Encyclopedia of Pool Hustlers - Stories, Photos, Insider Tales

In this review of Encyclopedia of Pool Hustlers, the bottom line is clear: this is a must-read for anyone fascinated by midcentury pool culture and the personalities who shaped it. Freddy The Beard Bentivegna compiles his lifelong experiences into a 325-page, color 8.5 x 11 edition that reads like an oral history; the single biggest reason to buy is the combination of candid anecdotes and over 300 photos that bring the netherworld of hustling to life. The book's readable 11 point font and densely packed personal extracts make it an engaging reference rather than a dry chronicle.

Key Features

• Firsthand anecdotes: Bentivegna writes from lifelong experience, giving readers direct access to the lives and techniques of well known hustlers in an informed, personal voice.
• Extensive photography: Over 300 photos illustrate faces, settings, and gear, helping readers visualize stories and identify old school players by sight.
• Generous format: The color 8.5 x 11 layout and 11 point font make the book easy to read and ideal for studying photos and captions without squinting.
• Curated extracts: The content is composed of comprehensive extracts from Bentivegna's experiences, which streamlines decades of memory into usable vignettes and facts.
• Contributions from peers: Running commentary from other constituents adds perspectives beyond the author and enriches the historical record.

Who It's For

This book is aimed at billiards enthusiasts, historians of American subcultures, and players who want a textured understanding of hustling, personalities, and the social scene of the second half of the 20th century. Its strong photographic element and firsthand stories also make it valuable to anyone compiling oral histories or researching individual sports culture.

Readers seeking a how-to pool instruction manual or a short coffee-table picture book should look elsewhere; this is a dense, narrative-driven compilation best enjoyed by those who want depth, names, and real-life encounters rather than step-by-step technique or lightweight visuals.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Rich firsthand storytelling that captures the tone and texture of old school hustling.
• Over 300 photos that support identification and immersion in the scenes described.
• Readable presentation with 11 point font and large 8.5 x 11 pages for comfortable browsing.

Cons

• The book is narrative and anecdotal rather than instructional, so it is not a technical guide to improving play.
• Readers expecting a glossy coffee-table book may find the focus is more on stories and documentation than visual design.

Specifications

Our Verdict

The Encyclopedia of Pool Hustlers is an engrossing, well documented compilation for readers who care about real names, real encounters, and the visual record of midcentury hustling. Buy it if you want oral history and identification material; its mix of photos and firsthand extracts makes it excellent value for researchers and longtime fans of the game.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many pages are in the book?
The book contains 325 pages.

What size and font is used?
It is a color 8.5 x 11 edition printed in 11 point font for readable text and large photos.

Does it include photos or just text?
It includes over 300 photos alongside the anecdotal extracts and commentary.