Willie's Game: An Autobiography

Readers need not be pool players or even know the rudiments of the game to enjoy this autobiography. Born in 1913, the son of a Philadelphia pool-hall manager, Mosconi made his mark as a child prodigy at age six, then ``retired,'' returning to the game in his teens when his parents became ill and he had to support the family. He went on to win 15 pool championships before retiring permanently in 1966; some of the many records he set still stand. Writing with Cohen ( A Magic Summer: The '69 Mets ), Mosconi makes pool's technical aspects comprehensible as he explains its jargon. His vivid evocation of the sport's furious competitiveness, the fantastic concentration required and the need to focus on one's game rather than on one's opponent makes it clear that pool is as demanding as boxing or pro football--even though the top-flight contestants play in tuxedos. ( May )