Science current events, science news articles, research and discoveries.
Top science news articles and science current events stories from the past week.
Science Current Events Resources
Science Current Events and Science News RSS Feeds
Earth, Life and Space Science News and Current Events RSS Feeds.
|
 |
 |
 |
| View Larger Image | Texas Hold 'Em: How I Was Born in a Manger, Died in the Saddle, and Came Back as a Horny Toad
by Kinky Friedman
| | List Price: | $13.95 | | Price: | $11.16 | | You Save: | $2.79 (20%) |  | | Available: | Usually ships in 24 hours | | | | | Sales Rank: | 433789 | | Studio: | St. Martin's Griffin | | | Binding: | Paperback | | Number Of Pages: | 240 | | Publication Date: | April 18, 2006 | | Publisher: | St. Martin's Griffin |
| |
EDITORIAL REVIEWS |
Product Description
“Texas Hold ‘Em is more than just a card game. It deals…with that fine, forgotten art of playing a poor hand well…Texas Hold ‘Em is a state of mind, a spiritual survival technique, a way of holding on to things that might just be important in this ever-changing world." —from the introduction to Texas Hold ‘Em The irrepressible, future Governor of Texas is back with a crusade to stop the wussification of the Lone Star State. He never thought he'd see the day when he'd miss gun racks in the back windows of pickup trucks, but he almost does. He misses the days when cowboy shirts never had buttons and coffee with a friend was still a dime. Many of the stubborn, dusty, weather-beaten little towns, roads, trucks, jeeps, people and animals are gone now. Like it or not, the peaceful, scenic bucolic Hill Country of his childhood is being dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st Century. His is at his outrageous best as he gives Americans a look at the state made famous by the Alamo, the armadillo, Willie Nelson, and, well, Kinky Friedman. Texas Hold ‘Em is composed of provocative essays, including autobiographical pieces that are at times bittersweet and at other hilarious, profiles of such stellar Texans as his friend, Willie Nelson, as you've never seen him before, George W. Bush, and Racehorse Haynes, and a treasure trove of lists, quizzes , including: If the Ten Commandments Were Written by a Texan Tex My ride Texas Firsts What Kind of Texas Driver Are you? As an added diversion, the book is decorated with cartoons by the brilliant John Callahan, particularly appealing to those whose lives are spiraling downward into tailspins of despair. Texas Hold 'Em is the way in which the Kinkster plays the game of life. To him, Texas Hold' Em means holding on to what is dear to him, to the things that made him who he is, always remembering that the most important things in life aren't things. An old cowboy philosophy of life sums it up — "hang on tight, spur hard, and let 'er buck." |
CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.0 based on 8 reviews)
|
So Few Original Thinkers Left In America. Here's One Of Them. 
I picked up Texas Hold `Em and started reading it and it rolled along so pleasantly that before I knew it I was halfway done. I was amused, enlightened, irked a time or two, and I hope a tad bit wiser somehow for the ninety minutes I spent between the front and back covers of this book. If the highest praise for a writer is to finish one of his works and find yourself wanting to read another, then Kinky Friedman warrants that praise. Until recently I'd never heard of the man and now it seems, suddenly, I'm hearing about him everywhere. Former candidate for Governor of Texas, back porch philosopher magna cum laude, musician, friend of the famous and quietly colorful alike, raconteur extraordinaire, speaker of his own mind, I find myself rapidly gaining respect for Friedman. Self-billed as a Texas-Jewish Mark Twain, Kinky Friedman's laid-back/stirred-up approach to life and politics as told in this meandering book makes for thoughtful light reading. Whether imparting the logic of avoiding Eagle Scouts and men named Wayne, dishing up original thoughts on politics, religion, life, or listing various peculiarities about the Lone Star State (the Texas assembly once infamously passed a resolution honoring the Boston Strangler...so much for the content of bills being read by elected officials) Friedman's dry wit and original antiheroic wisdom combine to make Texas Hold 'Em a book worth reading.
January 28, 2008 | |
Too funny for politics
All I knew about Kinky Friedman before reading this book was that he was a little known entertainer who ran for Governor of Texas in 2006. "Probably a disgruntled liberal," I thought. I didn't know that Kinky was Jewish, had kinks in his hair, was better known as an author than as a western musician, or that he was much more intelligent than I had imagined. After reading this book I now know a bit more about Friedman and respect him a lot more than I did when I didn't vote for him in 2006. But I'm still not sure what this book is about.
In the beginning, it touches lightly on politics and in the end briefly revisits the subject. In between, it covers a wide range of seemingly unrelated topics in a humorous vein vaguely reminiscent of S. J. Perlman. Friedman can be funny, yet, at the same time, his humor is often profound and sometimes revealing.
I learned a bit about a lot of things "Texan" while reading this book. I learned, for example, how to rig your truck and the slang used by those incarcerated in Texas prisons in their attempt to communicate with one another. I hope I never have to use this particular jargon. I also learned how to tell if you're a real Texan; some of the "firsts" for Texas; the rather tenuous relationship between eagle scouts and mass murderers; why one should stay at the Menger Hotel when in San Antonio; and much more.
So, if you want to learn a bit about Texas or just enjoy reading books by ex-candidates for governor or Texas, this book might be for you. As for Kinky, he appears to be too funny to be successful in politics. Politicians, as everyone knows, stopped being funny a long time ago.
May 11, 2007 | |
Well Done Kinkster!
Well now, Kinky Friedman and I have spent some time now in my bathroom and I have finished the contents of his book "Texas Hold 'Em: etc." It's quite a ride. I literally laughed AND cried and had to skip a couple of parts that were just too repetitous for me (the dictionary part). You can't ask much more from an author than to touch your emotions and lift your heart and he does both very nicely. I must admit that a big drawing card for me to buy this book was that it had drawings by Callahan. They do NOT disappoint. Wonderful. I so hope Kinky wins in Texas and maybe even moves on from there. I am just positive that he would do no more harm than the folks they have in there now if Mr. Delay is any example. Hooray for American politics to have such creatures in it.
April 06, 2006 | |
This book is retarded 
A friend who had the same taste in reading as me recommended this book so I bought it. I was in a few spots funny, but more dumb then anything. Save your money.
November 29, 2005 | |
Kinky really comes into his own with this book! 
I've been a long time fan of Kinky and read all of his novels.Now, he has gotten away from his 'off the wall' mysteries with their wonderful characters.Kinky is one of the most gifted and entertaining authors around today.He can come up with a one-liner as good as anyone around.Without even a seconds pause,he can make the political correct run for cover.As a Jewish Country singer he has no equal,especially when you realize he comes from New York and is completely at home in Redneck Texas.
Right now he is in the process of runing fot Governor of Texas.One can never tell what the results of an election will be,but somehow I think that worse things could happen than he wins.
In this book he explains many facets of life, as can be seen in some of these quotes,and even gives us some insight into how things will be done under his Governorship.
"The question is whether a candidacy is a joker or whether the current crop of politicans is the joker."
"My platform is to fight the wussification of this great state and bring back the glory of Texas."
"To be elected in Texas one must believe in a Supreme Being."
He also passes on other wisdom;such as:
"You know you're from Texas if you've been married and divorced five times and still have the same in-laws.
"I had the rare distinction of being introduced by the Rev.Jimmy Snow as the first full blooded Jew to appear on The Grand Ole Opry."
"Saddam's a thug with an excellent tailor."
"As old Austinites used to say;"Onward through the fog."
I guarantee ,if you pick up this book;you'll have a hard time putting it down.
October 29, 2005 | |
SIMILAR PRODUCTS |
| |
|
|
|
|
