Chess is the most enduring and universal game in history. Here, bestselling author David Shenk chronicles its intriguing saga, from ancient Persia ...
read full description
reviews
Nov 25, 2008
Chelsea
rated it: 
The Immortal Game covers the long and meandering history of chess in an easy to read narrative that parallels a particular game played by two chess masters in the mid 1800s in London.
The book includes detailed discussions on the rules and strategies of chess as well as its significance in relation to human understanding at different points in history. The Immortal Game of the title seems to end anticlimactically, echoing a somewhat stilted conclusion to the otherwise graceful narra More...
The book includes detailed discussions on the rules and strategies of chess as well as its significance in relation to human understanding at different points in history. The Immortal Game of the title seems to end anticlimactically, echoing a somewhat stilted conclusion to the otherwise graceful narra More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Oct 27, 2007
Ken
rated it: 
I picked this up (from the library) based on a recommendation from Stephen Dubner's Freakonomics blog. I've always had a fascination with chess as a cultural phenomenon, although I've never been more than an occasional, mediocre player.
Anyhow, this is a really fascinating history of chess, told in that post-modern way of jumping back and forth in time, between the ""straight"" historical account, the author's own experience with the game, and a move-by-move accou More...
Anyhow, this is a really fascinating history of chess, told in that post-modern way of jumping back and forth in time, between the ""straight"" historical account, the author's own experience with the game, and a move-by-move accou More...
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Aug 09, 2011
This is an intriguing general history of chess from ancient India to Persia, the Muslim empire, Medieval Europe and the modern world. It was interesting of Shenk to imbed the history of Chess, the evolution of its pieces and strategy into what is probably the famous chess game ever, played between two Grandmasters in 1851. I don't know enough about the overall history of chess to know if and where he has made mistakes in historical depictions, but his commentary on Anderssen and Kieseritsky's ga
More...
Sep 02, 2011
Benjamin
rated it: 
A well-researched charming introduction to the beautiful game of chess,a game that has captivated people for nearly 1,500 years. David Shenk takes us on a trip millennia back and light-years ahead to find out how 32 carved pieces on a board illuminated our understanding of almost everything,from religion,art,mathematics,literature,to artificial intelligence and beyond.Indeed,as Shenk shows,some neuroscientists believe that playing chess may actually alter the structure of the brain,that it may b
More...
Jul 20, 2011
Yvette
rated it:
The Immortal Game by David Shenk
A book review by: Yvette Fannell @chesspoet
http://blog.chess.com/view/chess-book-re...
‘Understanding is the essential weapon,’ proclaims the ancient Persian poem “Chatrang-namak,” one of the oldest books mentioning the game. ‘Victory is obtained by the intellect...’
The Immortal Game: A History of Chess, or How 32 Carved Pieces on a Board Illuminated Our Understanding of War, Art, Science, and the Human Brain by David Shenk explor More...
A book review by: Yvette Fannell @chesspoet
http://blog.chess.com/view/chess-book-re...
‘Understanding is the essential weapon,’ proclaims the ancient Persian poem “Chatrang-namak,” one of the oldest books mentioning the game. ‘Victory is obtained by the intellect...’
The Immortal Game: A History of Chess, or How 32 Carved Pieces on a Board Illuminated Our Understanding of War, Art, Science, and the Human Brain by David Shenk explor More...
Aug 24, 2010
James
rated it:
This is the second book I've read about the history of chess this year (the first was Birth of the Chess Queen by Marilyn Yalom). While they are both excellent treatments of the subject, I think I like The Immortal Game better.
It's just more fun. The Immortal Game has a sort of whimsy about it which I find appropriate because chess is, after all, merely a game (despite the intellectual and historical heft it can throw around after 1400 years). Of course, they're very different works More...
It's just more fun. The Immortal Game has a sort of whimsy about it which I find appropriate because chess is, after all, merely a game (despite the intellectual and historical heft it can throw around after 1400 years). Of course, they're very different works More...
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Feb 05, 2009
David Shenk is the author of four previous books, including The Forgetting, an acclaimed study of Alzheimer's, and Data Smog, about information overload in the Internet age. The greatest asset of The Immortal Game is its accessibility. Through an educated layperson's knowledge of chess, Shenk focuses on his subject's more intriguing points and leaves arcane rehashes of famous games for more technical texts. (An appendix obliges those who revel in such details.) At its most engaging, the book med
More...
Jan 22, 2011
Pikachu
rated it:
Laszlo Polgar is my hero. I can't remember whether he was mentioned in this book, or the other I read, Bounce, which is also about chess, but he totally made me decide that when I have kids, they're all gonna learn how to play chess at age five so they'll be grandmasters at age 15.
Chess is one of my obsessions, although I'm only a mediocre player. I've read The Eight, The Westing Game, and The Flanders Panel. I play several hours of chess a day. I'm currently writing a paper about th More...
Chess is one of my obsessions, although I'm only a mediocre player. I've read The Eight, The Westing Game, and The Flanders Panel. I play several hours of chess a day. I'm currently writing a paper about th More...
Apr 17, 2011
Matt
rated it:
a really cool history of chess, plus a move by move breakdown of "the immortal game" (a match from 1851), plus musings on the metaphoric meanings of the game, some basics on the four eras of game strategy, possible future outcomes of different uses of chess, etc., etc. . . pretty comprehensive, though if you were interested in any specific of these topics, a more specialized book would be better . . still, really fascinating . . . a side note: i searched for anything on tv having to do
More...
Jan 25, 2008
Sean
rated it:
not the best history, but a good primer for beginners like me. It has a very interdisciplinary approach, which I liked, and the play-by-play of "the immortal game" (a chess game between two blokes in mid-19th century London) is nail-biting. Go figure.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Apr 24, 2007
Paul
rated it:
This is a great book that is accessible to all, not just chess nerds. The author structures it around the most famous game of chess maybe ever(the Immortal Game). This is a clever technique and I highly recommend this book.
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Jun 05, 2009
Christopher Rex
rated it:
This would get 2 or 3-stars for somebody who knows nothing about chess, but definitely 4 for anybody acquainted w/ the game (whether you are a GM or a hacker, like me). A really cool historical overview of chess interspersed w/ one of the games most famous matches ("The Immortal Game" from the 19thC). The book really flows well in this context and follows the pattern of "Opening-Middle-Endgame" in a clever and creative way. The chapter about AI and Chess is a bit burdensom
More...
Dec 17, 2009
Kellie
rated it:
I've recently become geeked out about chess. Most of the stuff I've read has felt as grueling as a textbook, but Shenk's book is engaging and enthusiastic.
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Feb 27, 2009
Jeff
rated it:
This book took two parallel paths - the history of chess and a move-by-move account of the Immortal Game. The history of chess and analysis of chess thought through the years (the beginnings over 1500 years ago, the embrace by royalty and peasants in the Middle Ages, the tactical parallels drawn by generals like Napoleon, the obsessions that drove people like Bobby Fischer over the edge, and the development of chess computers capable of complex and seemingly creative thought), was just OK. But
More...
May 27, 2010
Bill
rated it:
A thoroughly enjoyable read. Probably helps to be a chess enthusiast but it's a light read, a survey history of the game and the many luminaries who have played it, learned from and used it as a metaphor for love, war and life. I found Shenk's discussion of metaphor and it's place in life and learning to be one of the more interesting parts of the book. The other, which I truly enjoyed, was the section where he looks into how the great chessplayer develops and how they think about the game. T
More...
May 06, 2010
Emily
rated it:
The Immortal Game is a fascinating and quick read. It begins with the earliest known origins of the game whose rules have hardly altered for 5 centuries and continues to baffle and intrigue us, giving its players insight into everything from (as the title indicates) war, science, the human brain, and teaches the player about herself. Why Chess? Why this game? Chess takes place at the meridian of absolute freedom and unlimited possibilities and total structure:
"It all starts out More...
"It all starts out More...
Mar 02, 2008
Alex
rated it:
A highly well-written... something. Not strictly "A History of Chess" as the title claims (it leaves out many crucial hows and whys of the game's development and standardization), but a thoroughly engrossing survey of the ways chess has interacted and intermingled with various human endeavors throughout history. Military strategy, morality (thank you Ben Franklin), psychology, and AI are the major fields Shenk investigates, while touching on numerous others. I had the feeling that t
More...
May 23, 2009
Tom
rated it:
Good book. Not just history, but social science, science, politics....chess has, seemingly, touched on many aspects of culture and has been the driving force behind many things (like the drive to obtain AI, it's impact on learning and reasoning even among elementary school children). In the course of this book he shows us move by move the "Immortal Game" played about 150 years, or so, ago. You wouldn't think that Chess would be fun to read about....but this book is the real deal.
Jun 22, 2009
Jon Edward
rated it:
A valuable overview of the history of chess and its implications in fields as diverse as diplomacy, literature, and artificial intelligence. Easy to read.
Shenk analyses the famous "Immortal Game", the moves of which you can find in many books, between expository chapters. The format encouraged me to read quickly. I desperately wanted to find out what one of these two grand masters would do next -- and for that, you have to wait until the next "game" chapter.
Shenk analyses the famous "Immortal Game", the moves of which you can find in many books, between expository chapters. The format encouraged me to read quickly. I desperately wanted to find out what one of these two grand masters would do next -- and for that, you have to wait until the next "game" chapter.
Jan 05, 2009
Dan
rated it:
Well written with a wealth of information on chess, I enjoyed the book. The only weakness comes at the end when the author attempts to use chess as a cure for all the world's ills; a bridge too far.
I particularly enjoyed the dissection of the Immortal Game carried throughout the book. The author drips out two moves at a time with analysis and background to enhance the drama.
If you've ever spent any time pushing pawns, you'll enjoy this one.
I particularly enjoyed the dissection of the Immortal Game carried throughout the book. The author drips out two moves at a time with analysis and background to enhance the drama.
If you've ever spent any time pushing pawns, you'll enjoy this one.
Nov 19, 2011
Mark
rated it:
If, like me, you're an avid chess player this book is a must. It will not improve your game, but what it will do is improve your enjoyment of the game. It's fascinating to read the long and rich history of chess. This book is a perfect antidote to thoughts that you might be wasting your time playing a silly game. It's well written and easy to read, although my edition had a funny typo on the front cover - '...the human brian...'
Jul 07, 2008
Chris
rated it: 
Yikes. If it hadn't been for the glowing reviews, I probably wouldn't taken the chance on this. Chess certainly can be overexposed, but this promised good writing with fresh incites that revitalized our perspective on the game.
Me? At best is was an ok magazine article.
Not that the subject isn't worthy. I just found the writing thin, without the author bringing much to the table then his own family history's link with chess and his recent attempts to retake up the game. A More...
Me? At best is was an ok magazine article.
Not that the subject isn't worthy. I just found the writing thin, without the author bringing much to the table then his own family history's link with chess and his recent attempts to retake up the game. A More...
Aug 29, 2011
Vanessa
rated it:
Fascinating and enlightening, not to mention well-researched. If you are interested enough in the game of chess to learn about its rich history, pick this book up. It will make you appreciate the game more. Read about kings and queens! warriors! scientists! philosophers! Learn about murder, bloodshed, mental illness, and artificial intelligence! Find out how playing chess can help develop patience, perseverance, logical thinking, strategic planning, discipline! So actually, even if you don
More...
Jan 14, 2009
Spencer
rated it:
A wonderfully written and engaging work about the daddy of all board games. I love the historical narrative interspersed with a recap of a famous game from the 1860s. Delves into the influence and impact the game had on various schools of thought and historical figures throughout the ages. Really got me interested in chess again. Recommended.
Jul 19, 2010
Wangyip
rated it:
Very interesting book from an author who decided that chess shouldn't take over his life. I'm somewhat more fanatical about chess than the author is (I think) so the book wasn't interesting in that sense but I did like learning about the origins of chess and how it had implications for art, war, AI and life in general.
Jun 27, 2011
Glenn
rated it:
I read this on the flight home today. A pleasant read, and I loved his commentary on the "Immortal Game" itself. As a lover of chess but not even a "novice" level player, this was a light introduction to chess' influence on art, science, philosophy, and politics, but had enough "real" chess in it to feel like more than a beach book.
Apr 06, 2011
Tom
rated it:
this was an odd book for me. as a history of chess as a game, as a psychological construct and a social movement it was an uneven mix of history, biography and chess playing styles throughout the ages. starting each chapter were moves from "The Immortal Game", a game that didn't strike me as very immortal. (But did illustrate piece movements and the thinking behind each move nicely)
I'm not exactly sure what I was hoping for from this book, but I didn't quite get it.
I'm not exactly sure what I was hoping for from this book, but I didn't quite get it.
Jan 13, 2011
Jcooper
rated it:
Great writing, clever layout, weaving history through the telling of a painfully gorgeous game, play by play, and a fun romp through Persian castles, rumors about why the Vizier piece became a Queen, seas of interesting anecdote, and Shenk's own familial relationship with the game.
Apr 25, 2008
Mark
rated it:
really interesting book about the history of chess and its role in culture, the arts, etc. i think there's enough good stuff here (like the chapter on the surprising number of chess masters who've gone insane) that non chess fans could enjoy it. i felt the book tapered off in quality as it went on though, with the last chapter sounding like the ramblings of an old guy. 'these days with all the distractions and ads, chess helps develop...' etc etc. in a book with this much painstaking research
More...
Aug 04, 2010
Michael
rated it:
A really great book that I read sometime ago: because of my interests in chess and history I fully intend to reread this someday and once again enjoy Shenk's examination of the far reaching influence that the game of chess has had throughout it's long history.
