James "Jim" McManus was born March 22 1951, in Manhattan. He is an American poker player, teacher and writer living in Kenilworth, Illinois. McManus is best known as the author of the book Positively Fifth Street: Murderers, Cheetahs, and Binion's World Series of Poker. The book is based on his trip to Las Vegas to cover the progress of women in the 2000 World Series of Poker (WSOP) and the death of Ted Binion. McManus continues to play live poker when not teaching and raising two young daughters with his second wife, Jennifer Arra.