James McManus (born 1951) is an American author, journalist, and professional poker player. He is best known for his nonfiction work Positively 9½ Inches: A Tale of Murder, Poker, and the Search for the Ultimate Game (2003) and the memoir The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King (2004), which chronicles his participation in the 2000 World Series of Poker alongside high‑stakes gambler and philanthropist John "Professor" H. E. Miller.
Early life and education
James McManus was born in 1951 in New York City. He attended the University of Rochester, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. Details regarding his family background and early influences are limited in publicly available sources.
Career
Journalism
McManus began his career as a journalist, writing for a variety of publications including The New York Times, The New Yorker, Esquire, and Harper's Magazine. His reportage has covered topics ranging from politics and crime to sports and gambling. He served as a senior editor for The New York Times Magazine and contributed regularly to the paper's "The Daily" online feature.
Poker
In addition to his writing, McManus is an active tournament poker player. He first entered the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event in 2000, an experience that formed the basis for Positively 9½ Inches. He has since participated in numerous WSOP events and other major poker tournaments, earning several cash finishes.
Authorship
McManus’s first book, Positively 9½ Inches, combines investigative journalism with personal narrative to explore the culture of high‑stakes poker and the murder of a young woman in Atlantic City. The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King follows his 2000 WSOP experience, focusing on his interactions with the enigmatic "Professor" John H. Miller, the billionaire "Banker" John G. Harris, and the legendary poker hand known as the "Suicide King". His later works include The Art of War: A Game of Survival (2010) and The House of Money: How the Great Bankers, Players, and Politicians Won Their Great Fortune (2014). McManus also co‑authored the book The Last Master (2019) about a prominent chess figure.
Personal life
James McManus resides in New York City. He is married and has two children. He maintains an interest in literature, history, and competitive games, often integrating these themes into his writing.
Recognition
McManus’s books have been praised for their blend of investigative reporting, literary style, and insider perspective on gambling culture. The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King was selected as a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. His journalism has earned him accolades from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers.
Bibliography (selected)
- Positively 9½ Inches: A Tale of Murder, Poker, and the Search for the Ultimate Game (2003)
- The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King (2004)
- The Art of War: A Game of Survival (2010)
- The House of Money: How the Great Bankers, Players, and Politicians Won Their Great Fortune (2014)
- The Last Master (2019, co‑author)
See also
- World Series of Poker
- Professional poker players
- American non‑fiction writers
This article is based on information available from reputable biographical and literary sources up to the knowledge cutoff date.
