Godfather of Poker

By: Doyle Brunson

Narrated by: Doyle Brunson

Length: 12 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

The story of Doyle Brunson, an American treasure and the greatest poker player of all time, is one for the ages. It’s a story of guts and glory, of good luck and bad, of triumph and unspeakable tragedy, of courage and grace. He has survived whippings, gun fights, stabbings, mobsters (the real-life ones portrayed in the movie Casino), murderers, and a death sentence when, riddled with incurable cancer, he was given months to live by doctors who told him his hand was played out.

Apparently, fate had never played poker with Brunson—he lived. Of a group of 32 men he played poker with in the tough alleys of Texas, just he and one other survived the treacherous perils of that life. A master of the bluff, his most outrageous bluff came after being pistol-whipped and told he’s going to die with a gunman pointing a pistol at his forehead. Again, he lived. He’s gambled for millions of dollars—and with his life against the real-life mobsters and killers made famous in the movie Casino—and was the biggest sports bettor in the world, with a reputation of betting enormous sums of money on just about anything. Doyle has not only made more money at golf than anyone else until Tiger Woods came along, he once bet one million dollars on a single hole when he was virtually wheelchair-bound and could barely stand. He’s been hard-up flat broke more times than he’s got fingers, and has won millions of dollars just as many times. Brunson has seen it all: from the athletic dreams and a leg shattered by a freak injury which waylaid his path to the NBA (he was drafted by the Lakers), to the devastating death of his first-born daughter, to outrageous exploits like trying to discover Noah’s Ark and raise the Titanic. Doyle’s rollercoaster of a life defines the saying: Truth is stranger than fiction.

Twice a winner of the prestigious World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, he's won millions and lost millions—sometimes in seconds—but decidedly more of the former than the latter. Brunson can still be found playing in the highest stakes poker games in the world, often with as much as one million dollars in front of him. To every one of the 250 million people worldwide who play poker each year, Doyle Brunson, is the legendary “Babe Ruth of Poker”—the greatest gambler and poker player who has ever lived.

©2009 Cardoza Publishing (P)2023 Poker Royalty Publishing

The legend tells you his story

I enjoyed hearing Brunson narrate his long and interesting career. It does drag a bit, but it's worth getting to the end to hear about such a unique life and career that is so intertwined with the modern history of poker.

The best that ever was or will be!

I had the pleasure of meeting Doyle three times and each time he was the most pleasant, down to earth man you could ask for. He spent time to chat and take a photo with me. He autographed my copy of his book and we talked about my favorite parts of it, all while he was sitting at the poker table, playing the Big Game in Bobby’s Room at the Bellagio. I will never forget that. There will never be another poker player like him. Thanks for all the stories and your kindness.

Awesome book from Legendary Doyle Brunson

Very good interesting book. I enjoy Doyle narrating his life it feels like he right there tells us the stories.

Must read for all Poker fans

I grew up watching Dolly on TV. I read Super System and it helped me understand poker was far more complex than I had ever realized. This isn't a poker strategy book meant to make you a crusher, this is the tale of a man bigger than life. It has been incredible so far and I'm just now getting to him finding and falling in love with poker. Rest in Power Dolly. Keep a chair open for me when I make it to the big game in the sky.

Great

It was a great story and awesome to hear it from the man himself! I wish super system was available on audible.

10 2

The legend the godfather of poker Doyle really had an interesting life inside and outside of poker. Biography also needs a movie i’ll be waiting.

Must Read for Any Old-School Poker Fan

This is quintessential Dolly, flaws and all. You can definitely tell it’s written and read by him. The stories are just so great if you’re a player like me that yearns for the days of poker before all the online computer nerds.