Pokerworld - by Dan Cates (Hardcover)

Poker is more than cards, chips, and million-dollar pots. At its highest levels, it is a test of discipline, ego, risk, emotional control, trust, and the ability to see reality clearly when everything is uncertain.

In Pokerworld, Dan "Jungleman" Cates pulls back the curtain on the quirky, high-pressure universe that made him one of the most successful and unconventional poker players in the world. A feared heads-up specialist with more than $5 million in online winnings before the age of 22, Cates became known throughout Pokerworld for his relentless aggression, analytical edge, and willingness to battle the best. From suburban basement games and online heads-up battles to private rooms in Las Vegas, Macau, Montenegro, and beyond, Cates traces his evolution from a solitary, hyper-focused kid into an elite player forced to confront not only opponents across the table, but also his own leaks, blind spots, and search for meaning.

Blending candid memoir, high-stakes storytelling, and hard-won lessons about life under uncertainty, Pokerworld reveals:

• How poker trains players to make decisions with incomplete information
• Why discipline, emotional control, and humility matter more than bravado
• How trust, reputation, and access shape the real game beyond the cards
• What downswings, black swans, and big risks can teach us about resilience

About the Author

Cates draws tons of coverage for his spotlight-grabbing tournament play, including on CBS Sports, NBC, and more. He is a frequent guest on the top poker podcasts and the host of his own podcast, Winning the Game of Life. Cates was one of the most featured players in NBC's Poker After Dark and the 2024 poker reality program Game of Gold.

Rick Maese is an award-winning veteran sports features writer for The Washington Post specializing in stories that transcend sports to connect with and inspire a broader audience. His long-form features have been honored by a variety of organizations, including the Associated Press Sports Editors, the Society of Professional Journalists, the National Headliner Awards, the American Society of Newspaper Editors, the Society for News Design, and the Online News Association, among others. His recent feature on Dan Cates became one of the most popular features of the year in The Washington Post. He lives in Washington, DC, with his wife and three children.