cover image A Friendly Game of Poker: 52 Takes on the Neighborhood Game

A Friendly Game of Poker: 52 Takes on the Neighborhood Game

. Chicago Review Press, $14.95 (252pp) ISBN 978-1-55652-512-4

""There's no such thing, of course, as a friendly game of poker,"" says James McManus, author of Positively Fifth Street, in a blurb for this entertaining collection. So perhaps it's best to play as Ira Glass does--online. Glass also poses the central question:""if poker's so wrong, why does it feel so right?"" Greg Dinkin describes the agonizing, moment-by-moment thought process of playing a hand. Bill Zehme explains why Johnny Carson, who hates parties, attends sessions of the Gourmet Poker Club (""the card game becomes secondary the minute somebody has a good story to tell,"" says fellow player Carl Reiner). And David Quantick and Karen Krizanovich explain why Americans prefer poker and the British prefer bridge (poker is more democratic). Anyone who's ever been in a weekly poker game will find much to identify with in this delightful volume.