How Life Imitates Chess

Product Information

In short, Kasporav does not give any amazing insights in this book that we haven't heard before from the motivational book section in terms of life lessons. A key to developing successful strategies is to be aware of your strengths and weaknesses, to know what you do well. Two strong chess players can have very different strategies in the same position and they might be equally effective—leaving aside those positions in which a single forced winning line is available. Each player has his own style, his own way of solving problems and making decisions. Another additional point brought up by Kasparov was about the vital significance not only to move out of our comfort zones, but also to challenge ourselves in creative ways to push us into new boundaries. We must play the opening phase like a book, the middlegame like a magician and the endgame like a machine."

The book contains many interesting facts about chess and the person Garry Kasparov and his famous work ethic*. It is rich in ideas, quotes and connections - however I soon got bored, since neither life nor chess is ALL about winning or being remembered! How success is measured is different for each of us. The first and most important step is realizing that the secret of success is inside.” This is what I call the gravity of past success. Winning creates the illusion that everything is fine.” Chess clearly shows us the power of “Why?” Every move has a consequence; every move either fits into your strategy or it doesn’t. If you aren’t questioning your moves consistently, you will lose to the player who is playing with a coherent plan. The book is a good read for people who want to know more about Mr. Kasparov’s approach. It outlines the history of the game without the customary platitudes.

Retailers:

I've never seen someone with such a feel for dynamics in complex positions' - Magnus Carlsen, World Chess Champion

Quality, the most important element and a goal unto itself, is value—or even power. We strive to gain in every area and also to invest and balance the factors correctly. Just as our evaluation must encompass material, time and quality, our range of views must be able to answer everything from the "What" to the "Why" down to the "How". Chess is a unique cognitive nexus, a place where art and science come together in the human mind and are then refined and improved by experience. Tactics is knowing what to do when there is something to do; strategy is knowing what to do when there is nothing to do.”—Savielly Tartakower

Reviews

Evaluating a position goes well beyond looking for the best move. The move is only the result, the product of an equation that must first be imagined and developed. So, determine the relevant factors, measure them, and, most critically, determine the optimal balance among them. Before you can begin your search for the keys to a position, you have to perform this basic due diligence.

One badly places piece makes your whole position bad. Put that bad piece in use or eliminate it. This applies in life too and is known as the principle of improving your worst piece. His attitude towards risk is interesting and instructive**, his competence concerning history doubtful (no matter how good his memory is), his pep talks are stimulating … Garry Kasparov was the highest-rated chess player in the world for over twenty years and is widely considered the greatest player that ever lived. In How Life Imitates Chess Kasparov distills the lessons he learned over a lifetime as a Grandmaster to offer a primer on successful decision-making: how to evaluate opportunities, anticipate the future, devise winning strategies. He relates in a lively, original way all the fundamentals, from the nuts and bolts of strategy, evaluation, and preparation to the subtler, more human arts of developing a personal style and using memory, intuition, imagination and even fantasy. Kasparov takes us through the great matches of his career, including legendary duels against both man (Grandmaster Anatoly Karpov) and machine (IBM chess supercomputer Deep Blue), enhancing the lessons of his many experiences with examples from politics, literature, sports and military history.Chess, along with music and mathematics, is one of the few pursuits in which superior ability and originality can manifest at a young age.”