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.

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.

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.

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.