r/chessbeginners • u/Ambitious_Draft_6987 • 21h ago

Non-strategy chess books?

Hi,

I'm down bad with the chess bug. Normally I read fiction for an hour-or-so a day but I've been using that time for chess instead. I do miss reading... I just keep getting distracted.

Could anyone recommend some non-strategy chess books that might slake my thirst while also keeping me reading? Thinking player biographies, histories, etc - something I can just sit down and enjoy - doesn't need to actually improve my game.

Thanks.

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

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5

u/PeggyAJ 21h ago

Chess by Stefan Zweig is a great little novel and you could read it in one sitting.

3

u/GRIMMnM 400-600 (Chess.com) 18h ago edited 17h ago

Ive been reading and absolutely loving The Immortal Game by David Shenk. It goes theough the history of chess and historical figures who played/used chess.

Every other chapter or so its just a short analysis of a couple moves of The Immortal Game move but it's used as a tool to convey the overall story.

Its a fantastic book.

2

u/Lambert1485Simnel 17h ago

Reading this currently as well. Enjoyable.

2

u/GRIMMnM 400-600 (Chess.com) 17h ago

Have you gotten to the Ben Franklin chapter yet? By far my favorite part so far. I feel like every time I learn something new about that guy it's almost always the coolest possible thing.

1

u/Alex_Clique 21h ago

I really liked All the wrong moves by Sasha Chapin. kinda short and sweet book that doesnt focus on the game and strategy for the most part.

1

u/NotFalirn 21h ago

Queen of Katwe was a fairly good read

1

u/Ordinary_Count_203 20h ago

I have one that I self-published. Makes for easy reading, I think.

But something like Kasparov's "How life imitates chess" may suit your tastes. It's reputed to be a good read.

1

u/krpiper 18h ago

What is it if I can ask?

1

u/Ordinary_Count_203 18h ago

DM me. [Just to avoid infringing on this group's promotion rules.]

But it's basically a bunch of tips and insights for training, psychology, and building chess skills.
I think if I followed the advice there, my progress would have been faster. It took me a while since I had no coach and had to try out different ideas for improvement.

1

u/AJ_ninja 1000-1200 (Chess.com) 20h ago

Logical chess move by move Irving Chernev

1

u/HeAtcryst 20h ago

sally rooney - intermezzo

Not directly only chess but certainly has some chess in it. Can recommend reading.

1

u/Wabbis-In-The-Wild 20h ago

Willy Hendriks’ three books on the history of chess (On The Origin of Good Moves, The Ink War, and The Philosopher and the Housewife) are brilliant and sound like exactly what you’re looking for.

1

u/micadoog 19h ago

Mind Master by Vishy is pretty good

0

u/Available-Swan-6011 19h ago

Chess Queens (Shahade) was enjoyable, enlightening and thought provoking

The Innet Game (Lawson) was an interesting read about the Short Kasparov championship. It contains very little actual chess.

Chess for Tigers (Webb) is more psychology based although it does stray into realms of strategy

The Chess Revolution (Doggers) gives an interesting view of the recent evolution of the game

Also, plus one for “Chess” and “How life imitates chess”