Playing Off the Rail

by David McCumber

Award-winning author David McCumber reveals the unknown world of the pool hustler as he travels across the country with one of America's top players, Tony Annigoni. From elegant snookers clubs to high-pressure tournaments to chancy dives, this wise-cracking and occasionally hair-raising road trip explores a distinctive American subculture.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Sports

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Burt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few years ago, I read David McCumber’s X-Rated, which is about the infamous Mitchell Brothers of San Francisco. X-Rated had a lot of potential and a great story. However, I thought that McCumber’s attempts to mimic Hunter S. Thompson’s gonzo style really hurt the book.

A couple of weeks ago I was browsing in Atlanta’s Book Nook. I needed a book to read on vacation and I saw Playing Off the Rail. I decided to give McCumber a second chance and I’m glad that I did.

Since he was a teenager in Nebraska, McCumber had always loved billiards. In the early 90s, he decided (for murky reasons) to become a stakehorse (financial backer) for Tony Annigoni, a pool shark from the San Francisco Bay Area. Together, the two men hit the road. Playing off the Rail is an account of their adventures.

The book is a lot of fun. The reader gets to meet a variety of real-life pool hustlers. Most of these people accept a meager living so that they can hang out in pool halls. In this group, billiards and gambling are inseparable. Throughout the book, McCumber and Annigoni journey through America’s underbelly, looking for their version of the good life. McCumber admits that he isn’t a great pool player, but he gives his readers a good idea of the surprisingly-complex psychology behind the game.

Playing Off the Rail is a good adventure story peopled by memorable characters. Give it a try.

[Mal Adams · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd read some positive reviews of this book on Amazon before I ordered it and being a pool fan, I'd found a real dearth of good books written on the subject so I gave it a whirl.

I can't say I was too impressed with the writer's style and I feel the book never really made me 'smell the smoke' of the pool halls of America. Having said that it did teach me some things about the way of things around the table over there, so my money wasn't completely wasted.

I fear that those without a backgorund in the game would be completely bored by it though.

[Peter Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first bought and read this book twenty years ago, and I come back to it every four or five years. Reading this story reminds me of the adventure and willingness to risk we have lost in much of our lives. Sometimes it's necessary to get out of your comfort zone and reading this story will tell you why.

[Patrick Conlon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book made me want to quit my job, practice pool all day every day for six months, and then go on the road, take performance enhancing amphetamines, and gamble until I’m either rich or busted.

Would not recommend to someone who wasn’t obsessed with pool, as the plot requires a pretty nuanced understanding of 9ball, 1 pocket, snooker, and straight pool. Very helpful for expanding my billiards gambling understanding and my trash talk repertoire, but a little light on action. Interesting mostly as a realistic look into a culture that was well past its glory days even in the 90s when this was written.

Also, it should have been a hundred pages shorter.

[Joel Haas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A writer goes on the road to put up the money for a pool player for a couple months.

As one would expect based on that, this is chock-full of interesting characters, high (and low) stakes, and tales from the road as an outsider becomes an insider. While occasionally the break down of insults and shot-by-shot jabs gets tedious (as does the listing of "famous" champions), that is not the bent of the story. Rather, this look at modern (1992) pool hustlers on the road.

Entertaining throughout and has me looking forward to picking up a cue again for the first time in years. Although definitely not for money.

[William Milks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. I was expecting a book about two guys going on the road and hustling pool. The player and the stakehorse. Turns out the scene is not really about hustling as I understood it (or wanted to understand it) and more “hustling” as in *working hard*. Seems the game is now about establishing proper terms for the bets and grinding out wins. The concept of “pretending you suck and then turning it on” is not really a thing.

Some of the language was fun to learn, but if you want a book about the seedy world of pool, this is not it. This is about the modern, sanitized, post-90s corporate franchised pool hall industry.

And waaaay too much play-by-play. Reading about a pool game - no matter the talent of the writer - is not interesting.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Playing Off the Rail: A Pool Hustler's Journey by David McCumber is about the writer's travels and gambling trips. He financially sponsors a good pool player. They go on road/rail trips to play and earn money. It takes them a lot of time and effort to set up games that seem spontaneous to hustle their marks. The stories helped me understand how important gambling is for this sport. Serious pool or snooker players will enjoy this.

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[Devin Fortenberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m surprised this book isn’t more popular, a fascinating read. Basically, David McCumber takes his own money and stakes one of the best pool players in the country and they both go on a cross country pool hustlin’ road trip. Color of Money in nonfiction form. McCumber has a way of bringing these various pool hustlers they come across come alive off the page. Couldn’t put the book down. Highly recommend if you are a fan of pool.

[John Marr · Rating 3 out of 5]

A newspaper editor lives out his mid life crisis by going on the road backing a high-powered pool player in endless games of pool played by players so invincible one wonders how one can end in other than a draw. It actually is better than that, but no McGoorty.

[Cary Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun ride through the (not-so-glamorous) world of the pool hustler. Bucktooth alone was worth the price of this book -- what a memorable character.

[Nicole Parker]

It was a fun book for anyone interested in stories of old pool players. They are not super admirable as human beings, but their stories are fun and interesting.

[Daniel Sampiero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pays a beautiful homage to Walter Tevis's The Hustler

[Jennifer Bolton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book. I didn't know what to expect but this book was highly recommended by Joe Rogan in one of his podcasts, so I bought it. I had no idea there was such a billard's culture back then. McCumber is a great writer.

[Rick Goff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I spent thousands of hours playing pool as a teen, and continued to play pretty regularly in my twenties. I don’t play anymore, but I still have a great fondness for the game. If it were on tv I’d watch it. So David McCumber’s idea for this book is,to me, a brilliant one. He recruited, or was recruited by, an excellent pool player to share a 3-month tour of the US and Canada, with McCumber acting as the stake horse. That is, McCumber put up the money for the player’s travel and gambling. He bore the losses and took half of the winnings. If I had 3 months and a good player, I’d love to do that. For anyone who has ever bet $5 on a rack of 9-ball this book is a can’t miss. As for the general reader, I can’t say. I’d say if you liked The Color of Money then you’ll like this book. It’s very well written, with excellent descriptions of places and faces, and plenty of interesting characters, amusing dialogue and nicknames ranging from unavoidable to unfathomable. I don’t know if it’s a book FOR men but it’s certainly a book ABOUT men. There are only three women with speaking parts, all brief.

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

794.72 Biography - In late 1992, McCumber became the ``stakehorse'' for his friend Tony Annigoni, owner of a San Francisco poolroom and a player of championship caliber. In that role, McCumber put up the money whenever Annigoni played and they split the winnings. The world of the pool hustler is sui generis, McCumber shows, and it's primarily a gambler's world because, for most, money, not pool, is the name of the game. But like players in any other sport, these men (and, recently, women) must have the ability to bounce back from crushing defeat and start another contest with the right mental set (McCumber terms it ``reinventing the self''), so the book offers some psychological insights as well.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A journalist "stakehorse" writes his story of funding and going along on a national hustling tour with a world-class pool player. This is all about surviving the pressure cooker of high-stakes gambling.

[Toni Johnson]

So far, so good...

[Chuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

A true story and an enjoyable read for the pool hall junkie.

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked it.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It is a great read for any pool enthusiasts

[Readerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few years later I’m reviewing this and cant remember much except it was enjoyable to me at the time. Nothing was outstandingly memorable but overall i would give it another read to explore.