Well, I recommend that you start your library with a good biography of PT Barnum.
There are several quotes from old PT that apply to poker, including his most famous:
"Never give a sucker an even break, or smarten up a chump."
Another is only attributed to PT, but sounds quite like something he would say and also fits the situation:
"It is morally reprehensible that a fool should be allowed to keep his money."
Finally, read some Dr. Al, particularly Psychology of Poker. Try to understand some of the various motivations many people bring to home poker games:
- Some people like to be the center of attention. They don't care where the party is or what the party is for, so long as every one is paying attention to them.
- Some people are followers. They play poker because Alpha Dog said they were playing poker.
- Some people have a need to demonstrate. They just have to show the world that they are God's Gift to poker, even though they have no idea how to actually play.
- Some people are so flabbergasted that another human being things enough of them to invite then into their home, that they honestly don't care what's going on. They just want to be there, and hope that they'll get invited back.
Then find out what it is that each of your friends wants out of a home poker group, and make it your job to ensure that they find what it is they are looking for.
And each week they will
gladly lose lots of their hard earned money to you, go home smiling, and come back for more of the same the next week.
Oh, and poker books? You can't learn poker from books. It's a talent, something you're just born with, like that guy in
Beautiful Mind. And it's mostly just luck anyway. You can learn everything you need to know watching poker on TV...