenstein's Ace On The River - especially if you've got ideas about making a living from poker, it's essential reading. It basically covers everything you need to know about poker that goes on away from the tables.

Plus it's got a chapter called "Poker and your sexuality", which brings the LOLZ.

Thanks alot for all the recommendations, I'll start getting them and add them to my poker library.

MI_Snowdog said:

a former FBI agent that wrote a book w/ Hellmuth about tells and stuff and how to read people

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Joe Navarro is the name of that FBI agent. The name of the book is Read 'em and Reap

I haven't read this or the caro book, but I've heard a couple interviews with Joe Navarro and I'd recommend his book based on the interviews.

Effexor said:

Joe Navarro is the name of that FBI agent. The name of the book is Read 'em and Reap

I haven't read this or the caro book, but I've heard a couple interviews with Joe Navarro and I'd recommend his book based on the interviews.

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I've read both

For practical advice that you can actually use, Read 'em and Reap is a much better book. Much easier to read, much easier to understand and much easier to apply. The pictures are bigger better and clearer too. If you were to only buy one book on tells, I'd make it this one.

It doesn't have any of the stuff specific to draw or stud games that Caro gives you, but if all you're going to do is play hold 'em in a casino (or even a home game) then you won't miss that material anyway.

My favorite book on poker is the theory of poker.....i can read it over and over again and not get tired of it and i laugh at how much it help to reread it when im not doin so well.....also super system 2 is good especialy the limit holdem section which i think is one of the best examples of solid limit play...... the first book i ever read about poker was phil gordons little green book.....a good buy for any beginner hold'em player

Dr.Seuss is always a good place if you wanna learn to read.............I reccommend 'The Cat in the Hat'...............