The Noble Hustle is Pulitzer finalist Colson Whitehead’s hilarious memoir of his search for meaning at high stakes poker tables, which the author describes as “Eat, Pray, Love for depressed shut-ins.”
On one level, The Noble Hustle is a familiar species of participatory journalism--a longtime neighborhood poker player, Whitehead was given a $10,000 stake and an assignment from the online online magazine Grantland to see how far he could get in the World Series of Poker. But since it stems from the astonishing mind of Colson Whitehead (MacArthur Award-endorsed!), the book is a brilliant, hilarious, weirdly profound, and ultimately moving portrayal of--yes, it sounds overblown and ridiculous, but really!--the human condition.
After weeks of preparation that included repeated bus trips to glamorous Atlantic City, and hiring a personal trainer to toughen him up for sitting at twelve hours a stretch, the author journeyed to the gaudy wonderland that is Las Vegas – the world’s greatest “Leisure Industrial Complex” -- to try his luck in the multi-million dollar tournament. Hobbled by his mediocre playing skills and a lifelong condition known as “anhedonia” (the inability to experience pleasure) Whitehead did not – spoiler alert! - win tens of millions of dollars. But he did chronicle his progress, both literal and existential, in this unbelievably funny, uncannily accurate social satire whose main target is the author himself.
Whether you’ve been playing cards your whole life, or have never picked up a hand, you’re sure to agree that this book contains some of the best writing about beef jerky ever put to paper.
From the Hardcover edition. Views: 647
A young man responds to the needs of his country and leaves home to head for a training camp in the armed forces. Initially he is stationed only fifty miles from home, but it wasn't long before he ended up at the other end of the country. The unit was on the edge of a beautiful village, and it wasn't long before the new recruits got to know the local countryside and its residents.A young man responds to the needs of his country and leaves home to head for a training camp in the armed forces. Initially he is stationed only fifty miles from home, but it wasn't long before he ended up at the other end of the country. The unit was on the edge of a beautiful village, and it wasn't long before the new recruits got to know the local countryside and its residents. The shy young soldier found himself attracted to a girl from the village. The vagaries of war ensured that they would be separated, but they pledged that they would keep in contact whatever happened.These were days when people had little control over their destiny, and they had to have faith that better times would emerge. But life could be cruel, and setbacks were always lurking around one corner or another. Willpower and tenacity were important assets when one had to play the hand they were dealt, as exemplified by this young couple. Even then, there were unexpected pitfalls. This wartime romance is a perfect example. Views: 647
Child slavery is rife. Hundreds of young people are being forced into lives of slavery by an international trafficking ring based in the jungles of central Africa. The cadets are tasked to present themselves as bait for the traffickers. Some of them head to Africa. Some stay in the UK. They are to gather hard intel which the authorities can use to nail the perpetrators of this twisted business. But the bad guys are one step ahead. The cadets lose contact with their handlers and are taken off grid by some of the most brutal criminals in the world. It will take all their skills to get themselves to safety - and to bring the traffickers tojustice. Views: 646
Nothing can make Betsy Taylor give up her shoe fetish - even dying and rising as the new Queen of the Vampires. Being royally undead isn't all it's cracked up to be - there are still bills to be paid. And Betsy is determined to live as normally as possible, even if it means getting a job. A "feet" she accomplishes with panache, landing her dream job selling designer shoes at Macy's. Things couldn't be better - except for her new friends, who keep pestering her while she's on the clock. As if she has time to socialize when there are deliciously sinful shoes to try on - and buy at a discount. It seems that vampires are being murdered in St. Paul, and they're all clamoring for Betsy to do something about it. The worse part is she's going to have to enlist the help of the one vamp who makes her blood boil: the oh-so-sexy Sinclair. Now, she's really treading on dangerous ground - high heels and all. . . Views: 646
15 Civic Square uses the setting of the fictitious National Civic Bank to delve into the challenges and complexity of modern life at a time when "money" is constantly in the news.15 Civic Square uses the setting of the fictitious National Civic Bank to delve into the challenges and complexity of modern life at a time when "money" is constantly in the news. "A Day at the Top" traces the inner thoughts and turmoil of the CEO, while "The Tipping Competition" follows two close friends and co-workers through the chaos of a corporate restructure. Finally, "The Project" is the story of a customer who just can't take it any more.These three stories were first published in "Cracks in the Ceiling", and now form Book 1 of this new series. Views: 646
When A.P.J. Abdul Kalam wrote India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium with Y.S. Rajan in 1998, little did they expect the magnitude of the response they would get. The idea that India could actually be a developed nation in a short time rather than remain condemned to a subsistence diet of marginal improvements and promises struck a chord among readers. The book continues to be a best-seller. Ignited Minds: Unleashing the Power Within India goes the logical next step and examines why, given all our skills, resources and talents, we, so obviously capable of being the best, settle so often for the worst. What is it that we as a nation are missing? For at the heart of Ignited Minds is an irresistible premise: the people of a nation have the power, by dint of hard work, to realize their dream of a truly good life. Kalam offers no formulaic prescription in Ignited Minds. Instead, he takes up different issues and themes that struck him on his pilgrimage around the country as he met thousands of school children, teachers, scientists and saints and seers in the course of two years: the necessity for a patriotism that transcends religion and politics; for role models who point out the path to take; and for confidence in ourselves and in our strengths. Who was he to write on so large a theme, he wondered as he started writing this book. But at the end, Kalam's humility notwithstanding, this may well prove to be the book that motivates us to get back on the winning track and unleash the energy within a nation that hasn't allowed itself full rein. Views: 645
All new, updated and revised edition with a new afterword from the author. Buried deep below the Nevada desert, in a place often called Area 51, is a very special and ancient school where the best and brightest children come to learn the technology that will bring mankind to its next step of evolution -- a place amongst the stars.All new, updated and revised edition with a new afterword from the author.Buried deep below the Nevada desert, in a place often called Area 51, is a very special and ancient school where the best and brightest children come to learn the technology that will bring mankind to its next step of evolution -- a place amongst the stars. 'The Fourth World' follows four children through their entry into this school: 'Fintan Reilly' is a young, often bullied Irish boy who has a big destiny; Zach Adams, from Fresno, is his diametric opposite, and instant best friend; Ayako Katsuragi is a brilliant Japanese girl, a military brat who is as capable as she is smart and Nizhoni Benally is a Navajo from New Mexico, who is as tough as she is beautiful, and who somehow shares a secret past with Fintan. The book follows their first year in their new school, with an Alien as headmaster, and where they learn everything from Cosmic History through to how to fly a flying saucer, and comes to a shocking conclusion in a field trip to Mars where ancient secrets are uncovered. Views: 645
If you're the person who murdered my wife and think you've gotten away with it, think again. I'm looking for you, and I'll eventually find you.Is someone watching you through your webcam right now? No? Are you sure? Jim and his team of computer hackers are searching for a killer. They know they're invading your privacy and it's illegal, but they don't care.If you're the person who murdered my wife and think you've gotten away with it, think again. I'm looking for you, and I'll eventually find you.Is someone watching you through your webcam right now? No? Are you sure? Jim and his team of computer hackers are searching for a killer. They know they're invading your privacy and it's illegal, but they don't care. If you've got nothing to hide don't worry, they'll move on soon enough. Unless you're doing something that interests them. Then they might come to your house to have a talk with you.Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' FavoriteThis remarkable collection of tales and vignettes grab you and don't let go until the end. Some are reminiscent of Rod Serling's Twilight Zone; a mix of horror, fantasy and the absurd. Others, like Invasion of Privacy, are engrossing adventures spiced with a bit of mystery. They all share a few attributes: amazing characters whom you quickly come to know and care about, and story-lines that catch you up in the action with the first few words. Jim Liston's stories are great reading and highly entertaining. Views: 645
Our hero Charlie Parker adopts a greyhound puppy from the Greyhound Adoption Agency. He calls the dog Chuckles and the two with Charlie's friend Chester become inseparable. The boys teach Chuckles amazing tricks and experience a number of funny and exciting situations.Our hero Charlie Parker adopts a greyhound puppy from the Greyhound Adoption Agency. He calls the dog Chuckles and the two with Charlie's friend Chester become inseparable. The boys teach Chuckles amazing tricks and experience a number of funny and exciting situations. Charlie doesn’t realize that two crooks, Scar and Dave watch the development of Chuckles and try in a hilariously unsuccessful attempt to steal Chuckles to race as a greyhound. Scar observes Chuckles' affection for Mr Bentwhistle's poodle Fiffi. Scar uses Fiffi to 'get to' Chuckles. They snaffle the dogs and hide them at S and D Tomato Farm where they are planning to paint and disguise Chuckles. However, Mr Bentwhistle being an ex SAS soldier devises a plan for Charlie and Chester to bravely rescue Chuckles and Fiffi. Views: 644
Colson Whitehead’s eagerly awaited and triumphantly acclaimed new novel is on one level a multifaceted retelling of the story of John Henry, the black steel-driver who died outracing a machine designed to replace him. On another level it’s the story of a disaffected, middle-aged black journalist on a mission to set a record for junketeering who attends the annual John Henry Days festival. It is also a high-velocity thrill ride through the tunnel where American legend gives way to American pop culture, replete with p. r. flacks, stamp collectors, blues men , and turn-of-the-century song pluggers. John Henry Days is an acrobatic, intellectually dazzling, and laugh-out-loud funny book that will be read and talked about for years to come.
From the Trade Paperback edition. Views: 644
A short story prequel to the 'Lena's Friends' crime novels. Lena sells herself, she is a high class 'escort', a prostitute. At a bike rally, Lena meets up with Tony, someone she had previously met in a ‘professional’ way... Despite initial worries that her business and private lives should be kept separate, it soon becomes obvious that Tony was definitely going to be one of ‘Lena's Friends’...A short story prequel to Chris Graham's, the 'Lena's Friends' crime novels. The year is 2004. You are about to meet Lena Fox for the very first time. Lena sells herself. She works as a high class escort. In essence, she is a prostitute. A very good one, a very successful one, she enjoys her work immensely and has done very well from it. Lena's real passion though, is not one that reflects the Champagne lifestyle of her wealthy clientèle. Lena's passion has wheels. Lena prefers to wear well worn jeans, Doc Marten boots, and an old black leather jacket that had once belonged to her late father. Her father had given her the passion for riding motorcycles. At a bike rally, Lena gets involved with helping the victim of a crime and also meets up with Tony, someone she had previously met in a ‘professional’ way... Despite initial worries that her business and private lives should be kept separate, it soon becomes obvious that Tony was definitely going to be one of ‘Lena's Friends’... Views: 644
This is Part 2 of DIANE D The Musical Drama, a sequel to DIANE D In The Headlines and DANGEROUS DANA A Suspense Thriller. It is a suspense, drama, psychological, thriller about a family owned Charity and Entertainment Organization. This story involves 3 generations of the Diaz-Davidson family. The family's Charity and Entertainment Organization performs shows around the country and the world.In Part 2, Diane D gets in trouble by her family. The following day, she goes inside her family's office, goes to the telephone and secretly threatens her lover's girlfriend right over the telephone, blaming her lover's girlfriend for calling her family up causing all that trouble for her. Diane D also goes man-hunting for a date for a High School Dance she is suppose to appear at and perform. When one of the men finally agrees to be Diane D’s date, his wife finds out about it. The man's wife goes and looks for Diane D. When she finds Diane D inside a church, she angrily confronts Diane D! She then pays a price for it. Diane D and her family appear at an elementary school one night so that Diane D can perform for a charity case there. After Diane D’s singing performance inside a crowded auditorium is over, a chubby little 9-year old black boy named Marcus approaches her. He brings Diane D to a private area in the school and tells Diane D that there is no charity case in the school. He confesses to Diane D that there was never a charity case at the school that the entire charity case was all a hoax planned by him and his older brother. He tells Diane D that he and his brother tricked her and her family into thinking that there was a charity case at the school just so that she can appear there and perform. Diane D becomes shocked when she realize that there was never a charity case at the school. She is shocked when she realize that she and her family had been tricked into coming to the school. She starts to become sad. She then becomes angry. She then goes CRAZY and terrorizes and harms the little boy right inside the school! The little boy pays a price for tricking Diane D and her family. Views: 643
A man is arrested for kissing a cop. If he had known breaking the law was soenjoyable he would have done it long ago.This short story is a winner of the CoffeeHouse Fiction Award and is included in their 2009 Anthology available from Amazon.com.Amirilla Asteras's only constant friends had been the stars she's lived among, until she started a long-distant relationship with Ganth Doranth, who operates a Gaian freighter with his father. Both had agreed early on to audio-only communications so she's never seen Ganth, but he's wormed his way into her heart anyway. Unfortunately Ganth is a Gaian man and must attach to a suitable woman, someone whole and healthy, and Ammi has been confined to a motorized box-like wheelchair all of her life.She knows her misshaped legs should keep her and Ganth apart and she dreads having to tell him the truth about her, but the tricky Gaian man has something else on his mind and seems determined to meet her in person, whether she wishes it or not. He has his own plans for the girl in the box. Views: 643
Current events, politics and economics point toward dangerous instability for our Republic. We need to look forward in the world's new conditions, rather than hold on to failed ideas and policies.The existing finance/tax code rule set is wrecking our long-term real wealth in favor of evanescent paper profits, and worse yet, stripping the poor to profit the rich. In parallel, a calamitous policy that repeats the error of failed alcohol prohibition, our War on Drugs is a hundred billion dollar subsidy for the terrorists, and debases our society with a criminal money culture. These economic structures...the finance/tax/corporate globalizations, and unregulated dope billions...combine to make heartless greed ascendant. Legal or not, inhuman values permeate too much.Any democracy is far more vulnerable than most of us realize, and carries within the seeds of its own destruction. Even the original Greek version of 2500 years ago was felled by excesses of demagoguery and populism. People are easily manipulated to vote against their own interests, something Hitler proved so notoriously, but the mechanisms are active in American politics. Psychopaths, PACs, media, fanaticism, fears, ignorance and more can combine in new ways to grasp power for its own sake. Today,America's population is triple the whole world's in 500BC, a fact that should give us perspective on the accelerating complexities. But this is a country that can turn on a dime, throw off outdated habits and remake itself in a shining new image. We must change direction or fall. Views: 642
