Some poker books are obvious from the moment they are published. ‘Why did it take them so long?’ you might ask. Poker Brat: The Phil Hellmuth Story is one such poker book, and the most shocking element of the book is that it took until 2017 to be brought to the public by D & B Publishing.

Making a book about the Poker Brat, a.k.a. 15-time WSOP bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth comes across as a labour of love and Hellmuth, while never shy to speak about the ‘Positivity’ that he brings to the game (indeed, his latest book is titled Positivity), is very open about what has brought him so far in the game.

This book, however, doesn’t start and end with Hellmuth at the poker felt. His upbringing in the American Midwest is already something he’s spoken about in a few interviews, including one this reporter conducted with him around the time of this book’s publication.

“I can dodge bullets, baby!”