Snooker, billiards, pool Books
The Crowood Press Ltd The Complete Book of Snooker Shots
Book SynopsisThe Complete Book of Snooker Shots will increase your knowledge of the shots that you can play from various positions on the table and so will - with practice - improve your game. This book will help not only players wishing to increase their knowledge, but also parents and professional coaches wishing to add structure to training sessions. Enjoy increasing your understanding of the game of snooker, and enjoy improving your knowledge. Packed with hundreds of individual shots to practice.
£13.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Crucible's Greatest Matches: Forty Years of
Book SynopsisSince 1977 the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield has staged the snooker World Championship and in that time become one of the most beloved and iconic venues in sport. In this book the UK's leading snooker writer Hector Nunns makes his selection of the greatest matches ever played in the famous amphitheatre, featuring the heroes of the early years right through to the household names of the present day. With exclusive contributions from the players involved, and how they saw the build-up, the match itself, the agony of defeat and ecstasy of victory, and the experience of being involved in a memorable encounter on the sport's greatest stage, in what is always the biggest, best and final tournament of the season. Forty Years of the Crucible recalls how promoter Mike Watterson stumbled across the theatre with the help of his wife Carole and throws the spotlight on classic matches involving Ronnie O'Sullivan, Stephen Hendry, Jimmy White, the late and much-missed Alex Higgins and Paul Hunter, Cliff Thorburn, Terry Griffiths, Ken Doherty and of course the 1985 black-ball final between Dennis Taylor and Steve Davis.
£16.19
John Wiley & Sons Inc Pool and Billiards For Dummies
Book SynopsisThis book reveals the tips, tricks and rules of play, for thevariety of the ever-popular games that make up pool and billiards. This hands-on guide discusses everything from the rules andstrategies, to how to set up a pool room, to choosing the rightequipment and is accompanied by dozens of photos and line drawings.Table of ContentsIntroduction. Part I: Fundamentals of Pool. Chapter 1: Arriving at the Pool Party. Chapter 2: Getting Down: Building a Solid Stance. Chapter 3: Handling the Cue. Chapter 4: On Target: The Science and Feel of Aiming. Chapter 5: Hit It: Creating a Solid Stroke. Chapter 6: Playing Nice: The Etiquette of the Game. Part II: Controlling the Cue Ball. Chapter 7: Getting Control and Stopping the Cue Ball. Chapter 8: Aim High: Incorporating Follow. Chapter 9: Using Draw: Putting Backspin on the Cue Ball. Chapter 10: The English Effect: Using Sidespin on the Cue Ball. Part III: Taking Your Shots. Chapter 11: Opening Shots: The Rack and the Break. Chapter 12: Thinking Ahead: Position and Pattern Play. Chapter 13: Shot-making: Tackling the Most Frequent Situations. Chapter 14: Eying Combinations: Making Shots with Multiple Balls. Chapter 15: Billiards and Caroms: Finding New Ways to Pocket Balls. Chapter 16: Banks and Kicks: Making the Most of the Rails. Chapter 17: Thinking Defensively: Playing Safe. Part IV: The Games You’ll Play. Chapter 18: The Magic of 8-Ball. Chapter 19: 9-Ball: The Hustler’s Game. Chapter 20: Pool’s Many Other Games. Part V: Gearing Up. Chapter 21: Equipment Check: Looking for Quality Tools. Chapter 22: Pool Is Mental: Winning the Head Games. Chapter 23: Drilling It Home: Practice Techniques. Part VI: The Part of Tens. Chapter 24: Mastering Ten Trick Shots. Chapter 25: Overcoming Ten or So Common Problems. Index.
£16.14
The Crowood Press Ltd 147 Snooker Drills and Exercises
Book Synopsis147 Snooker Drills and Exercises will help players of all standards to improve their game. It presents a range of practice routines that covers all aspects of a player's game. Some are more advanced than others, allowing the player working on a particular area of their game to pick out the exercises they feel will help them most. The routines become more difficult as the pages go on, so the beginner can work through them and use them to set targets to make their practice competitive. For coaches, the routines will assist in giving variety in lessons and helping to set targets in lessons.
£12.34
Headline Publishing Group From the Eye of the Hurricane My Story
Book SynopsisConsidered by many to be a genius at his peak, Alex Higgins''s unorthodox play and exciting style earned him the nickname ''Hurricane'' and led to his immense popularity and fame. In 1972 he became the youngest winner of the World Championship, repeating his victory in emotional style in 1982. Higgins''s story is so much more than just snooker. Head-butting tournament officials, threatening to shoot team-mates, getting involved with gangsters, abusing referees, affairs with glamorous women, frequent fines and lengthy bans, all contributed to Higgins slipping down the rankings as he succumbed to drink and lost his fortune. After suffering throat cancer, Alex Higgins now reflects on his turbulent life and career in his first full autobiography. The Hurricane is back - prepare to be caught up in the carnage.
£10.44
Cornerstone Behind The White Ball
Book SynopsisAfter Hurricane Higgins crashed out of snooker''s top league, Jimmmy White has been the `People''s Champion'' even though he never quite made the top World spot, pipped at the post in 1995 by Stephen Hendry, after missing one single black. Aged 16, White was the youngest player to win the English Amateur Championship. At 18, he won the World Amateur title. By 1984, he''s a professional success, married but not at all settled. He''s the kind of man who goes out for a packet of cigarettes and comes home two weeks later. Gambling, women, marathon binges with showbiz friends like Ron Wood of the Rolling Stones, have threatened the stability of his marriage. But somehow White has survived, to tell in candid detail, a most unusual, often outrageous story of a very sporting life.Trade ReviewMercurial, enigmatic, exciting -- Alex HigginsHe may play a spellbinding game, full of invention and dash. He may even be the "best snooker player in the world" - but he is loved because he is naughty . . . and therein lies his abiding appeal -- Sue Mott * Sunday Telegraph *Jimmy's harum-scarum attitude to life has never altered, even though he is now a household name. One of the loveliest things about him is his naturalness. Stardom has come and touched him and left him exactly the way he was * Sunday Mirror *Jimmy's the ultimate player's player. He thrills the public . . . but the players get even more enjoyment out of watching him because he strikes the ball so well * Daily Express *
£10.44
Random House USA Inc 99 Critical Shots in Pool Everything You Need to
Book SynopsisWorld Champion Pool Player Ray Cool Cat Martin shares his secrets for playing winner's pool in this classic book, which includes an introduction by the author. Written with co-author Rosser Reeves, The 99 Critical Shots in Pool remains one of the most authoritative guides to the game ever written. Over 200 illustrations show the proper form, technique, and approach to shots such as: • The Center Ball Cheat-the-Pocket • The Hook Shot • The Seven Ball Stop Shot • The Jump Shot • The Frozen Kiss Shot • The Nudge Shot • The Side Pocket By-Pass Shot Ray Martin, a Billiards Congress of America Hall of Fame inductee, is one of only seven players in the twentieth century to win three or more world 14.1 titles. He co-wrote this book with Rosser Reeves in 1976.
£13.50
The Crowood Press Ltd Snooker and Billiards: Skills - Tactics -
Book SynopsisCrowood Sports Guides are the perfect tool for anyone wanting to improve their performance, from beginners learning the basic skills to more experienced participants working on advanced techniques. In this second edition of Snooker & Billiards - Skills, Tactics Techniques, the history of the game is covered along with the rules of the game; choosing the right equipment and top tips from many of the game's great players. All the skills and techniques are explained clearly with full-colour sequence photography and detailed table diagrams help explain more advanced tactics such as breakbuilding and safety play.
£11.80
Rowman & Littlefield Billiards, Revised and Updated: The Official
Book SynopsisHere in a single, compact handbook are all the rules for the myriad forms of pocket billiards. Billiards: The Official Rules and Records Book is complete with detailed instructions on how to play everything from Basic Pocket Billiards to Cut-Throat, together with the rules for tournament games such as Nine Ball and Rotation, and Snooker and Carom games. These are the official rules of billiards from the Billiard Congress of America, the governing body of professional billiards in the United States. A very helpful chapter for the beginner includes professional tips on basic techniques and strategies. Also included are a glossary of billiard terms and a summary of BCA billiards champions.
£10.79
Pitch Publishing Ltd Snooker's Bad Boys: The Feuds, Fist Fights and
Book SynopsisSnooker's Bad Boys takes us back to a time when snooker players were better paid than footballers and lived like rock stars. It looks at the feuds, fist fights, fixes and playboys who put the sport on the front and back pages of the national press - as told by those who were there. The Daily Telegraph wrote in 1986: 'Infidelity, wife desertion, murmurs of arranged matches and hints of betting coups... bad management and players' back-street behaviour is killing the game.' The truth was the public always wanted to know what Alex Higgins, Jimmy White and other bad boys of the green baize might do next. Higgins was the original hellraiser and Snooker's Bad Boys features exclusive eyewitness accounts of his rise and fall, along with the troubles and triumphs of Jimmy White, Ronnie O'Sullivan and many other rogues who drank, gambled, partied and potted their way into the hearts of millions - from the sport's peak years in the 1980s up to the present day.
£15.29
Ebury Publishing Interesting
Book SynopsisSteve Davis was just a rookie from Plumstead, south London, learning how to play from an old book his snooker-obsessed father had given him, when an encounter with Barry Hearn changed his life forever. With his backing, Steve began touring the country in a clapped-out car as an amateur. Challenging established professionals and winning titles, supported by his loyal following the Romford Roar, it wasn't long before he progressed to the world's stage.By the eighties, Steve had helped transform a previously shady sport into a national obsession. He and a cast of legends such as Ray Reardon, Dennis Taylor and Alex Higgins, with other young guns like Jimmy White, were doing silent battle in front of huge audiences. Tens of millions of viewers would witness the nail-biting conclusions of his world championship finals; this was snooker's golden era.The man behind the boring' tag has always been the sport's smartest and sharpest man. With his cool, obsessive approach, Steve rewrote the rule book and became untouchably the best player in the world and the best paid sportsman in the country. Interesting lays it all bare: what it was like to win in those pressure-cooker situations; how to cope at the top, when everyone wants you to lose; and how you deal with the moment when a man comes along who is finally better than you. This is a memoir that closely evokes the smoke-filled atmosphere of those arenas, the intrigue behind the scenes and the personal psychology and sacrifice that is required to stay at the top of such an exacting sport.
£21.92
Human Kinetics Publishers Pool Players Edge
Book Synopsis With over 250 illustrations and photos, this full-color book gives you the diagrams and tips you need to advance your pool skills. The photos of current and former pros are augmented by author tips and sidebars, so you will receive a real inside look at the game. If you're serious about improving and winning, Pool Player's Edge is your best shot. Trade Review"Pool Player's Edge is a shortcut to mastering the game, no matter what level you strive to reach.”Ewa Mataya Laurance -- "The Striking Viking", World Trick Shot and 9-Ball Champion Table of ContentsPart 1: Become a Player Chapter 1. The Essentials Chapter 2. Perfect Your Aim Chapter 3. Cue Ball Control Chapter 4. Top-Shelf Shots Chapter 5. Map the Table Part II: Act the Part Chapter 6. Think Ahead Chapter 7. Master the Mind Game Chapter 8. Put It in Play Part III: Expert 8-Ball Chapter 9. 8-Ball Openers Chapter 10. Midgame Strategy Chapter 11. End-Game Excellence Part IV: Top-Notch 9-Ball Chapter 12. 9-Ball Openers Chapter 13. Winning Moves Chapter 14. Table-Closing Tactics
£14.39
Schiffer Publishing Ltd Pool Billiard Collectibles
Book Synopsis
£51.19
MP-AMM American Mathematical Geometry and Billiards
Book SynopsisDescribes billiards and their relation with differential geometry, classical mechanics, and geometrical optics. This book covers such topics as variational principles of billiard motion, and symplectic geometry of rays of light and integral geometry. It is suitable for students interested in ergodic theory and geometry.Table of ContentsMotivation: Mechanics and optics Billiard in the circle and the square Billiard ball map and integral geometry Billiards inside conics and quadrics Existence and non-existence of caustics Periodic trajectories Billiards in polygons Chaotic billiards Dual billiards Bibliography Index.
£46.80
Frederick Fell The Best Damn Pool Instruction Book Period
Book SynopsisAn instructional book on how to play pocket billiards. It is presented in a concise teaching format.
£14.20
Food for Life Global The YOGA of POOL
Book Synopsis
£9.56
Orion Publishing Co Running
Book SynopsisWorld Snooker Champion Ronnie O''Sullivan''s frank and honest account of his astonishingly dramatic life.I used to rely on drugs and alcohol to keep me going, but now I''ve got the healthiest addiction going - running.This book explains how running has helped me to fight my demons - my addictive personality, depression, my dad''s murder conviction, the painful break-up with the mother of my children - and allowed me to win five World Snooker Championships.It is also about all of the great things in my life - my kids, snooker, my dad''s release from prison, great mates who have helped me, and the psychiatrist Dr Steve Peters, who has taught me how not to run away when things get tough.Finally, it''s about what it''s like to get the buzz - from running, from snooker, from life. Because when it comes down to it, everyone needs something to drive them on.Trade ReviewThe running is literal as well as metaphorical...it's a heartbreaking story * THE METRO *Running is a chaotic race through O'Sullivan's life, but this does little to dethrone him as the people's champion - it simply adds further to his legend. * PRESS ASSOCIATION *When he starts talking about snooker and his rivals, he is fascinating. Yet it wasn't snooker that ended up saving from the booze and drugs - it was distance running. * THE DAILY TELEGRAPH *At snooker, O'Sullivan is easily the best in the world. At running, he is club class...His frank memoir, which reads like a transcript from the psychiatrist's coach, explains that running - and the running community - gave him a sense of acceptance and achievement. * THE SUNDAY TIMES *Like a lot of shy people, he can look arrogant and aloof when he is performing, while underneath there's turmoil. * DAILY MAIL *
£9.99
AuthorHouse How to Tip a Pool Cue the Laymens Guide
Book Synopsis
£11.09
Read Books History of Billiards
£26.24
Read Books Billiards The Art of Breaking
£23.99
AuthorHouse Old School Pool
Book Synopsis
£14.00
£10.71
Skyhorse Publishing Basic Pool: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide
Book SynopsisLearn tips and tactics of pocket billiards from the very best, in this newly revised and expanded edition of the classic guide to playing better pool from Hall of Famer Arthur “Babe” Cranfield.Whether your next game will be a tournament match or part of a night out with a group of friends, this book will give you leg up on your opponent and help make the game for fun for you. Chapters include: What to Look for in a Pool Cue Hand Position The Points of Aim, the Point of Contact, and the Difference Between the Two Combination Shots The Draw Shot Speed Control Straight Pool Nine-Ball Eight Ball And much More! They say that shooting a good game of pool is the sign of a gentlemen, and that shooting too good a game of pool is the sign of a misspent youth. Well, with the instructions here, your friends may question how you spent your youth.
£13.60
Burford Books,U.S. Simply Pool: A Short Course in Billiards
Book Synopsis
£11.89
Rowman & Littlefield Hustler & The Champ: Willie Mosconi, Minnesota
Book SynopsisIn the tradition of Pulitzer Prize nominated, Positively Fifth Street, here is a riveting account of a high stakes shoot-out between pool’s two most famous personalities. It was Valentine’s Day, 1978, and Howard Cosell was hosting the long-awaited show-down between the best-ever tournament player, Willie Mosconi, and the game’s most famous hustler, Minnesota Fats. This was The Great Pool Shoot-Out, one of the most highly rated televised sporting events of the year, exceeding even World Series games and basketball championships. R.A. Dyer, author of the best-selling Hustler Days, which recounts the rise of pool during the 1960s, writes of the acrid, but mutually beneficial rivalry between Fats and Mosconi, and how the televised shoot-outs came to embody that rivalry, which was nothing less than a bitter rift within the soul of American pocket billiards. Fats and Mosconi were born the same year, but were vastly different characters: one stood for artistry, the other for show business; one brought dignity to pool, the other made it fun. They are without a doubt the two most important players ever to hold a cue. This is the ultimate tale of American sportsmanship.R.A. Dyer is a columnist for Billiards Digest, and lives in Austin, Texas.Table of ContentsTOC OVERVIEWSome seminal events, over which chapters will be organized:*In 1948, Fats and Mosconi apparently met for the first time. This confrontation perfectly frames the conflicted relationship to follow. Fats came into Willie’s room to hustle up a game. In his autobiography, Fats said he “whacked out Willie good.” Mosconi said he sent Fats home with nothing left in his pocket but train fare. This was described in a footnote in Hustler Days. It will probably become a chapter in the new book.*At some point, there was litigation between Fats and Mosconi relating to claims and counter-claims over who really was the best pool player. * In 1971, at Johnston City, Minnesota Fats hustled a far superior player out of more than $20,000. The story is an amazing one -- and involved deceit, stool pigeons, and an ingenious trap. So while Mosconi was the doubtlessly the better player, it still remains true that Fats was clearly the better hustler.*I foresee the book beginning in 1976. The occasion was a botched pool event, never televised, pitting Fats against a more obscure player. Mosconi was hired to moderate. As the story goes, Mosconi became enraged by one of Fats’ ridiculous boasts, actually ran at him from the broadcast booth, and the two had to be physically separated.*The first pool shoot-out was in 1977, and televised by ABC. They would continue on for another four years. The shoot-outs opened the eyes of professional marketers, and led to the later fame of Steve Mizerak, a three-time winner of the U.S. Open – but who gained his greatest renown as a pitchman for Budweiser beer.Although not as significant as the 1961 release of The Hustler, the pool shoot-outs nonetheless kept the sport in the public’s eye during the later 70s. The shoot-outs also offer a perfect vehicle to compare the characters of these vastly different players. Fats was undignified, loud -- but very funny. Mosconi was the consummate athlete and disciplined – but painfully humorless. And of course, Fats saw gambling as the life blood of pool; Mosconi thought gamblers were destroying the sport. One thought pool was about showbiz; the other thought it was about excellence. Theirs was the classic conflict between form and content.The rivalry and the shoot-outs will illustrate broader themes: what is the proper role of entertainment in spectator sports? Is gambling always bad? Where has pool gone, and what does it owe to Willie Mosconi and Minnesota Fats?
£17.09
Rowman & Littlefield Knack Pool & Billiards: Everything You Need To
Book SynopsisThis book covers all aspects of the sport, from choosing equipment, keeping score, and dissecting a variety of games (Snooker, Eight Ball, and Cut Throat among them). It also offers helpful tips on holding the cue and getting the proper angles.Trade Review“Bruce Barthelette does an excellent job of tackling all aspects of the game, from describing winning strategies to solid defense tactics. The inclusion of current top players’ profiles and colorful stories makes this an engaging read as well.”— Jeanette Lee, “The Black Widow”“A winner of a book.” —Nick Varner, eight-time world champion
£13.49
Billiard Gods Productions Drills & Exercises for Pool and Pocket Billiard: Table Layouts to Master Pocketing & Positioning Skills
£17.49
Billiard Gods Productions The FAQs of Pool & Pocket Billiards: Frequently Asked Questions for the Casual & Regular Player
£20.89
Billiard Gods Productions Praksis Og Ovelser for a Forbedre Billiard Ferdigheter: Hvordan Bli En Ekspert Biljard Spiller
£17.15
Billiard Gods Productions Carom Billiards: Some Riddles & Puzzles: Half-Table Problems and Predicaments to Improve Your Reasoning and Competitive Skills
£17.39
Billiard Gods Productions Carom Billiards: More Riddles & Puzzles: Full-Table Quagmires and Quandaries to Improve Your Thinking and Shooting Intelligence
£17.39
Skyhorse Publishing Byrne's Treasury of Trick Shots in Pool and
Book SynopsisFully illustratedin color for the first time!with drawings of nearly 350 mind-boggling trick shots, Byrne’s Treasury of Trick Shots in Pool and Billiards will teach you everything from the basic butterfly formation” to the most difficult and impressive shots. Robert Byrne will help novice and experienced players alike perfect their trick shots and learn about the historical context of each trick.Trick shots are anything amusing, surprising, or educational that can be done on a pool or billiard table with standard accessories, and have been around as long as the game itself. Byrne demonstrates historical shots, including some invented by the famous Captain Mingaud, the world’s first professional exhibition player, and newer tricks seen while travelling to tournaments around the world. Filled with easy as well as hard, and technical as well as showy tricks, the book’s clear diagrams, paired with secret insider tips, describe simpler stunts for the beginner, those that take years of practice, and some that the author doubts you’ll ever be able to do.Whether you want to impress a crowd, a group of friends, or yourself, Byrne’s wild, stunning, and unforgettable trick shots will make you question some principles of physics and wow an audience of one or one-hundred.Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, is proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sportsbooks about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team.In addition to books on popular team sports, we also publish books for a wide variety of athletes and sports enthusiasts, including books on running, cycling, horseback riding, swimming, tennis, martial arts, golf, camping, hiking, aviation, boating, and so much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
£17.47
Hartwell Press Billiards Training Log: Every Pool Player Pocket
Book Synopsis
£15.19
Pitch Publishing Ltd Simply the Best: A Biography of Ronnie O'Sullivan
Book SynopsisRonnie O'Sullivan's status as one of snooker's all-time greats was cemented in 2017 by adding to his five world titles, a seventh Masters and sixth UK, thus equalling Stephen Hendry's 18 'triple crown' triumphs. Now is the perfect time for his story to be told by Clive Everton - 'The Voice of Snooker'. Simply the Best traces Ronnie's course from carefree junior prodigy to deeply troubled and depressed adult, and so to maturity and self-knowledge. Along the way, he emerges as instinctively warm-hearted, the most loyal of sons and a true sportsman in his acceptance of defeat. Even so, full consideration is given to Ronnie's mistakes in a rounded portrait of one of snooker's most fascinating, complicated and successful characters.
£16.14
John Blake Publishing Ltd John Virgo: Say Goodnight, JV - My Autobiography
Book SynopsisIn this revelatory memoir, snooker player John Virgo turns the spotlight on himself, sharing secrets from his forty years at the top of one of the world's most popular sports.Famous for his hilarious impersonations of snooker's biggest stars, JV is a household name thanks to his razor-sharp BBC Snooker commentary and the much-loved quiz show Big Break.A fascinating insight into British sporting life, taking readers from John's childhood in Salford, through smoky snooker dens, to tournaments and championships all over the world, as he relives travelling on Concorde, rubbing shoulders with royalty and much more. Admiringly nicknamed 'Mr Perfection', John tells how he overcame adversity to become UK champion, yet also reveals how gambling wrecked his dreams of becoming World Champion, and almost bankrupted him.An affectionate reminder of a time when Britain - and sport - took themselves a little less seriously.With a foreword by snooker legend Jimmy White.
£8.54
John Blake Publishing Ltd Me and the Table - My Autobiography
Book SynopsisSTEPHEN HENDRY became the youngest professional snooker player in 1985 aged 16 and, in 1990, he was the youngest ever snooker World Champion, at the age of 21.Widely regarded by fans and pundits alike as one of the greatest players of all time in the sport, over a 27-year career, Hendry went on to win the World Championship seven times, and was snooker's world number one for eight consecutive seasons between 1990 and 1998. Hendry retired in 2012 with a record-breaking seven World Champion titles under his belt, a record that remains to this day. He's now ready to tell his life story for the first time - from a childhood spent climbing the ranks of the sport, through the highs of the '90s and lows of the 2000s, to his life now as a sports pundit and commentator.With an insight into the world of the man behind the cue, and what made him such a top-class player, this is the definitive autobiography of the legend that is Stephen Hendry.Trade ReviewCompelling read * The Times *
£9.89
Swift Press Pots of Gold
£18.00
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Natural: The Story of Patsy Houlihan, the
Book SynopsisThe Natural: The Story of Patsy Houlihan, the Greatest Snooker Player You Never Saw is the compelling story of a man who potted balls fast and potted them hard. South Londoner Patsy Houlihan was one of the top amateurs of the 1950s and 60s as well as the greatest hustler of all time. He should have been a major player on the world stage, but the professional game was a closed shop and the likes of Patsy weren't welcome. However, in the smoke-filled snooker halls of the backstreets of working-class Britain, populated by tough men seeking to make a quick buck from the game they loved, Patsy was a folk hero and an inspiration to a generation of players, including his close friend Jimmy White. This is the story of the greatest snooker player who never reached the big time, but whose exploits, adventures and skills guaranteed him immortality in the minds and imaginations of those lucky enough to have seen him play. The Natural brings to life the story of a forgotten snooker pioneer and master entertainer.Trade Review"An outstanding book, this labour of love provides a wonderful insight into one of snooker's great mythical characters. It's also a time capsule and piece of social history, bringing to life characters and places from and places from a bygone age." -- Nick Metcalfe * Talking Snooker podcast *"This was such an enjoyable read and an educational experience at the same time. Not only about the life and times of Patsy Houlihan, but how snooker as a sport evolved and also a social history, specifically of south London. Told with an obvious warmth and passion by the author, and told through the wide range of people he spoke to about Patsy." -- Phil Haigh * Talking Snooker podcast *"Five stars. Fantastic book... As a work of biography, Williams has done a great job capturing the essence of Houlihan as a man, a friend, a father and a snooker player. Williams has done a wonderful job in bringing Patsy Houlihan to life in this entertaining, excellent book." -- Brendan Crawley * All Sports Book Reviews *"This is a vivid, impeccably researched account of a gifted player who never got a proper chance to show the world how good he was. Full of interesting details and brimming with anecdotes, 'The Natural' does justice to Patsy Houlihan and evokes a time long before snooker was a respectable staple of the television schedules." -- David Hendon * snooker writer and Eurosport commentator *"This green baize belter is a 147 of a Snooker story that's also a riveting read and a superb slice of social history. Luke Williams effortlessly pots the black with this brilliant book." -- Paul Ross * TalkSPORT *
£16.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Snookers Bad Boys
Book SynopsisSnooker's Bad Boys looks at the feuds, fist fights, fixes and playboys who put the sport on the front and back pages of the national press, as told by those who were there, with colourful tales of the rogues who drank, gambled, partied and potted their way into the hearts of millions, from the sport's peak years in the 1980s up to the present day.
£11.69
Orion Publishing Co Ronnie: The Autobiography of Ronnie O'Sullivan
Book SynopsisRonnie is snooker's most written and talked about player, and its greatest showman. His supreme talent and style have made him the People's Champion and, as one commentator put it, 'the question is not how much does Ronnie O'Sullivan need snooker, but how much does snooker need Ronnie O'Sullivan?' A honest and candid account of his extraordinary life, Ronnie tells of the infant who was introduced to legendary snooker clubs at an impossibly early age; of the boy who frightened off the bookies aged just 12; of the teenager whose life was decimated when his father and mentor was sent to prison for life; and of the man dubbed the 'genius' of the modern game who regularly threatened to quit the sport to pursue other interests at the grand old age of 28.'A fine autobiography ... compelling' - Independent'O'Sullivan is as frank about his spell in the Priory clinic as he is about his father's murder conviction. His accounts of snooker tournaments and sketches of the sport's personalities will fascinate fans, but even snooker haters will be rooting for Ronnie in the game of life' - OK!
£9.49
John Blake Publishing Ltd Let Me Tell You About Alex: Crazy Days and Nights on the Road with the Hurricane
Book Synopsis'We went into the foyer to sign autographs. Well, I signed - Alex produced an ink pad and stamp marked "A Higgins". "Sorry, bade," he said between the thump of prints for 150 crestfallen fans, "I'm only stamping tonight." JOHN VIRGO There is a tribute book to be written about the nicest man in snooker - but this isn't it. Whatever else he was, Alexander Gordon Higgins wasn't nice. Unpredictable, wild, demonic and obsessive for certain. An unstoppable force who single-handedly transformed snooker from a niche sport into a gripping phenomenon.
£12.47
Paragon Publishing A Billiards and Snooker Compendium
£17.09
