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A Short Treatise Inviting the Reader to Discover the Subtle Art of Go
Written by a mathematician, a poet, and a mathematician-poet (two of them foundational members of the Oulipo), this 1969 guide to the ancient Japanese game of go was not just the first such guide to be published in France (and thereby introducing the centuries-old game of strategy into France), but something of a subtle Oulipian guidebook to writing strategies and tactics. Go A User's Manual, or how a set of simple rules and constraints can lead not only to infinite complexities, but also an endless array of writing strategies and bad puns.
As in the Oulipian strategy of writing under constraint, the role of structured gameplay (within literature and without) proves to be of primordial importance: a means of moving outside an inherent system, of instigating new figures of style and meaning, new paths toward collaboration, and new strategies for filling a space: be it the space of a terrain, a blank page, a white screen, or a freshly stretched canvas.
This treatise outlines the history of Go, the rules for playing it, some central tactics and strategies for playing it and overcoming the threats posed by an opponent, general information and trivia, and a glossary that ranges from Atari (check) to Yose (the end of a match).
“Chess is indeed a war, but an institutionalized, regulated, coded war, with a front, a rear, battles. But what is proper to Go is war without battle lines, with neither confrontation nor retreat, without battles even: pure strategy, whereas chess is a semiology.”—Gilles Deleuze and FŽélix Guattari
As in the Oulipian strategy of writing under constraint, the role of structured gameplay (within literature and without) proves to be of primordial importance: a means of moving outside an inherent system, of instigating new figures of style and meaning, new paths toward collaboration, and new strategies for filling a space: be it the space of a terrain, a blank page, a white screen, or a freshly stretched canvas.
This treatise outlines the history of Go, the rules for playing it, some central tactics and strategies for playing it and overcoming the threats posed by an opponent, general information and trivia, and a glossary that ranges from Atari (check) to Yose (the end of a match).
“Chess is indeed a war, but an institutionalized, regulated, coded war, with a front, a rear, battles. But what is proper to Go is war without battle lines, with neither confrontation nor retreat, without battles even: pure strategy, whereas chess is a semiology.”—Gilles Deleuze and FŽélix Guattari
- GenresNonfictionGoFrance
201 pages, Paperback
Published May 1, 2019
3 people are currently reading
171 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 4, 2019
The Asian game GO is sometimes thought of like a brother/sister to Chess. Pierre Lusson, Georges Perec, and Jacques Roubaud think that's hogwash. In this funny beautifully designed book, the gods of the Oulipian world express their take on one of the oldest games on this planet. The book serves as a manual on how to play, but I think to most readers it's a witty take on game-playing as well as how literature plays into that landscape. There are moments of hysterical humor, and the writing of the book (not sure who did what?) is almost a parody, exposes deeper appreciation of game-playing as one does in everyday life. A remarkable little book.
February 17, 2020
Probably not the best guidebook for those wanting to learn how to pay Go, but almost certainly the one with the most attitude, especially when it comes to chess (inelegant game!). The whole of part 3 is basically a collection of lists of terrible puns on the word "Go" and related terminology.
Three stars because it made me briefly excited to get into the game of Go until I downloaded an app and discovered I'm just as bad at Go as I am at chess.
Three stars because it made me briefly excited to get into the game of Go until I downloaded an app and discovered I'm just as bad at Go as I am at chess.
September 20, 2024
Fuck chess all my homies hate chess. Very cute that the 2019 translation takes care to update information concerning access to historical documents - books from a certain press cited by the authors are no longer in print, but they can be found online, as can back issues of Go Review - this is a handbook as much as it is a piece of literature, and as such, of course it should remain accurate to contemporary times!
June 2, 2020
Tre stelle e mezza
December 27, 2020
I have been fascinated by the game GO for many years but have never set aside the kind of time necessary to really learn the game. I think the attraction for me has always been the black/white vision of the playing board as the stones make their appearance.
This book, written by Lusson and two Oulipian star geniuses, Georges Perec and Jacques Roubaud, is informative and amusing, but, because of their involvement, I was always wondering whether, at moments, the work became a put-on.
Nonetheless, I persevered. The diagrams, once one grasps the function of the detail, are helpful and the explanations cogent. It was an enjoyable bedtime exercise which allowed one the sense of superiority over chess players and the absolute enjoyment of seeing Frenchmen sending up the French.
This book, written by Lusson and two Oulipian star geniuses, Georges Perec and Jacques Roubaud, is informative and amusing, but, because of their involvement, I was always wondering whether, at moments, the work became a put-on.
Nonetheless, I persevered. The diagrams, once one grasps the function of the detail, are helpful and the explanations cogent. It was an enjoyable bedtime exercise which allowed one the sense of superiority over chess players and the absolute enjoyment of seeing Frenchmen sending up the French.
October 6, 2021
The original appears on my webpage.
The world of Go is fortunate to lay claim to a book as charming as A Short Treatise Inviting the Reader to Discover the Subtle Art of Go. This treatise somehow manages to walk the line between a serious examination of the game while not taking itself seriously. I love this book as both literature and instruction manual.
The book’s duality leads to my one criticism of the book: it does not have much of a rhythm. Some parts feel somewhat pedantic, other parts are concise. Take this explanation of the game’s goal as an example:
This is one of the most lucid explanations of the game I have read.
I am not an expert in Oulipo texts, but I do understand that they are not necessarily written to convey a linear thought. Playing Go is much like navigating the world; our reason for being doesn’t bind to logical analysis. So why should a book on Go be written in a linear way?
I choose my own path through the book and I’d recommend the same for anyone. The translator’s introduction should perhaps be saved until after the “0. Celebration” chapter, the “1. Rules” chapter, and the Go puns from the “3. Saturation” appendix. Only after these three sections would I recommend reading the translator’s introduction. I’d finish the book with “2. Elementary Tactics and Strategies.”
A Short Treatise Inviting the Reader to Discover the Subtle Art of Go is a gem. It’s a must for anyone who sees themselves at the intersection of Perec and Go. It is both a time capsule of the moment when Go arrived in France and a refreshing look at the ancient game.
The world of Go is fortunate to lay claim to a book as charming as A Short Treatise Inviting the Reader to Discover the Subtle Art of Go. This treatise somehow manages to walk the line between a serious examination of the game while not taking itself seriously. I love this book as both literature and instruction manual.
The book’s duality leads to my one criticism of the book: it does not have much of a rhythm. Some parts feel somewhat pedantic, other parts are concise. Take this explanation of the game’s goal as an example:
The goal of Go is not to place, displace, or capture stones, but rather to outline and then consolidate, with the aid of these stones, vacant spaces, regions formed by unoccupied intersections that black and white endeavor to control until their adversary concedes them: the “definition” (demarcation) of territories constitutes the very object of the game of GO.
This is one of the most lucid explanations of the game I have read.
I am not an expert in Oulipo texts, but I do understand that they are not necessarily written to convey a linear thought. Playing Go is much like navigating the world; our reason for being doesn’t bind to logical analysis. So why should a book on Go be written in a linear way?
I choose my own path through the book and I’d recommend the same for anyone. The translator’s introduction should perhaps be saved until after the “0. Celebration” chapter, the “1. Rules” chapter, and the Go puns from the “3. Saturation” appendix. Only after these three sections would I recommend reading the translator’s introduction. I’d finish the book with “2. Elementary Tactics and Strategies.”
A Short Treatise Inviting the Reader to Discover the Subtle Art of Go is a gem. It’s a must for anyone who sees themselves at the intersection of Perec and Go. It is both a time capsule of the moment when Go arrived in France and a refreshing look at the ancient game.
February 7, 2021
As an introduction to the game of 'Go' it's solid. Over-long, but the length contains helpful exposition for the novice.
The puns and history add interest, for those who don't just want to be reading an explanation of the game. But, I'm not sure why someone would read this book if that isn't what they wanted. But, I know the rules already and don't really plan on picking it back up anytime soon, so I'm not sure why I read it.
The puns and history add interest, for those who don't just want to be reading an explanation of the game. But, I'm not sure why someone would read this book if that isn't what they wanted. But, I know the rules already and don't really plan on picking it back up anytime soon, so I'm not sure why I read it.
March 24, 2022
I was looking for a manual/book about Go but managed to only find this book, and lo and behold! The poet Georges Perec is one of the writers.
This is not a bad book at all; pretty good as an introduction for how to think about the game and how to to understand it, and its implications. I'd recommend it for anyone who had an interest in the game. Not sure what I was expecting beyond this though.
This is not a bad book at all; pretty good as an introduction for how to think about the game and how to to understand it, and its implications. I'd recommend it for anyone who had an interest in the game. Not sure what I was expecting beyond this though.
September 9, 2019
Uma delícia de livro, sem dúvida fiel ao seu título: trata-se precisamente de um "guia iniciante" do Go, mas um que é divertidíssimo e profundo, e leva a marca de quando foi escrito (pós maio de 1968): uma obra colaborativa de paixões e esforços compartilhados, com veia anárquica e experimental, e muitos muitos trocadilhos.
August 13, 2023
Though there are some fun sections in the opening chapter and at the end, this is mostly really just a beginners guide to the game of Go. If you aren't interested in Go, or are not perhaps a completist when it comes to the authors, you might want to skip this one.
October 3, 2024
This is pretty great. It's not an instruction on how to play the game, but instead it teaches the reader about the history and culture of the game in an entertaining and humorous way. It's got puns and jokes and makes the game approachable without overwhelming the reader.
December 23, 2019
If you like Oulipo / Perec a must. Hilarious and filled with a surprising amount of sensible content about the Game.
November 28, 2023
Go + Oulipo?!?! SOLD!!!
May 27, 2010
This book is filled with the kind of silly wordplay for which the OuLiPo was renowned. Both Perec and Roubaud were mainstays of that "workshop of potential literature". Lusson was a math colleague of Roubaud's. The book is a mass of puns and whatnot. I don't read French, so I can't evaluate it as an instruction book on the game.
April 3, 2015
L'aspetto più interessante del Breve trattato, dice bene la traduttrice Martina Cardelli in una nota finale, è questo suo venire fuori dall'incontro di due mondi così lontani...
http://www.piegodilibri.it/recensioni...
http://www.piegodilibri.it/recensioni...
September 27, 2021
I love Perec, but this one is extremely dated and not particularly good.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews