Thus ends the first biography of Jon Finkel [my Hero] by author David Kushner [Masters of Doom]. A Casino Pit
Boss has seen the author chatting with a known card counter, and Mr Finkel
wants to remain uncontaminated thus Mr Kushner must move on so Mr Finkel can
continue to play…A pretty perfect ending to a not so perfect book…
Jonny Magic is a quick read—ideal for anyone interested in
background information on the greatest game created in the last 30 years or one
of the greatest athletes of our generation.
This book is fun to read—a lot of the early bullying stories and later
gambling tales are really eye opening. Mr Kushner has unearthed some
interesting background details & covers most of the high points in Finkel’s
life.
However, this book mostly misses the point when trying to
draw larger social conclusions that are so far not evident in the facts of Mr Finkel’s
life. Mr Kushner would have done better with more subjects and more time in the
trenches with Magic Players. The book would have been rewarded by a more laser
like focus on Magic and less discussion of poker and black jack—chapters of why
some people play magic for reasons other than money, would have been refreshing.
More focus on Jon Finkel and why “when he plays a card it is
amazing, and when you play the same card it is just ok”—the story of what makes
Finkel the best Magic Player requires more analysis of what makes a good Magic
player and what playing Magic means. That story, which is the story I bought
the book to read, is not meant to be the story of this book and still remains
to be written.
What is evident in Finkel’s life so far is that he is the
best magic player ever. How he got there is detailed, what he did while he was
at the top of his game is discussed, where is he is today is addressed. Unfortunately,
what exactly that means is left to the reader to figure out.
