PokerNews Book Review: Poker Hall of Famer Tom McEvoys Biography ‘Poker Pioneer’
In 2024, Poker Hall of Famer and 1983 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event champ Tom McEvoy released the 15th book of his career. However, what was different this time was that it was his first non-strategy book.
Poker Pioneer, written with the help of Brad Smith (PR Director for the Casino Collectibles Association), is McEvoy’s autobiography, and it delivers on several fronts. In fact, it deserves a spot on your poker bookshelf right there with Phil Hellmuth’s Poker Brat and Mike Sexton’s Life’s a Gamble, especially if you’re a lover of poker history.
Few people have been around the poker world as long and as intimately as McEvoy, who rubbed elbows with poker legends Benny Binion and Stu Ungar but also benefitted as PokerStars’ first sponsored pro-post-Poker Boom. In between, he helped spearhead the “Poker Smoking Petition,” hosted several high-profile poker events, and lived an up-and-personal life that is sometimes hard to believe.
So, to say McEvoy has stories would be an understatement, but the best part of it, he doesn’t shy away from telling them “warts and all.” In Poker Pioneer, McEvoy made it a point to be as authentic as possible and make sure not to sugarcoat things. As such, things are not always pretty and McEvoy readily admits that some of the things he shares might rile up certain individuals. To put it another way, if you enjoy poker drama and gossip, you’ll get your fair share, and McEvoy brings receipts.
You’ll not only learn all about McEvoy, but you’ll also hear stories about Hellmuth, Doyle Brunson, “Treetop” Jack Strauss, Amarillo Slim, Phil Ivey, Erik Seidel, and dozens more.
The self-published book is hefty at 512 pages, but it is spruced up nicely with plenty of photos, many from McEvoy’s personal collection. It’s also high-quality, especially the hardcover version with an iconic photo of 1983 Tom McEvoy on the cover and a modern-day image on the back. McEvoy also received a figurative stamp of approval when Hellmuth provided the book’s foreword in which he called McEvoy one of the most honorable men he’s ever met.
Likewise, some other heavy hitters in the industry offered endorsements.
Jack Binion: “Tom has perfect honor, ethics, and morals. And that’s important. Not every champion in our world is pure. Tom has earned my respect.”
T. J. Cloutier: “Tom has always been a gentleman, at the poker table and outside, win or lose. His reputation in the poker world is definitely impeccable.”
As someone who has read most poker books out there, and has a fondness for poker biographies, I can’t recommend Poker Pioneer enough. It is simply one of the best poker history books ever written and accurately shares the life of one of the game’s legends. You’ll be entertained while learning more than you knew existed about the rise of the poker industry and many of the people in it.
For more on the book and a taste of the stories McEvoy offers, check out this interview I conducted with the man himself at his home in Las Vegas:
The Hand I’ll Never Forget: McEvoy Takes Big Pot From Amarillo Slim
PR & Media Manager for PokerNews, Podcast host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.
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