As per our annual tradition, we’ve decided to compile a list of the best poker books published in 2025. This year’s selections include six books on poker strategy, one on mental game, one for women in poker, one about great gamblers, and one on poker from the dealer’s experiences. All the poker books we’ve selected for our list are available on Amazon in both digital and paperback versions.
Beyond that, if you’re looking for a more exhaustive list of great poker books, be sure to visit our best poker books page, where you can also see links to the reviews we’ve published about them.
Best Poker Books of 2025 📚
The Complete Poker Workout – Jonathan Little
Words from Ivan Potocki in his review: “In the world where other types of poker training have largely taken over, The Complete Poker Workout still works. In fact, it may be a better option than many video courses out there (or at least it can complement them well), exactly because you can’t zone out! The only way to approach this book is by actively participating in it. While you’re learning about specific spots, your ability to think critically about poker hands will develop as well. This will help make you a better poker player overall, and that’s a nice side-effect of The Complete Poker Workout (whether intended or not).”
Pages: 453 / Amazon / Our Review
The Joy of Poker – Jason Su
The author of “Poker With Presence” returns with a new book that will teach you how to master your emotions. In other words: you stay calm and focused while your opponents crumble and choke under the pressure that comes with playing for money and trophies. You’ll be able to dominate the mental game by staying present and responsive in big moments — demoralizing your opponents while always seeming one step ahead of them and have the time of your life — enjoying what feels like endless confidence and motivation to play and learn while others struggle endlessly with burnout, anxiety, and impostor syndrome.
Pages: 200 / Amazon
The Exploitative Edge – James “Splitsuit” Sweeney
This poker book will give you the framework for building a strong exploitative game plan. It is divided into two main sections: strategy and tactics. In 13 chapters, Sweeney discusses player profiling, intuition, mindset, bluffing, aggression, bluff-catching, value sizings, folding frequencies and ranges, among other interesting topics.
Pages: 124 / Amazon / Our Review + Interview
25 NLH Tournament Hands From 2025 – Matt Matros
Each of Matt’s poker strategy books is grouped into different themes that change each year. The 2025 themes are: bet sizes, when cards don’t matter, river bluffs, and a very important topic in tournaments: ICM adjustments. The fact that the hands analyzed are real adds value to the book. When the author is unsure about the action he took, he uses solvers to see what they think is best. A good piece of advice for readers is to try to think about what they would have done in each hand before reading what the author did.
Pages: 67 / Amazon / Our Review + Interview
Shuffle Up and Deal With It – Sara O’Connor
Many players would wholeheartedly agree: dealers deserve their own poker book. Sara pays them a great tribute in this work. Who is this book aimed at? Poker story lovers and those who want to learn more about the fascinating world of dealers. It will also be of great help to those planning to work as a dealer, as the book’s protagonists offer several pieces of advice.
Pages: 252 / Amazon / Our Review + Interview
The Poker Powered Brain – Lena Evans
The book is divided into 16 chapters covering topics such as brain metabolism during play, emotional intelligence at the tables, performing under pressure, decision-making, healthy habits, risk-taking, self-confidence, strategic thinking, cognitive skills, resilience, patience, concentration, expected value, and routines, among other interesting topics. At the end of the book, there is a brief history of poker and a list of the contributors’ major achievements.
Pages: 269 / Amazon / Our Review + Interview
Advantage Players – Michael Kaplan
Renowned magazine writer Michael Kaplan has penned dozens of stories on “advantage players” who employ various high-level techniques to beat the casinos and racetracks at their own games. You’ll meet the undisputed world’s greatest “AP” poker and baccarat “machines,” the table-game player who beat Atlantic City for $15 million, the founder of the famed MIT blackjack team, the world’s greatest sports-betting furniture salesman, golf hustlers extraordinaire, and many more. But The Advantage Player isn’t limited to gambling. It also examines the AP strategies used by players in life’s other games, including an art dealer, stripper, male porn star, extreme magician, and financial dominatrix. And The Advantage Player’s doesn’t shy away from masterminds who cross the line from advantage play to outright illicit money grabs.
Pages: 366 / Amazon
Donkeys, Degenerates & Dreamers – Kiefer Taylor
This book will be particularly useful for low-stakes ($1/$2 and $2/$5) live cash game players, as the author provides valuable advice for use at those tables and adds plenty of humor with anecdotes and hands he played in his career. It’s a poker book that is both educational and entertaining.
Pages: 124 / Amazon
Be Your Own Poker Goddess – Julie R. Dargis
Part strategy guide, part soulful companion, is a groundbreaking poker book for women ready to claim their space at the table — and in life. Written by a woman who journeyed from self-doubt and tilt to clarity and grounded decision-making, it blends modern poker strategy with emotional intelligence and personal stories of healing. At its heart, this book is about playing your game — boldly, intelligently, and on your own terms. It features insights from leading and emerging women in poker, including Maria Ho, Xuan Liu, Ashira Lavine, Lisa Pickell, Katlyn Slone, Dr. Donna Blevins, and more.
Pages: 233 / Amazon / Our Review
25 Hands From The 2025 WSOP Main Event – Matt Matros
There aren’t many books published about the WSOP Main Event, so if you’re planning to play the 2026 edition, this is an excellent read that will serve as good preparation. For those who play live tournaments, it offers valuable advice on deep-stack play, bluffs, exploitative play, and the bubble.
Pages: 58 / Amazon / Our Review + Interview
In 2026, we plan to read many more poker books. Some of our favorite authors who’ve announced new titles coming out include Maria Konnikova and Michael Acevedo, and of course we know that D&B Poker — the premier poker book publisher — will continue cranking out plenty of the best poker books. We’ll see which of them make next year’s list!
