"Few authors write as passionately about the game of golf as Michael Konik. In Search of Burningbush communicates why the greatest sport in the world has touched so many lives so deeply, including mine." --Jack Nicklaus "Golf is a game of Spirit and spirits. This true story, which reads like good fiction, describes a journey into golf's magical realms."--Michael Murphy, author of Golf in the Kingdom and chairman &amp; cofounder of Esalen Institute "I thoroughly enjoyed reading Michael Konik's In Search of Burningbush. As the story of one man's quest to experience the ultimate in golf in Scotland despite all odds, it is an inspirational must-read for golf fanatics." --Ty M. Votaw, LPGA Commissioner

In Search of Burningbush: A Story of Golf, Friendship and the Meaning of Irons

Sports & Outdoors

Konik, Michael

Golf

McGraw=Hill

A deeply moving true-life tale of courage, wisdom, and friendship between two men united by their love of golf Critically acclaimed In Search of Burningbush is a beautifully written true-life story of an unlikely friendship between two men with nothing in common except a consuming and abiding passion for the links. Michael, a successful young journalist, and Don, a middle-aged card dealer with brittle-bone disease, go to Scotland in search of the mystical course “Burningbush.” As Don struggles with his physical challenges, Michael struggles to keep the game--and life--in perspective.

In Search of Burningbush

Biographies

Part travelogue, part valentine to a beloved pet, Ella in Europe chronicles writer Michael Konik’s magical six-week journey through Europe with his dog, Ella. An homage to the friend who has “licked away my tears when I’m sad, hopped on her hind legs when I’m happy, and snuggled me when I’m lonely,” here is the story of a bond unlike any other–and an extraordinary dog who stole her way into one man’s heart. Los Angeles writer Michael Konik had always shared his life with dogs. But Ella, a gentle Lab mix, was something special. From the moment Konik laid eyes on Ella, he knew: This dog was meant to be his. An enchantress who charmed all who met her, Ella Guinevere Konik had a truly unique gift–and soon Konik found a way for Ella to share that gift, signing her up for a program that brings dogs into hospitals, nursing homes, and children’s shelters. When Ella turned ten, Konik wanted to thank the “best friend” whose unconditional love had transformed his life–and given comfort and joy to others in need. So a trip to Europe was planned–and for Konik and Ella a once-in-a-lifetime adventure began, one that would strengthen the already-powerful bond between them. As they explore Europe’s most beautiful–and surprisingly dog-friendly–cities, Konik is amazed at the experiences he and Ella can share . . . Arriving in Vienna on July Fourth with Ella wrapped in her American flag scarf . . . Dining at four-star restaurants in Paris . . . Ella swimming in the Danube . . . Taking a gondola ride in Venice . . . Sunbathing in St. Tropez . . . Searching for a canine toilet in Monte Carlo. But soon this journey of friendship, love, and discovery must come to a close. And as Konik heads home, accompanied by the canine friend who “helped teach me what love means,” one thing is certain: Both dog and owner have been changed forever. At once a testament to the power of unconditional love and a celebration of devotion, Ella in Europe is a book for anyone who has ever felt a special connection to a dog they’ve loved.

Ella in Europe: An American Dog's International Adventures

Crafts, Hobbies & Home

Pets & Animal Care

DELACORTE PRESS

Delta

A riveting inside look at the lucrative world of professional high-stakes sports betting by a journalist who lived a secret life as a key operative in the world's most successful sports gambling ring. When journalist Michael Konik landed an interview with Rick "Big Daddy" Matthews, the largest bet he'd placed on a sporting event was $200. Konik, an expert blackjack and poker player, was no stranger to Vegas. But Matthews was in a different league: the man was rumored to be the world's smartest sports bettor, the mastermind behind "the Brain Trust," a shadowy group of gamblers known for their expertise in beating the Vegas line. Konik had heard the word on the street -- that Matthews was a snake, a conniver who would do anything to gain an edge. But he was also brilliant, cunning, and charming. And when he asked Konik if he'd like to "make a little money" during the football season, the writer found himself seduced . . . So began Michael Konik's wild ride as an operative of the elite Brain Trust. In The Smart Money, Konik takes readers behind the veil of secrecy shrouding the most successful sports betting operation in America, bypassing the myths and the rumors, going all the way to its innermost sanctum. He reveals how they -- and he -- got rich by beating the Vegas lines and, ultimately, the multimillion-dollar offshore betting circuit. He details the excesses and the betrayals, the horse-trading and the paranoia, that are the perks and perils of a lifestyle in which staking inordinate sums of money on the outcome of a single event -- sometimes as much as $1 million on a football game -- is a normal part of doing business.

The Smart Money: How the World's Best Sports Bettors Beat the Bookies Out of Millions

Simon&Schuster

A tour of the lucrative world of high-stakes sports betting reveals how a small coterie of professional gamblers became wealthy by beating the Vegas lines and exploiting the offshore betting circuit. By the author of The Man with the $100,000 Breasts. Simultaneous.

Simon & Schuster Audio

Some people will do anything for money. Take Brian Zembic, recipient of the world's most notorious boob job. After a fellow gambler bet $100,000 that Brian wouldn't subject himself to the breast implants he so admired in women, Brian found himself going under the knife to become a 38C--and $100,000 richer.Anchored by this incredible tale, gambling expert Michael Konik introduces readers to the quirky subculture of high rollers and hustlers in dozens of other outrageous true stories profiling gamblers who make wagering a way of life.You'll meet the man who turned $10,000 into $17 million with a pair of dice, the man responsible for determining the point spread of the Super Bowl, and the world's most notorious golf hustler. In addition to the bizarre and hilarious escapades of hard-core gamblers, Konik shares insider tips for how to score more in comps than you lose at the tables, how to identify casino games that should be avoided, and how to gain a legal advant

The Man With the $100,000 Breasts: And Other Gambling Stories

Humor & Entertainment

Puzzles & Games

Broadway

Golf-writer and hacker extraordinaire, Michael Konik, roams the golfing universe in this outstanding collection of stories about the game and its grandeur. Konik's intimate profiles take you inside the minds and motives of some of the biggest names in golf--John Daly and Phil Mickelson, Raymond Floyd and Jim Colbert, Helen Alfredsson and Laura Davies, Dave Pelz and Vince Gill among them. Nice Shot, Mr. Nicklaus guides readers around the planet in search of exotic golf adventures, from Scotland and Spain to the United Arab Emirates and El Salvador. Konik chronicles his own misadventures in some of the world's quirkiest tournaments, writes eloquently and movingly about demeanor on the links, and, of course, caddies for Jack Nicklaus in the memorable title story. Throughout Nice Shot, Mr. Nicklaus, Konik brings a refreshing originality to his coverage of the game: "Golf is more than a sport, and far more than a pastime. It's a journey and an examination, a diversion and a trial, a romantic love affair and a heart-wrenching betrayal. It's rich in symbolism and even richer in sentiment--a tidy little metaphor for being alive."

Nice Shot, Mr. Nicklaus : Stories About the Game of Golf

Michael Konik

Huntington Press

A fearless gambler who got breast implants to win a $100,000 bet. A hard-core dice shooter who turned a borrowed stake of $10,000 into $17 million. A marketing genius who created a 900” line for selecting winners of NFL football gamesand had his four-year-old son make the picks. These are some of the characters who populate Michael Konik’s The Man With the $100,000 Breasts and Other Gambling Stories, a collection of the renowned gambling writer’s best magazine pieces. Written in a literary style that’s both informative and entertaining, Konik gives rare behind-the-scenes glimpses of a subculture rarely seen by the vast majority of readers.

The Man With the $100,000 Breasts And Other Gambling Stories

Meet the Chicago num who consistently out-handicaps the bookies with her pro football picks. Observe the world's greatest backgammon hustler at work as he travels the globe in search of fresh suckers. Follow the legendary (and widely feared) Line Mover, whose massive sports bets force bookies nationwide to alter the odds. Live the secret life of the High Roller, who gets whatever he wants (yes, whatever) just by showing up in Los Vegas. Glimpse the wild scene at the casinos in Macao and visit some of the planet's poshest gambling dens. Get tips on how to set up the perfect home poker game, how not to get ripped off by offshore sports books and how to play "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" like a gambling expert.

Telling Lies and Getting Paid: More Gambling Stories

Politics & Social Sciences

Social Sciences

Huntington Pr

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Konik, Michael. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Konik, Michael

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Konik, Michael. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

In Search of Burningbush: A Story of Golf, Friendship and the Meaning of Irons

In Search of Burningbush

Ella in Europe: An American Dog's International Adventures

Ella in Europe: An American Dog's International Adventures

The Smart Money: How the World's Best Sports Bettors Beat the Bookies Out of Millions

The Smart Money: How the World's Best Sports Bettors Beat the Bookies Out of Millions

The Man With the $100,000 Breasts: And Other Gambling Stories

Nice Shot, Mr. Nicklaus : Stories About the Game of Golf

The Man With the $100,000 Breasts And Other Gambling Stories

Telling Lies and Getting Paid: More Gambling Stories