Byrne's Standard Book of Pool and Billards

by Robert Byrne

Pool Game book. Paperback. Author, Robert Byrne, A Harvest/HBJ Book, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Publishers. Updated Edition. Includes black and white illustrations. Printed in the USA. 1987 Edition. Total 333 pages. There is a crease line on the spine where the book has been read. Approximate size, 7 x 10. The book spine is tight, straight, the pages are clean and free of markings or tears. "A complete guide to all cue games, from basic to advanced play, with over 350 illustrations." "Robert Byrne is a national class player of both pool and billiards. He is also a novelist and editor, and his training as a civil engineer helped him create the outstanding illustrations for this volume. The book, which is for both novices and the very advanced, can be ruinous to family harmony, also health, you may never see the sun again." Excellent book that will teach you much about the games of pool. A very good buy at our offered price too! *11BC4

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports, Reference, Games

333 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