Do you want to keep developing yourself as a poker player? Then we advise you, in addition to studying our poker information page, to continuously educate yourself. For the same reason, we recently gave you a handy overview of the best YouTube poker channels to become a professional poker player, but it doesn’t stop there. Because if you really want to make progress as a poker player, you also have to read up.
Top 10 bestselling books on poker
In addition to the popular YouTube channels, there are also various books that will help you hone your poker skills. A top 10 of the most sold books on poker:
10. Read’em and Reap (Joe Navarro, 2006)
He may be last on this list, but we’re still talking about a book that still makes a big impression. In Read’em and Reap, ex-FBI interrogator Joe Navarro is hired by poker player Phil Hellmuth. And the combination of a professional poker player and an ex-cop known as the “human lie detector” makes for a spectacular book that revolves around how the fellow player can be read.
9. Zen and the Art of Poker (Larry W. Phillips, 1999)
In 1999, Larry W. Phillips came up with a book about the emotions at the gaming table. So nothing, no strategic tips, it was purely about how to deal with the emotions. Because keeping the emotions under control can ultimately yield significant financial benefits, also and especially at the poker table.
8. The Poker Mindset (Matthew Hilger, 2007)
In 2007, Matthew Hilger kind of spun off on Larry W. Phillip’s Zen and the Art of Poker. In fact, the world was not ready for all the theories that were put on paper in 1999, but in 2007 the poker world was a lot further. Because that emotions can indeed play a major role at the gaming table, more and more people realized.
7. Harrington on Hold’em (Dan Harrington, 2004)
Handy poker player Dan Harrington wrote several prestigious poker tournaments to his name and people wanted to know how he managed to do it every time. The answer came in the form of his book on Hold’em. He did this in three parts and each of these books caused quite a stir among No-Limit enthusiasts.
6. Super System 2 (Doyle Brunson, 2004)
Many poker players will be familiar with Doyle Brunson’s Super System. That book also appears later in the list. The second part of Super System is based on the same concept as the original book, which means that the best poker players in the world wrote a chapter in it. Contributors in the 2004 installment included Jennifer Harman (Limit Hold’em), Lyle Berman (Pot Limit Omaha) and Bobby Baldwin (Omaha Hi / Lo).
5. No Limit Texas Hold’em Tournaments (Issa Jouaneh, 2005)
Admittedly, this book by Issa Jouaneh is aimed at the beginning poker players. So, if you’re already a seasoned poker pro, this book probably isn’t quite for you. Nevertheless, it may be that especially as a beginner this book offers you valuable information. No Limit Texas Hold’em Tournaments does indeed focus on the variant of the same name.
4. Caro’s Book of Poker Tells (Mike Caro, 2003)
If you are interested in expanding your knowledge of poker tells and at least play live poker from time to time, we highly recommend this book. If you’ve ever searched online for great poker books, chances are you’ve seen Caro’s Book of Poker Tells as this is one of the most read poker books of all time.
3. Excelling at No-Limit Hold’Em (Jonathan Little, 2015)
We just mentioned his YouTube channel, but Jonathan Little also has a book to his name. It has become one of about 500 pages thick, in which 17 poker experts have been collaborated. Of course the game focuses on No-Limit Hold’Em, but there is also a lot of attention for the mental part. For example, the psychological background plays a major role. Especially for many novice players we have a must-read with this.
2. Super System 1 (Doyle Brunson, 1978)
We already talked about Part II above, but Super System 1 is really known as the poker bible. The book was released in 1978, making it the first poker strategy book. Many amateur players made enormous progress in their game thanks to the insights from this book. In the book, the best players in the world come up with a chapter on a poker variant. If you read the book, you will understand why it owes its nickname.
1. The Theory of Poker (David Sklansky, 1987)
While it is never easy to come up with number one, fortunately for our top 10 poker books it was not that difficult. Because David Sklansky’s The Theory of Poker is a classic among the classics. The 1987 work mentions concepts that were truly groundbreaking. Many of the concepts were unheard of, but thanks to all the logical foundations they knew immediately reach the general public. And the great thing is that Sklansky mainly focuses on players who want to continue to achieve success in the long term.
