Podcast Summary:

Podcast: New Books Network
Host: Dan Moran
Episode: Dylan Taylor-Lehman, Going Rackless: Chicago’s Amateur Pool Players and the Quest for Glory in the Biggest Tournament in the World (3 Fields Books, 2025)
Date: December 7, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode features a lively interview with journalist, author, and pool enthusiast Dylan Taylor-Lehman about his new book, Going Rackless. The conversation dives into the world of Chicago’s amateur pool scene, focusing on the lives, motivations, and community of everyday players as they pursue glory at the world’s largest amateur pool tournament in Las Vegas. Taylor-Lehman and host Dan Moran discuss the culture, history, and surprising depth of amateur pool through the lens of four Chicago teams.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Meaning of Pool: Identity and Obsession

• The Highs and Lows of the Game ([02:09])

  • Moran opens with a quote from the book:

    “If there is a meaning to life, the highs and lows of a good game come as close as anything to revealing it.”

  • Taylor-Lehman explains that for many players, pool is a central aspect of their identity. Every match is charged with emotional highs and lows; the game is more than recreation—it’s a lens through which many live their lives.

• Pool as Life's Defining Lens

  • Taylor-Lehman recounts how for his subjects, being a pool player dominates self-conception and social relationships ([02:26]):

    “They define themselves first and foremost as a pool player. It’s a very important part of their identity and happiness and just the way they move through the world.”

Structure & Arc of the Book

• Profiling Amateur Teams Over a Season ([03:31])
  • Taylor-Lehman follows four Chicago-based teams through a year-long journey in the American Pool Players Association (APA) leagues.
  • The arc: local matches → league championship qualification → Nationals in Las Vegas → aftermath.

Chicago as Pool's Spiritual Home

• Why Chicago? ([05:00])
  • The city's storied, sometimes gritty pool history covers both underground, rough-and-tumble halls and opulent establishments:

    “There were pool halls there even before Chicago was a city... [at one point] pool halls were actually originally banned in Illinois, but later... that gave rise or to a flourishing pool community.” ([05:12])

  • The city’s industrial heritage and reputation for toughness color Chicago’s approach to pool and competition—a "chip on its shoulder" permeates its playing style.
  • Chicago has a reputation for playing “pretty dirty,” making it less attractive for major national/international tournaments today ([07:11]).

The Culture & Strategy of Pool

• Eight Ball vs. Nine Ball ([07:35])

  • Eight Ball: Strategic, accessible, slower-paced; most casual players are familiar.

    “Anyone could jump in and play that."

  • Nine Ball: Quicker, more aggressive, with a punchier vibe.

• Strategy and the 'Yoda Moment' ([08:58])

  • Anecdote of Chalky, a seasoned player:

    “The game isn’t about those balls... it’s about this one here [cue ball]. Make sure you know that.” ([09:08])

  • Emphasizing cue ball control, foresight, and multi-step planning as core to high-level play.

• Learning in the APA ([11:26])

  • APA leagues are accessible teaching leagues that welcome and coach beginners, creating a far more welcoming and instructive environment than cutthroat pro leagues.

Amateurism, Handicaps, and Team Play

• Handicap System Mechanics ([12:03]–[15:34])

  • APA assigns each player a handicap (2–7), designed to ensure balance and mixed-skill teams.
  • Match structure: Team’s active player roster mustn’t exceed a total handicap of 23.
  • Outcome-based dynamic handicapping: Wins and losses dynamically update handicaps.
  • This system allows for true “fair play” and regular people to have moments of glory.

• Inclusiveness ([15:51])

  • Moran likens the APA’s system to professional sports salary caps—they’re designed to prevent powerhouse dominance:

    “I think the APA also wants people to keep playing in the league and so they want these lower ranked players in. So it’s part largess, part strategy... but it also adds another element of strategy...” - Taylor-Lehman ([15:51])

  • Amateurs can find themselves under professional lights, with commentary, on the Vegas stage.

Hustlers and Sandbagging

• Sandbagging Explained ([19:48])
  • Pool hustling exists at the amateur level through “sandbagging:”

    “Sandbagging is when a player will deliberately play worse than their assigned handicap... That way they can kind of fly under the radar. And then when it really counts, they’ll play at their actual level” - Taylor-Lehman ([20:07])

  • Detection is both communal (regulars notice) and statistical (APA runs algorithms on score sheets for anomalies ([21:22]–[22:54])).

Making a Living in Professional Pool

• Very few actually earn a living—top five in the world might barely clear $100k/year from winnings ([23:39]).
  • Endorsements and less-official games supplement modest incomes.

  • “It’s just really hard to make money legally playing pool, you know, which isn’t to say that a lot of these professional players don’t have maybe a little more underground games…” - Taylor-Lehman ([24:26])

The Book's Arc: From Observer to Participant

• Taylor-Lehman’s Journey ([25:07])
  • First trip to the Las Vegas championship was eye-opening:

    “I was just completely blown away by how over the top this pool event was. I mean, it takes place in this massive convention center...” ([25:31])

  • Immersed in the culture, he recognized both narrative potential and the richness of his characters, transforming an article idea into a nonfiction book.

The Vegas Tournament: Pool Fantasyland

• Sensory Overload ([26:58])

  • The Westgate Resort in Las Vegas becomes a “surreal pool fantasy”:

    “Anything you could think of related to pool takes up three massive rooms before you even get to the main tournament room, which has... approximately 250 to 300 pool tables set up in it. Again... in this laser with laser like precision, all in a row.” ([27:27])

  • Vendors, pros, amateurs, crowds, and marathon days—an environment for fanatics, but welcoming to all.

• Accessibility & Community

  • The APA’s openness is stressed. League play is inexpensive, accessible, and demands little more than an interest in the game ([29:51]).

The Spirit of Pool: Camaraderie, Frustration, and Fulfillment

• Barriers to Entry and Universal Appeal ([34:38])

  • Pool requires no athleticism, minimal money, and offers deep camaraderie:

    “There’s the camaraderie. You know, it’s not a super solitary sport. You’re with your team, you’re with your friends playing...” ([34:38])

  • The learning curve can be humbling:

    “Watching really good pool players play is both inspiring... but also extremely frustrating because what you think is an easy shot... will go wrong and you’ll just either get really upset or, you know, at the very least, you know, everyone is, you know, always. I’m not usually this bad or I should have. I usually make that. So it can be very frustrating. So I’ll warn people about that.” - Taylor-Lehman ([35:51])

• An Outlet for Human Nature ([31:47])

  • Chapter title “Expression of Barbarian Temperament” is discussed as an exploration of the primal, competitive urges that sports (like pool) express in a positive way:

    “...Like hearkening our ancestors throwing spears... It’s a way to maybe channel that in a bit more of a productive way than other sorts of maybe more, more negative competition.” ([31:47])

  • Yet it’s as much about bringing people together as about competition.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Any game has the potential to have that level of importance.” – Dylan Taylor-Lehman ([02:26])
• “Chicago players have a reputation for playing pretty dirty.” – Dylan Taylor-Lehman ([07:11])
• “The game isn’t about those balls... it’s about this one here. Make sure you know that.” – Chalky, as quoted by Taylor-Lehman ([09:08])
• “It’s just really hard to make money legally playing pool... which isn’t to say that a lot of these professional players don’t have maybe a little more underground games...” – Dylan Taylor-Lehman ([24:26])
• “It’s a totally accessible league and sport to get into... just having this escape... seeing people thrive and eventually get super tired and burn out from playing pool for four or five days straight.” ([29:51])
• “I just wanted to walk around in that again and see all those familiar sights.” – Dylan Taylor-Lehman on returning to the Vegas event ([31:07])
• “I had, this is something where, something new that I can take on, I can get good at... it’s something anyone can play.” ([35:51])

Important Timestamps

• [02:09] Meaning of pool and personal identity
• [03:31] Structure and narrative arc of the book
• [05:00] Chicago’s role and reputation in pool history
• [07:35] Eight ball vs. nine ball & casual play
• [09:08] Cue ball-focused strategy (“Yoda moment”)
• [12:03] APA’s handicapping system explained
• [19:48] Hustling and “sandbagging” in amateur leagues
• [23:39] The limits of earning as a professional pool player
• [25:31] Experiencing the Las Vegas “pool mecca”
• [27:27] Description of the Vegas tournament atmosphere
• [31:47] “Barbarian Temperament” and sports as human nature
• [34:38] The appeal and challenge of pool for newcomers
• [35:51] Pool as a lifelong, accessible challenge

Episode Tone & Takeaways

The conversation is upbeat, curious, and full of affection for the oddball world of amateur pool. Taylor-Lehman’s enthusiasm mirrors his book’s, painting a portrait both quirky and universal: a game for misfits, obsessives, teams, and “average joes” alike. The episode is as much about the joy of discovery—in oneself and in unlikely communities—as it is about pool itself.

Recommendation:
This episode is a must for sports fans, anyone interested in subcultures, or those who simply enjoy stories about passion, community, and the chase for glory, no matter your skill level. The book is highly recommended by host Dan Moran:

“It’s a great book for die hard pool players, for casual fans, for people who love sports, for people who love, like we said before, amateurs getting together to go on that quest for glory.” ([36:40])