Dan “Jungleman” Cates Announces Pokerworld Memoir With Rick Maese, Out Next May

Published on October 31st, 2026

Dan “Jungleman” Cates’ Pokerworld memoir displayed on a poker table with chips and playing cards against a Las Vegas backdrop.

Key Details

Dan “Jungleman” Cates will release Pokerworld, a memoir co-written with Washington Post journalist Rick Maese, in May.
The 208-page hardcover has a list price of $28, and preorders are open now at online retailers such as Amazon and Target.
PokerNews describes it as a candid memoir about downswings, discipline and emotional control rather than a strategy book.

Dan “Jungleman” Cates is releasing a new book called Pokerworld in May 2027. The two-time WSOP bracelet winner wrote the memoir with Washington Post journalist Rick Maese. It follows his high-stakes poker career, including the wins, losses and lessons he’s learned along the way.

The 208-page hardcover will be published by Matt Holt Books and distributed by Simon & Schuster. It has a list price of $28 and is already available for preorder through retailers like Amazon and Target. According to the official book listing, the memoir focuses on Cates’ life and experiences rather than teaching readers poker strategy.

What Pokerworld Covers

The memoir follows Cates from his early days playing online poker to high-stakes private games around the world. It gives readers a look at his career and the kinds of games most players never get to experience.

The book also covers the challenges poker players face, including losing streaks, making tough decisions and keeping emotions under control. Cates shares how the lessons he’s learned at the poker table can also apply to business and everyday life. With journalist Rick Maese helping tell his story, the book could also appeal to readers who don’t follow poker.

Why Jungleman’s Résumé Gives the Book Weight

Cates has built an impressive poker career, winning two World Series of Poker bracelets and taking down the $50,000 Poker Players Championship in both 2021 and 2022. Our guide to WSOP high roller events explains how these big-money tournaments work. He’s also earned more than $19 million in live tournament cashes, according to The Hendon Mob, but he’s best known for his success in high-stakes cash games and mixed games.

In 2025, Cates made headlines when he faced Ossi “Monarch” Ketola in six heads-up matches. He won the final three and finished the series with roughly $15 million in profit, reportedly the largest livestreamed win in poker history.

Poker Memoirs Are Having a Moment

Cates isn’t the only high-stakes poker pro sharing his story. Garrett Adelstein released his memoir, Beneath the Cards, in September 2026. The book covers his gambling experiences, including the famous “Jack-Four” hand against Robbi Jade Lew on Hustler Casino Live in 2022, when Adelstein accused Lew of cheating.

With both books coming out less than a year apart, more high-stakes players are sharing what happens behind the scenes. While Adelstein’s memoir revisits some of poker’s biggest controversies, Cates’ book focuses more on the lessons he’s learned about decision-making, discipline and handling pressure.

The Lessons Players Should Watch For

The themes in Pokerworld are things most poker players can relate to. Losing streaks happen, even when you’re playing well, and knowing how to handle them is important. Chasing losses by moving up in stakes can make things worse, which is why good bankroll management matters.

The book also explores emotional control and making decisions without knowing all the facts, both of which are part of poker. Cates shares how these lessons can apply to business and everyday life, too. Since the book isn’t out yet, we’ll have to wait until May to see how well it covers these topics.

What Poker Players Can Expect From Pokerworld

Pokerworld could give readers a closer look at how one of poker’s biggest names handles losses, pressure and tough decisions. These are challenges every player faces, whether they’re playing $1/$2 cash games or high-stakes tournaments.

The book arrives in May 2027, with preorders already open. For fans of Jungleman, it’s a chance to learn more about his career, the games he’s played and the lessons he’s picked up along the way.

Sandra is a content writer and editor specializing in online poker and iGaming. She covers poker sites, game formats, industry news, and US online poker laws for Legal US Poker Sites.