Brilliant Chess, Brilliant Essays, Brilliant Writer Dutch Grandmaster Hans Ree is considered by many to be the best chess writer in the world today. As noted by the Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad, reviewing the original Dutch edition, "This is more than a book about chess politics or leaders in the chess world. It is above all a declaration of love for the game, with an elegant collection of odes to the greater and lesser personalities that evolve around the 64 squares. Ree personally knows many of the people he writes about. That leads to beautiful and striking portraits.” In almost sixty separate essays, in seven categories (World Champions, Politics, In Memoriam, History, The Endgame, Matches & Tournaments and Miscellanea), Ree touches on chess matters near and dear to the hearts of chessplayers worldwide. This book, published in 1999, still retains its relevance, insight and its edge, more than a decade after being released.

The Human Comedy is the title of Honoré de Balzac's multi-volume collection of interlinked novels and stories depicting French society in the period of the Restoration (1815–1830) and the July Monarchy (1830–1848). Balzac organized his works into 3 groups: "Etudes de Moeurs au XIXe siècle" (Studies of Manners in the 19th Century) + "Etudes philosophiques" + "Etudes analytiques". Balzac wrote that the "Etudes de Moeurs" would study the effects of society and touch on all genders, social classes, ages and professions of people. Meanwhile, the "Etudes philosophiques" would study the causes of these effects. Finally, the third "analytical" section would study the principles behind these phenomena. Contents: The Ball at Sceaux The Purse Vendetta A Second Home Domestic Peace Paz Study of a Woman Another Study of Woman The Grand Breteche Albert Savarus Letters of Two Brides A Daughter of Eve A Woman of Thirty The Deserted Woman La Grenadiere The Message Gobseck The Marriage Contract A Start in Life Modeste Mignon Beatrix Honorine Colonel Chabert The Atheist's Mass Pierre Grassou Scenes From Provincial Life Ursule Mirouet Eugenie Grandet The Vicar of Tours The Two Brothers An Old Maid The Collection of Antiquities The Lily of the Valley Two Poets A Distinguished Provincial at Paris Eve and David Scenes From Parisian Life Scenes from a Courtesan's Life A Prince of Bohemia A Man of Business Gaudissart II Unconscious Comedians Ferragus The Duchesse de Langeais The Girl with the Golden Eyes Father Goriot Rise and Fall of Cesar Birotteau The Firm of Nucingen Secrets of the Princesse de Cadignan Bureaucracy Sarrasine Facino Cane Cousin Betty Cousin Pons The Lesser Bourgeoisie Scenes From Political Life An Historical Mystery An Episode Under the Terror The Brotherhood of Consolation Scenes From Military Life A Passion in the Desert Scenes From Country Life Sons of the Soil The Magic Skin Christ in Flanders Melmoth Reconciled The Unknown Masterpiece…

Despite being 1,500 years old, chess has never been more relevant than it is today. The Chess Revolution explores chess as a cultural phenomenon from its biggest stars and most dramatic moments to the impact of the internet and AI Chess, as it turns out, isn't just one of the greatest games ever devised. It has inspired writers, painters and filmmakers, and was a secret mover behind technical revolutions like artificial intelligence that are transforming society. In The Chess Revolution the acclaimed Chess.com journalist Peter Doggers reveals how computers and the Internet have further strengthened the timeless magic of chess in the digital era, leading to a new peak in popularity and cultural relevance.

A surprising, charming, and ever-fascinating history of the seemingly simple game that has had a profound effect on societies the world over. Why has one game, alone among the thousands of games invented and played throughout human history, not only survived but thrived within every culture it has touched? What is it about its thirty-two figurative pieces, moving about its sixty-four black and white squares according to very simple rules, that has captivated people for nearly 1,500 years? Why has it driven some of its greatest players into paranoia and madness, and yet is hailed as a remarkably powerful intellectual tool? Nearly everyone has played chess at some point in their lives. Its rules and pieces have served as a metaphor for society, influencing military strategy, mathematics, artificial intelligence, and literature and the arts. It has been condemned as the devil’s game by popes, rabbis, and imams, and lauded as a guide to proper living by other popes, rabbis, and imams. Marcel Duchamp was so absorbed in the game that he ignored his wife on their honeymoon. Caliph Muhammad al-Amin lost his throne (and his head) trying to checkmate a courtier. Ben Franklin used the game as a cover for secret diplomacy.In his wide-ranging and ever-fascinating examination of chess, David Shenk gleefully unearths the hidden history of a game that seems so simple yet contains infinity. From its invention somewhere in India around 500 A.D., to its enthusiastic adoption by the Persians and its spread by Islamic warriors, to its remarkable use as a moral guide in the Middle Ages and its political utility in the Enlightenment, to its crucial importance in the birth of cognitive science and its key role in the aesthetic of modernism in twentieth-century art, to its twenty-first-century importance in the development of artificial intelligence and use as a teaching tool in inner-city America, chess has been a remarkably omnipresent factor in the development of civilization. Indeed, as Shenk shows, some neuroscientists believe that playing chess may actually alter the structure of the brain, that it may be for individuals what it has been for civilization: a virus that makes us smarter.

The chess playing mind does not work like a machine. Selecting a move results from rather chaotic thought processes and is not the logical outcome of applying a rational method. The only problem with that, says International Master Willy Hendriks, is that most books and courses on improving at chess claim exactly the opposite. The dogma of the chess instruction establishment is that if you only take a good look at certain ‘characteristics’ of a position, then good moves will follow more or less automatically. But this is not how it happens. Chess players, weak and strong, don’t first judge the position, then formulate a plan and afterwards look at moves. It all happens at the same time, and pretending that it is otherwise is counterproductive. There is no use in forcing your students to mentally jump through theoretical hoops, according to experienced chess coach Hendriks. This work shows a healthy distrust of accepted methods to get better at chess. It teaches that winning games does not depend on ticking off a to-do list when looking at a position on the board. It presents club and internet chess players with loads of much-needed no-nonsense training material. In this provocative, entertaining and highly instructive book, Hendriks shows how you can travel light on the road to chess improvement! ,

Honoré de Balzac's 'The Human Comedy - La Comédie humaine (Complete Edition)' is a monumental work of literature that consists of a vast collection of interconnected novels and stories portraying French society in the early 19th century. Balzac's literary style is characterized by his realistic portrayal of human nature, intricate character development, and keen observations of social dynamics. The Human Comedy delves into various aspects of society including politics, love, money, and ambition, providing a comprehensive and detailed exploration of the human experience. Balzac's storytelling is rich in detail and his characters are complex and deeply nuanced, making the reader feel fully immersed in the world he has created. Honoré de Balzac, a prominent French novelist and playwright, drew inspiration for The Human Comedy from his own life experiences and observations of society. His unparalleled dedication to depicting the complexities of human behavior and social structures sets him apart as a master of realist fiction. Balzac's meticulous attention to detail and his ability to create vivid and lifelike characters make his work both engaging and thought-provoking. I highly recommend 'The Human Comedy - La Comédie humaine (Complete Edition)' to readers who are interested in exploring the intricacies of human nature and society through the lens of a masterful storyteller. Balzac's magnum opus offers a profound and enlightening reading experience that will leave a lasting impact on anyone who delves into its pages.