The Book of Games: Strategy, Tactics & History

by Jack Botermans, Edgar Loy Fankbonner (Translator)

This lavishly illustrated 736-page reference provides a lifetime of entertainment! It contains complete rules, playing tips, and instructive move-by-move examples of 65 fun and diverse games. They range from Senat, a pastime enjoyed by King Tut, to Hex, invented by a 20th-century mathematician; from strategy games like Siege of Paris to dice games like Chuck-a-Luck to chase games like Pachisi; from Asian Shogi to African Wari; and from traditional Chess and Go to modern creations like Mastermind and Othello. Colorful illustrations show old-time and modern players, game boards, and equipment alongside fascinating anecdotes and curious facts about games throughout history. For every player, this one’s a sure winner!

Genres: Reference, Nonfiction, Games

736 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Autumn Kearney · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book of games: strategy, tactics & history. I never thought that there existed a book that was too big and heavy. This one can be used as either a doorstop or a weapon. It's just that huge. It contains six pounds of gaming. I have played eleven out of the forty-nine games included.

[Leif · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very lucky to pick this up at a library book sale. This book is a real find for anybody with a curiosity about games, particularly of the obscure sort. What I really like best about this book is that it goes into the strategy for each game, which is not something I have seen in similar books. It also has exceptional production value, full of excellent photos of actual game boards, historic artifacts, etc., and it has a very readable section on the history of each game. It really is a very spectacular and enticing book. The one flaw is that it is a translation, which does show through here and there in more or less obvious ways. Occasionally the writing is unclear enough to be a problem, but over all it is still carefully (and lavishly) put together, so if you are prepared for some flaws in the writing you should still be impressed by this book if you are curious about games. It has rejuvenated my interest in this area, and I was finally stimulated to actually learn how to play Chinese Chess (and found out elsewhere that there are free sites offering an AI opponent for this game).

[Min · Rating 4 out of 5]

This impressive reference work is filled with a color picture on every page showing a game board diagram, people playing the game, or other game-related image.
As a game enthusiast, this work delves into some of the most ancient games known, particularly, those that are still played; be they dice, dominos, or board games. Most of these I have never heard about, or seen. For the history alone, I would purchase the book.
Offering strategies, and tactics is quite helpful for players, and the curious who want to learn more about the world of game play.

[Tom M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A detailed and entertaining account of games throughout the ages, with photos, rules and strategy tips.

Unparalleled in its execution and appeal.

[FranklinTV · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicely detailed and produced book which is the type you flick thru and maybe one day I will hopefully fully read it.