Byrne's New Standard Book Of Pool And Billiards

by Robert Byrne

“The definitive work on pool and billiards” ( National Billiard News ) by champion player Robert Byrne.

Now updated throughout and expanded with material on strategy in eight- and nine-ball, trick shots, and billiard memorabilia, Byrne's New Standard Book of Pool and Billiards is the bestselling classic guide to cue games.

Complete with detailed diagrams and photographs, this user-friendly instruction manual is designed to help improve the skills of novice and experienced players alike.

"The best book on ever written on both pool and billiards. Should be on every player's shelf."—Michael Ian Shamos, billiard historian and curator of the Billiard Archive

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports, Reference, Games

432 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Robert Byrne is the author of seven novels, five collections of humorous quotations, seven books on billiards, two anthologies, and an expose of frauds in the literary world. One of his novels, Thrill, was made into NBC’s Monday Night Movie, which aired for the first time on May 20, 1996. Four of his novels were selections of Reader’s Digest Condensed Books and published in many languages. His style is widely praised for its clarity and wit. Byrne’s Standard Book of Pool and Billiards, published in 1978 and expanded in 1998, has sold over 500,000 copies. -byrne.org

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I probably should have picked this up about 5 years ago. I've only been shooting pool for 8 or 9 years. For some reason I decided to forgo reading anything which is unlike me in every other interest I hold. The mentality he has towards the game is interesting and much more aggressive than I am used to from most of those I've played with regularly. Which is refreshing for sure.

I wish there was more focus on specifics of 8 and 9 ball as opposed to straight pool, but I think this still leads to some interesting discussions that otherwise wouldn't come up. Same goes for the last half of the book being about 3 cushion billiards. The diagrams throughout are brilliant and the writing is quite funny at times.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

One can learn only so much about pool from reading, the important part is practice. Nevertheless, Byrne provides insight into the physics and body stance needed to play well, and he does it with great clarity. He is amongst the best, if not the best, writer of pool manuals.

Though I'm reviewing this book now, it will take me many more months to truly squeeze from it, through practice, all that it offers in new knowledge. Four Stars!!

[Cary Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is simply the best pool instructional book ever written (with Phil Capelle's "Play Your Best Pool" a close second). Other than those two, you don't need any others. Everything from how to chalk your cue all the way to advanced position play -- it's all here, and told in a great manner by a wonderful storyteller. The second half of the book is all 3-cushion, which I don't play, but it doesn't matter. This book belongs in your collection if you're wanting to improve your game.

[Paul Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book! There are a few videos on YouTube of him giving instruction as well. I only wish he would’ve been around longer as these videos were really good and down to earth.

[Brian Coffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the bible for anyone who wants to improve their pool game. However, you must seriously want to get better at pool because it reads like a textbook. Robert Byrne may not be the best pool player in the world, but he is an excellent teacher. After all he did not get into the BCA Hall Of Fame for his playing ability.

[Jeremy Bagai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply the best instructional book ever written on pool.
Clear, wry, prose. Outstanding illustrations. I can't imagine trying to learn the game without this book.

[Cooled]

alot