review: Diary of a Mad Poker Player

Diary of a Mad Poker Player by Richard Sparks is a surprise.
The package and design of the book have the look of a self-published work, and I wouldn't be surprised if 'Russel Enterprises, Inc' was a vanity press.
But, nonetheless, you can't always judge a book by its cover.
If you start to read this book and find the author annoying, you will hate the book. It is very much personality-driven. At first, I didn't like him. The writing style was at times boring, at times over the top.
But, then I warmed to him.
I started to empathize with his quest to win his way into the World Series of Poker.
And, ultimately, he doesn't get there, making this book a much needed reality check.
He plays a lot on-line, and details his play there. This will be especially of interest to online newbies (online regulars might be bored).
He also interviews a bunch of interesting people in the poker business, and this is the best part of the book.
In interviews with Nelson Rose (authority on gambling and legal issues), the folks at PartyPoker.com and other sites, and Mike Sexton, author Sparks delivers some some great insights into the game today, and also, how far poker has come in a short time.
Diary of a Mad Poker Player is a particular book, and it's not for everyone. It's a narrative, not a strategy book, so that will limit the appeal for many. It's also just a regular guy's story, which may further limit the appeal.
If, like me, you feel compelled to read every poker book you can find, you could do much worse. I was pretty entertained by the book, and thought it well worth the money. But if you're looking to, as the subtitle says, 'journey to the world series of poker' this might not be the book for you.