Mike Matusow: Check-Raising the Devil

by Mike Matusow, Amy Calistri, Tim Lavalli

Book Overview

1. Big Poker Celebrity: The super popular and always entertaining Mike "The Mouth" Matusow is a huge fan favorite from his many implosions, explosions, and huge successes at the poker table on... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1580422616
• ISBN13: 9781580422611
• Release Date: May 2009
• Publisher: Cardoza Publishing
• Length: 267 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.3" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Should be mandatory reading!

This book should be mandatory reading if you are under 40 or a poker player. Mike Matusow opens up his life like you would not believe - he tells it all!!! In this autobiography he explains his roots, his start in poker and the devils that have their basis in his diagnosed mental illnesses. It gives an personal perspective to the events we have all watched on TV - and tells the background to each of them. I was out in Vegas when I started reading this book on a Friday night - I picked it up again the next morning and blew off going to a poker tournament at the Venetian to finish the book. It is almost impossible to put down once you start reading it. There are a couple of proofing errors - on page 14 the 2008 WSOP is described as the 2009 WSOP, there is repeated info on pages 24 and 25 and poor grammer "played good" instead of "played well on page 34." Not bad for a first edition in this era of spell check proofing. This book is, in my opinion, a book that simply must be read!

Great Poker/Sports Bio

The book is great because it is actually three books. First, this is one of the best poker bios that I have read. Mike has been in the middle of the poker boom from the beginning and gives a great insite to what was happening during it. It is also an addicition/recovery story because of his drug abuse and recovery. And finally it is a book on dealing with a chronic mental illness. I could especially relate to Mike because I suffer from the same mental illness as he does. Only I was very lucky in that I am one of the few bipolars that I know that didn't self-medicate with drugs or alcahol. You should buy and read it...you get 3 books for the price of one.

"The Nuts"

Mike's story is so interesting and crazy. I could not stop reading! If you like reading about poker, fast living and brutal/honest confessions about drugs and depression, then you will love this book. A lot of rich young poker players who live in Las Vegas have so much more temptations and do fall prey to them. I'm so happy he found help and some peace in his life. Being rich is a blessing but could also be a curse as it was in Mike's life for a little while. I hope I can meet him some day and tell him how compelling his bio is and most importantly, what a terrific player he is. I know he's going to win many more bracelets.

Just What I Expected

As someone who has hung out with Mike's brother Scott, and has met and had dinner with Mike, I have had a glimpse of Mike away from the felt. I too suffer from bipolar and a previous drug history, and there were times when I couldn't get out of bed. I understand just where Mike is in his life. Mike Matusow is all heart and wears it on his sleeve. That's why he is arguably the most liked and fascinating pro out there. He is rags to riches and his story shows the scars he has to prove it. All in all, great reading and insight. A real look into the sex, drugs and lifestyle of the Las Vegas party scene. As a Vegas resident I can say firsthand that this town can be seductively brutal. 5 Stars.

A psychological journey into the depths of depravity

Spend a night with Mike and the most beautiful hookers in Las Vegas. Spend a day at the final table with Mike at the World Series of Poker and see how he stares down and beats the best in the world. Spend six months with Mike at the Clarke County Correctional Center, and see how his poker skills enable him to match wits and survive against the most hardened criminals in Las Vegas. I could not put this book down. Even if you are only a casual poker player you will love this book. I also recommend this book to anyone who wants to understands how the human mind reacts to extreme stress, mental illness, and drug abuse.Mike Matusow: Check-Raising the Devil Randy Glover