Poker Books Published in 1998

In 1987, poker was legalized in Nevada and a single California county, captivating 17-year-old author Jesse May. By 1996, the game was legal in over twenty US states and five European countries, transforming poker’s landscape. May, too, evolved with the game, leaving the University of Chicago in 1989 due to conflicts between his class schedule and poker nights. His debut novel, Shut Up and Deal, is based on his experiences in the poker world. It follows a ’90s dropout with an unshakeable obsession for poker, navigating casinos and card rooms in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and Amsterdam. The novel, told in a compelling voice, is filled with intense poker dramas, with the protagonist, Mickey, facing a situation that risks his entire bankroll and tests his morals. Shut Up and Deal offers an immersive look into the modern poker world with its gripping, fast-paced narrative.