The Noble Hustle

Poker, Beef Jerky, and Death

By: Colson Whitehead

Narrated by: Colson Whitehead

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.

©2014 Colson Whitehead (P)2014 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Whitehead serves up an engrossing mix of casual yet astute reportage and hang-dog philosophizing, showing us that, for all of poker’s intricate calculations and shrewd stratagems, everything still hangs on the turn of a card." - Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

"As a novelist of considerable range, Whitehead consistently writes about more than he's ostensibly writing about...here writing a poker book that should strike a responsive literary chord with some who know nothing about the game...Engaging in its color and character." -Kirkus Reviews

"Colloquial, with many personal digressions and heavy on pop-culture references, it reads like a memoir crossed with a literary guide to the often bizarre world of casino-poker tournaments..."-The Wall Street Journal

Fun read.

Nice to read a poker book from an actual writer. Review requires fifteen words minimum.

I would have liked more detail

Very easy to listen to, but I thought that it would have gone into more detail. I liked his perspective, which made me give this book four stars.

Fun Story For Poker Lovers

Very interesting tale of playing in the World Series of Poker. I saw the author interviewed on 60 Minutes. Can't wait to get into his other books.

Colson Whitehead, note-taker of our culture

First a word about the narration. Definitely listen to the preview first, because Whitehead has a distinctive way of talking, and it might not be for you. When I first listened to him, I thought it might not be for me, either, but, funny thing, his voice grew on me, and I started to like it. I've read two other books by Whitehead, and I liked them both for the deft way he mixes cultural observations with his stories, and his fresh, clear writing. He is wry, but not overbearing about it - at least that's how it comes across to me. I really liked Zone One. For me, all his books (including The Noble Hustle) come down to one thing - Our Culture. It's worth reading The Noble Hustle just to hear him explain the different hands in poker. A pair of queens (I think it was) would be like a pair of SUV's in your neighbor's driveway, whereas your hand with only one queen is like having only one SUV in your driveway. The person with the better stuff wins. He talks a lot about his anhedonia, his feeling of being dead inside, but he has such a lock on humor and observations that he manages to be good company. It's like sitting down him next to him at casino bar, and staying longer than you'd thought, just to hear him talk.

Good look at Poker

Thhis is a well-written book about contemporary poker tournaments. the author gives us a detailed view of his own experience including ups and downs and self-doubt as he is given an assignment to write about playing in the main event at the World Series of Poker. I enjoyed all of it

Great story for a recreational poker player

This story was more than I expected.

I figured it would be a basic rundown of a trip to the strip to play in pokers biggest game. I found that (as a poker player) every situation was relatable and could feel the emotions like they were my own complete with the "dead inside" feeling. Even the mention of beef jerky was so completely spot on.

If you like poker or even remotely understand the game, it's a great journey.

If You're "Into Poker", Skip This Book

Would you try another book from Colson Whitehead and/or Colson Whitehead?

Doubtful.

What could Colson Whitehead have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Nothing and everything. I'm an experienced poker player who has never played in the WSOP - and found this book boring. Whitehead doesn't break any new ground at all -- McManus's Positively Fifth Street is a far superior description of what it's like for an amateur to play in the Main Event.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Yes.

Did The Noble Hustle inspire you to do anything?

No.

Sad Funny Book Teaches You About Cards, Ping!

The Slate Culture Gabfest podcast pointed me Whitehead's way alluding to an essay he wrote about New York. Whitehead tells us he's bummed out, (with examples) and I believe him. He's a funny guy, and I liked hearing about his ambitious prep to play in a World Series of Poker Event. When you go on a journey like that, you make some unexpected buds. He does and I really like "Coach." Whitehead especially wins me over with his references to "the kid." He also comes up with an innovative structure (cheating?) to get a book's worth of material out his adventure. I came around to liking his reading of his own work. I recommend!

The Anhedonian Manifesto

I knew virtually nothing about the world of poker before this listen, but I sure do now. As a huge admirer of Whitehead's writing, I am working my way backwards from his more recent books. I enjoyed his dark humor and self-effacing wit along with the lyrical, technical lingo of professional card sharks and Whitehead's scathing cultural observations.

Thoroughly Enjoyable

Maybe not as socially important as his other works, but great reading nonetheless. I have never read anyone who writes in the style that he does.