The Hustler

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The Hustler

By: Walter Tevis

Narrated by: Joe Barrett

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About this listen

To Fast Eddie Felsen, a young pool hustler, there was only one thing that mattered: to make the big time and the big money in the world of pool by beating the best in the country.

Hustling suckers in small towns for good stake money was practice for his goal, and when he felt ready he went to Bennington's pool hall in Chicago to find Minnesota Fats. Eddie and Fats pit nerve against skill in a fantastic match over an unbroken 36 hours. Eddie's final painful loss teaches him that nerve alone isn't enough - guts, stamina, and character make the difference between winners and losers.

It takes an interlude with Sarah, an alcoholic and a born loser, to bring the lesson home, and the shrewd advice and backing of Bert, a professional gambler, to put it into practice. Bert knows talent without character is nothing and stakes Eddie to a climactic all-or-nothing rematch. When it is over, Eddie knows a great deal more about big-time pool, about money, and about himself. In beating Fats he became the best in the country.

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I think I've seen the Paul Newman film, many years ago. I knew when I came across the book on Audible though, that I hadn't read it.

It reminded me of the 'kitchen sink' stories of the era that I was already familiar with through reading/watching- A Taste of Honey, Billy Liar, This Sporting Life.

This is the fairly simple tale of a young hustler, Eddie, as he attempts to make a living playing pool wherever he can, with some small takings but always with his eye on the big prize to show he's the best out there.

His psyche and character are presented to us through his own story but also through his interactions with a woman, Sarah, damaged herself and usually reading philosophy books, but there quietly when Eddie needs her. Also through Bert, a professional gambler who takes on a role as mentor/manager as the story progresses. And then through Eddie's determination to work his way to Minnesota Fats, famous pool player, from whom he dreams of scoring his big win.

There are some quite brutal moments here (locals who don't like being hustled... ick). There's also some unexpectedly tender moments between Eddie and Sarah, and even though I'm not a pool player (no idea about the rules!) some tense and strikingly described pool games.

Quite a dry listen, with characters you can't really admire or 'like', but you do respect their effort, the attempts to better themselves and the talent they possess.

The dark side of hustling