{"product_id":"poker-wars-isbn-9798892426480","title":"Poker Wars","description":"\u003cb\u003eMurder and mayhem, bullets and bombings, carnage and corruption…and a whole lot of outlaws gambling for the highest stakes of all.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003ePoker Wars\u003c\/i\u003e tells the true story of the hitmen, bandits, card sharks, and mobsters who brought about the internationally successful World Series of Poker.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe World Series of Poker, the sport’s most popular and lucrative event, had its inaugural event in 1970, and has since grown well beyond anything its founders ever imagined. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEspecially considering where it came from.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003ePoker Wars\u003c\/i\u003e chronicles the history of the dangerous key players and the violent conflicts that brought the game from the dark Dallas underbelly to the bright lights of Las Vegas and turned it into the billion-dollar industry it is today. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOffering an in-depth exploration of the nearly inconceivable life stories of the sport’s pioneers—especially those of “The Cowboy,” Benny Binion, an illiterate horse trader turned gambling boss who was as quick-tempered as he was business savvy—\u003ci\u003ePoker Wars\u003c\/i\u003e is a thorough breakdown of the remarkable sequence of events that brought the card game into the national spotlight.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWith new insights, Guitar and Martyka offer a behind-the-scenes look into some of the most well-known conflicts in poker history, including Binion’s feud with Herbert Noble, an ambitious gambler who earned the nickname “The Catman” by surviving several assassination attempts. They also present a comprehensive look at poker forefathers like Titanic Thompson and Nick the Greek, as well as the colorful personalities of the Texas Circuit like Johnny Moss and Doyle Brunson, who upped the ante by introducing a brand-new variant of the game. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAt once an exposé of the darker side of the tournament’s early legacy and its consequences and a wild, colorful, outlandish tale, \u003ci\u003ePoker Wars\u003c\/i\u003e is a true crime joyride.\u003cb\u003ePhilip Guitar\u003c\/b\u003e grew up in Abilene, Texas, and as a youth, spent time working on the family ranches and taking part in various athletics. He was also an avid reader and writer. His go-to genres were mysteries, horror, and true crime mafia books. He is also a former professional poker player and has some quality wins as well as plenty of stories to tell playing with some renowned players and celebrities. Philip is a prolific screenwriter and the founder and executive producer of Red Aces Productions, home of the “Texas Thriller.” He wrote and produced the successful and award-winning short film \u003ci\u003eCrude Massacre\u003c\/i\u003e, as well as the acclaimed documentary \u003ci\u003eWater Wars\u003c\/i\u003e, which features Dennis Quaid as the film’s narrator. He has several others that are being shopped or in development.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eJim Martyka \u003c\/b\u003eis a multipublished author and editor, having worked on over fifty published books in all genres, most notably \u003ci\u003eClosing the Gap\u003c\/i\u003e (the autobiography of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Davis), \u003ci\u003eThe Eight Characters of Comedy, Towards the Moon with Fellini, Paddle Out\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eThe Super Bowls\u003c\/i\u003e. He is an award-winning journalist and a professional coach and consultant, working with various publishers (including sports publisher Triumph Books) and helping writers of all experience levels get their projects written, pitched, and published. He is a native of Milwaukee and currently lives in Los Angeles. He is a true crime fan and a decent poker player… among friends and family. He is also a former \u003ci\u003eGuinness Book of World Records\u003c\/i\u003e holder, having watched fifty-three and a half hours of movies straight without sleeping. That record has since been beaten. By a lot. He has no plans to try to break that record again.","brand":"Crooked Lane Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48233481273573,"sku":"NP9798892426480","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/poker-wars-isbn-9798892426480","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}