About the Book
David Shenk surveys the history of chess, capturing the Zelig-like nature of the game that has changed the societies that have played it. It's rules and pieces have served as a metaphor for society (to be found in the writings of Borges, Nabokov, Tolstoy, Canetti, Eliot), it has helped to form the military strategies that conquered civilisations, influenced the mathematical understandings that have driven technological change and served as a moral guide. It has been condemned by Popes as the devil's game yet Benjamin Franklin used it as to promote diplomacy.Chess's role in influencing the intellectual advances of the twentieth-century is explored, from its role in modernist art to its crucial part in the birth of cognitive science and the development of artificial intelligence. David Shenk investigates the omnipresent role of chess in the evolution of civilisation.This history of chess is structured around a description of the "Immortal Game" played between grandmasters Adolf Anderseen and Lionel Kieseritzky in 1851, the great example of 'romantic' chess. David Shenk includes Benjamin Franklin's essay 'The Morals of Chess' and detailed analysis of games that illustrate chess's rules.
About the Author :
David Shenk is an American writer, lecturer, and filmmaker. He is author of six books and has contributed to National Geographic, Slate, The New York Times, Gourmet, Harper's, Wired, The New Yorker, New Republic, The Nation, The American Scholar, NPR and PBS. In mid-2009, he joined The Atlantic as a correspondent. He is a 1988 graduate of Brown University.
Review :
"A Toronto Star Best Book of 2006"
Praise for "The Immortal Game"
"Before reading David Shenk's wonderful new book, I had at best a casual interest in chess. It seemed too ancient to untangle, too complex to decipher with any real appreciation. But Shenk, in a book filled with daring moves and cunning patience, has made a believer out of me."
--Stephen J. Dubner, coauthor of" Freakonomics"
"I loved this book. Full of burning enthusiasm for the greatest intellectual game in the world, it shows just what can happen when an accomplished author, full of fire and passion, tackles a most wonderful and intricate story. Like a great chess game, this is an achievement that will be talked about for many years to come."
--Simon Winchester, author of "A Crack in the Edge of the World: America and the Great California Earthquake of 1906 "and "The Professor and the Madman
"
"It's audacious enough to write a book about the world's most written-about game. To say something fresh and smart seems almost unfair. But that's just what David Shenk has done. With the depth and insight of a grandmaster, "The Immortal Game" explores and explains not only the addictive power of chess but its shockingly important, Zelig-like role in the history of humankind."
--Stefan Fatsis, author of "Word Freak: Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius, and Obsession in the World of Competitive Scrabble Players
"
"David Shenk takes us millennia back and light-years ahead." The Immortal Game" is an insightful look at chess, the icons of culture it has inspired, and the surprising part the game plays in the narrative of the modern world."
--Bruce Pandolfini, legendary chess instructor, author of"Pandolfini's Ultimate Guide to Chess"
"A Toronto Star Best Book of 2006"
Praise for "The Immortal Game"
"Before reading David Shenk's wonderful new book, I had at best a casual interest in chess. It seemed too ancient to untangle, too complex to decipher with any real appreciation. But Shenk, in a book filled with daring moves and cunning patience, has made a believer out of me."
--Stephen J. Dubner, coauthor of" Freakonomics"
"I loved this book. Full of burning enthusiasm for the greatest intellectual game in the world, it shows just what can happen when an accomplished author, full of fire and passion, tackles a most wonderful and intricate story. Like a great chess game, this is an achievement that will be talked about for many years to come."
--Simon Winchester, author of "A Crack in the Edge of the World: America and the Great California Earthquake of 1906 "and "The Professor and the Madman
"
"It's audacious enough to write a book about the world's most written-about game. To say something fresh and smart seems almost unfair. But that's just what David Shenk has done. With the depth and insight of a grandmaster, "The Immortal Game" explores and explains not only the addictive power of chess but its shockingly important, Zelig-like role in the history of humankind."
--Stefan Fatsis, author of "Word Freak: Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius, and Obsessionin the World of Competitive Scrabble Players
"
"David Shenk takes us millennia back and light-years ahead." The Immortal Game" is an insightful look at chess, the icons of culture it has inspired, and the surprising part the game plays in the narrative of the modern world."
--Bruce Pandolfini, legendary chess instructor, author of" Pandolfini's Ultimate Guide to Chess"
Praise for "The Immortal Game"
" Before reading David Shenk's wonderful new book, I had at best a casual interest in chess. It seemed too ancient to untangle, too complex to decipher with any real appreciation. But Shenk, in a book filled with daring moves and cunning patience, has made a believer out of me."
-- Stephen J. Dubner, coauthor of" Freakonomics"
" I loved this book. Full of burning enthusiasm for the greatest intellectual game in the world, it shows just what can happen when an accomplished author, full of fire and passion, tackles a most wonderful and intricate story. Like a great chess game, this is an achievement that will be talked about for many years to come."
-- Simon Winchester, author of "A Crack in the Edge of the World: America and the Great California Earthquake of 1906 "and "The Professor and the Madman
"
" It's audacious enough to write a book about the world's most written-about game. To say something fresh and smart seems almost unfair. But that's just what David Shenk has done. With the depth and insight of a grandmaster, "The Immortal Game" explores and explains not only the addictive power of chess but its shockingly important, Zelig-like role in the history of humankind."
-- Stefan Fatsis, author of "Word Freak: Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius, and Obsession in the World of Competitive Scrabble Players
"
" David Shenk takes us millennia back and light-years ahead." The Immortal Game" is an insightful look at chess, the icons of culture it has inspired, and the surprising part the game plays in the narrative of the modern world."
-- Bruce Pandolfini, legendary chess instructor, author of" Pandolfini' sUltimate Guide to Chess
"Praise for "The Immortal Game"
" Before reading David Shenk's wonderful new book, I had at best a casual interest in chess. It seemed too ancient to untangle, too complex to decipher with any real appreciation. But Shenk, in a book filled with daring moves and cunning patience, has made a believer out of me."
-- Stephen J. Dubner, coauthor of" Freakonomics"
" I loved this book. Full of burning enthusiasm for the greatest intellectual game in the world, it shows just what can happen when an accomplished author, full of fire and passion, tackles a most wonderful and intricate story. Like a great chess game, this is an achievement that will be talked about for many years to come."
-- Simon Winchester, author of "A Crack in the Edge of the World: America and the Great California Earthquake of 1906 "and "The Professor and the Madman
"
" It's audacious enough to write a book about the world's most written-about game. To say something fresh and smart seems almost unfair. But that's just what David Shenk has done. With the depth and insight of a grandmaster, "The Immortal Game" explores and explains not only the addictive power of chess but its shockingly important, Zelig-like role in the history of humankind."
-- Stefan Fatsis, author of "Word Freak: Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius, and Obsession in the World of Competitive Scrabble Players
"
" David Shenk takes us millennia back and light-years ahead." The Immortal Game" is an insightful look at chess, theicons of culture it has inspired, and the surprising part the game plays in the narrative of the modern world."
-- Bruce Pandolfini, legendary chess instructor, author of" Pandolfini' sUltimate Guide to Chess
"
Praise for "The Immortal Game"
"Before reading David Shenk's wonderful new book, I had at best a casual interest in chess. It seemed too ancient to untangle, too complex to decipher with any real appreciation. But Shenk, in a book filled with daring moves and cunning patience, has made a believer out of me."
--Stephen J. Dubner, coauthor of" Freakonomics"
"I loved this book. Full of burning enthusiasm for the greatest intellectual game in the world, it shows just what can happen when an accomplished author, full of fire and passion, tackles a most wonderful and intricate story. Like a great chess game, this is an achievement that will be talked about for many years to come."
--Simon Winchester, author of "A Crack in the Edge of the World: America and the Great California Earthquake of 1906 "and "The Professor and the Madman
"
"It's audacious enough to write a book about the world's most written-about game. To say something fresh and smart seems almost unfair. But that's just what David Shenk has done. With the depth and insight of a grandmaster, "The Immortal Game" explores and explains not only the addictive power of chess but its shockingly important, Zelig-like role in the history of humankind."
--Stefan Fatsis, author of "Word Freak: Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius, and Obsession in the World of Competitive Scrabble Players
"
"David Shenk takes us millennia back and light-years ahead." The Immortal Game" is an insightful look at chess, the icons of culture it has inspired, and the surprising part the game plays in the narrative of the modern world."
--Bruce Pandolfini, legendary chess instructor, author of" Pandolfini'sUltimate Guide toChess
"Praise for "The Immortal Game"
"Before reading David Shenk's wonderful new book, I had at best a casual interest in chess. It seemed too ancient to untangle, too complex to decipher with any real appreciation. But Shenk, in a book filled with daring moves and cunning patience, has made a believer out of me."
--Stephen J. Dubner, coauthor of" Freakonomics"
"I loved this book. Full of burning enthusiasm for the greatest intellectual game in the world, it shows just what can happen when an accomplished author, full of fire and passion, tackles a most wonderful and intricate story. Like a great chess game, this is an achievement that will be talked about for many years to come."
--Simon Winchester, author of "A Crack in the Edge of the World: America and the Great California Earthquake of 1906 "and "The Professor and the Madman
"
"It's audacious enough to write a book about the world's most written-about game. To say something fresh and smart seems almost unfair. But that's just what David Shenk has done. With the depth and insight of a grandmaster, "The Immortal Game" explores and explains not only the addictive power of chess but its shockingly important, Zelig-like role in the history of humankind."
--Stefan Fatsis, author of "Word Freak: Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius, and Obsession in the World of Competitive Scrabble Players
"
"David Shenk takes us millennia back and light-years ahead." The Immortal Game" is an insightful look at chess, the icons of culture it has inspired, and the surprising part the game plays in the narrative of the modern world."
--Bruce Pandolfini, legendary chess instructor, author of" Pandolfini'sUltimate Guideto Chess
"
"I loved this book. Full of burning enthusiasm for the greatest intellectual game in the world, it shows just what can happen when an accomplished author, full of fire and passion, tackles a most wonderful and intricate story. Like a great chess game, this is an achievement that will be talked about for many years to come."
--Simon Winchester, author of The Professor and the Madman
"A bravura demonstration of the art of storytelling."
--"The Globe and Mail
""Elegant . . . a true page-turner, and a superb introduction to the game of chess."
--"Wall Street Journal"
"Shenk, a spry writer . . . Ýoffers¨ a strong case for the game's bewitching power."
--"The New York Times"
"Fresh and fascinating . . . a world-spanning story ÝShenk¨ relates with skill and verve."
--"Chicago Sun-Times"
"ÝA¨ fine book . . . enjoy the author's engaging prose, honest self-deprecation, and the charm of his personal connection with the game."
--"Washington Post"
"Fascinating . . . ÝShenk¨ writes about chess history with contagious zest."
--"Cleveland Plain Dealer"
"An enriching and inviting prism through which to view and better understand history in general."
--"Albuquerque Journal"
"Everyone, from expert to patzer, will find something to admire about Shenk's investigation into our most-beloved board game."
--"Wichita Eagle"
