Rating: 
Summary: Reads like a 212 page run on sentence
Review: Ok, that's not quite fair, May does use punctuation. And his frenetic style does lend a sort of credibility to the hellish all-night poker games that he describes. But the overall effect of the writing style is that the narrater is in a manic state and is rushing to spew out everything that he knows and does not know about the grueling and lonely life of a professional poker player and oh by the way it is really hard to make any money playing poker day in day out, except for that one time in Vegas, which is reminiscent of the time in Atlantic City when everything was lost.I rate Shut Up and Deal three stars with some reservations and qualifications. If you really enjoy poker and find yourself itching to read about some pretty compelling action--this book could conceivably be five stars. I think May presents the action and the players in a highly descriptive and entertaining fashion. It is a fair substitute for the real thing if there isn't a regular game in your neighborhood. However, if you like a little plot in your reading (the book is really sort of a stream of consciousness type of thing) then it would rate maybe two stars. The author states that it is a work of fiction, but nothing ever really happens besides some winning, lots of losing, some anguish over the losing and very little joy in the winning.
Rating: 
Summary: For people who know or want to know
Review: Shut up and deal is a unique book that provides players of all skill levels a constant reminder that the philosophy of luck is as important to learn and understand as all of the "how to and statistical calculation" books ever written about poker. It does so in one book that also stands out as entertaining poker fiction. The underlying truths provide what it takes to win at playing poker at the highest levels and the pitfalls that are there everyday to test any player that has chosen to make poker their profession, or who have chosen to play semi-pro. I understand that to a literary critic, this book rambles, but to players who have been there it is a must read.
Rating: 
Summary: excellent book
Review: this book is about the author playing poker with a cast of characters such as vinnie the greek hot mama earl and johnny world in places as vegas foxwood atlantic city and in the authors case even europe. this is not a how to book it may explain a few things.These guys are so in to poker that play 16 to 18 hours straight.One instance that really brought this home was oneguy the author calls tom h. got kicked out of the stardust casino because he didnot want to miss a hand so he took a leak in a garbage can in the corner of the poker room.The other thing that got me about the author was his wild outfits that he would put together from clothes he bought from salvation army and a royal purple cashmere.
Rating:
Summary: Great Summer Reading - A Thougtful Alternative
Review: This book is fast-paced, light summer reading with something of an edge. It's a little skimpy on plot; but the characters and set-piece secenes are really memorable. This is great summer reading - a thoughtful alternative to the usual summer pot-boilers.
Rating: 
Summary: Terrible!
Review: This book reads like the author smoked a few joints and wrote a few pages, smoked a few, wrote a few, smoked a few.........
I've read a lot of bad books, but I'm going to have to say that this one is definitely in the bottom 3 bad books of my lifetime. I was determined that I would finish it, no matter how painful it was reading it.
Rating:
Summary: Atmospheric...
Review: This is the best novel ever written about poker. It effectively captures the mood, atmosphere, characters, and What-day-of-the-week-is-it?/Is-it-morning-or-night-outside? mania of the subculture. It is a mood piece that creeps very close to the real experience-- probably better than anyone has ever written it. Those looking for page-turning plots (which would otherwise blur/undercut the central theme here), need to grab some generic title off the best-seller list.
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