Top 10 Popular Chess Books (2007-2008)(November 2007) This is the fifth edition of our annual look at what's hot in the world of chess books. As in previous years, we identified chess titles on two bestseller lists and weighted them according to their rank on both lists. Worth noting on our Top-11 list (one title is in two volumes) is the larger than usual number of books that we classify as non-instructional. The top three titles are all in this genre, as is David Shenk's 'Immortal Game', last year's top pick. 'Making the Right Moves, from the Board to the Boardroom • Hailed by Time as one of 100 people who are transforming today's world, Garry Kasparov has taken the lessons he learned as a world champion chess player and applied them to his new career as political strategist. A highly sought-after business speaker, Kasparov explains how to use the tools of chess to become more successful in business -- and in life.' (from the back cover) 'A Journey in the Pursuit of Excellence • Waitzkin was catapulted into a media whirlwind as a teenager when his father's book Searching for Bobby Fischer was made into a major motion picture. After dominating the scholastic chess world for ten years, Waitzkin expanded his horizons, taking on the martial art Tai Chi Chuan and ultimately earning the title of World Champion. How was he able to reach the pinnacle of two disciplines that on the surface seem so different? "I've come to realize that what I am best at is not Tai Chi, and it is not chess," he says. "What I am best at is the art of learning."'
(from the back cover)
'A Son, A Father, and the World's Most Dangerous Game • Hoffman interweaves gripping tales from the history of the game and revealing portraits of contemporary chess geniuses into the emotionally charged story of his own recent attempt to get back into tournament chess as an adult -- this time without losing his mind or his humanity. All the while, he grapples with the bizarre, confusing legacy of his own father, who haunts Hoffman's game and life.' (from the dust jacket) 'This is not just a book for kids -- for 'Dad' read any opponent who beats you regularly! This book teaches the 50 Deadly Checkmates - basic attacking patterns that occur repeatedly in games between players of all standards. Each mating motif is carefully and simply explained, and several illustrative examples are given. A final test enables the reader to grade his pattern recognition abilities, and the last chapter explains what to do if your Dad is Garry Kasparov.' (from the back cover) 'From Beginner To Master • Starting at the beginner's level, all basic mates are clearly and painstakingly explained. After that, the critical building blocks that form the endgame foundation for all tournament hopefuls and experienced tournament competitors are explored in detail. Finally, advanced endgame secrets based on concepts rather than memorization are presented in a way that makes them easy to master.' (from the dust jacket) Is this the top selling chess book of all time? It is the only title to have appeared on our list all five years. • 'Learn to think the same way Bobby does. This is the secret. You will be put in increasingly complex situations where you will be required to think and move the way Fischer does. You'll be a better player after you take Bobby Fischer's Chess Course. It works.' (from the back cover) 'Written by a U.S. Chess Champion, International Chess Grandmaster, and longtime instructor, this book includes information for both novice and expert, including over 400 illustrated chessboards and photos; over 20 pages of detailed answer key notes; a completely new chapter on new evidence about chess and its impact on brain power; a guide to the art of chess collectibles; and more.' (from the back cover) 'How 32 Carved Pieces on a Board Illuminated Our Understanding of War, Art, Science and the Human Brain • Why has one game, alone among the thousands of games invented and played throughout human history, not only survived but thrived within every culture it has touched? What is it about its thirty-two figurative pieces, moving about its sixty-four black and white squares according to very simple rules, that has captivated people for nearly 1,500 years?' (from the dust jacket) 'Unlocking the Mysteries of the Modern Chess Openings • In Watson's previous books on chess strategy, Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy and Chess Strategy in Action, he explained vital concepts that had previously been the domain only of top-class players. Here he does likewise for the openings, explaining how flexible thinking and notions such as 'rule-independence' can apply to the opening. In this major two-volume work, Watson presents a wide-ranging view of the way in which top-class players really handle the opening, rather than an idealized and simplified model.' (from the publisher's description) • Volume 1 covers primarily 1.e4, volume 2 primarily 1.d4. 'Seirawan can show you how to put the tactics of the world's chess legends to work for you. Choose from the double attack, the pin, the skewer, deflection, the decor, x-rays, windmills and many more time-tested tactics. Board positions from actual games played by history''s great chess tacticians are provided throughout. Review tests for each topic let you track your improvement.' (from the dust jacket) • For the last three years, we listed Seirawan's 'Winning Chess Openings'; this year the focus turns to endings.
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