I've owned and browsed hundreds of chess books, but have actually read maybe only a couple all of the way through: "Logical Chess: Move by Move" and "The Logical Approach to Chess." (I'm not including books of tactical problems, which one really doesn't "read", but rather "solves."😉
This is a common affliction. I've bought a lot of chess books with good intentions, leafed through them and then let them collect dust. Chess books are boring and hard to get through. Buy "The Oxford Companion to Chess", you'll read and reread it for the next few decades, enjoying every minute. I bought my copy in 1986, I still pick it up and go through it. It's an addictive book.
Originally posted by chessisvanityThen the path you must take is to buy only cheap chess books. (Or open an eBay account.) 😉
I have it worse than anyone here.....I have a sic disorder where i buy books and throw them out.....new ones!!! and i aint talkin no one or two....in the last year maybe $2000 worth of new books tossed out....
I can't explain it.
Buying lots of chess books is something I know of. I have >300 books obtained from 1988 to present day. I knew a chess book reviewer who sold his books afterwards cheaply and soon acquired a mountain.
I think it us unlikley all chapters of a book *MUST* be read or you have no purpose buying the book. there must be some value in looking at even few chapters.
Probably lowest value books are openings books as these get superseded. BUT having said that, old openings books will have lines that are viable and can be resurrected. If you have a library of openings books you can become a formidable postal player ! I remember havening the 1st edition of Play the French by Watson. Just after I got this re-relaese a 2nd edition came out and I was cross. I felt conned. I wast getting 'all that state of the art' etc. etc. BUT a few years later I realized actually the lines in 1st edition are still worthy at club level and may have just got edited out due to space issues.
After that games compilations are worth having and dipping into - say collections of Petrosians games etc. These hold value, as do chess history books etc.
Chess books to improve you by 100 points dont exist unless your coming from a beginner standard. Although I forced myself to read 2 x volumes of endgame move by move books [cant recall the name - and that was invaluable].
This type of addiction exists too in martial arts circles where instructional videos are sought after for 'THAT' technique to boosts your magic powers. You may get a few tips but a magic wand doesn't exist. You do get a broad knowledge however and insight into the depth of the art.
Originally posted by Sam The ShamI rarely buy chess books and when I do I generally read them. However I avoid the hard ones. I did read My System, but it was my Dad's copy and I skipped the examples. I did learn from the book despite this.
This is a common affliction. I've bought a lot of chess books with good intentions, leafed through them and then let them collect dust. Chess books are boring and hard to get through. Buy "The Oxford Companion to Chess", you'll read and reread it for the next few decades, enjoying every minute. I bought my copy in 1986, I still pick it up and go through it. It's an addictive book.
Originally posted by likeforestWe collect things to stave off the passage of time -- it's a way of controlling our environment. Be thankful you don't collect something really expensive like ex-wives or exotic sports cars.
I have found myself collecting more books than I can read. Anybody else have this problem? How many books do you own, and out of all of them how many have you read? I currently own 30 and have read about 10.
Originally posted by der schwarze RitterIt's part of being a settled agricultural people.
We collect things to stave off the passage of time -- it's a way of controlling our environment. Be thankful you don't collect something really expensive like ex-wives or exotic sports cars.
Even one with stealth bombers.
Originally posted by der schwarze RitterI have 2 of the former but none of the latter (unless you count a Mercedes SLK as exotic) but allowed neither of them to interfere with my passion for collecting not only chess books but all sorts of books that I never read.
We collect things to stave off the passage of time -- it's a way of controlling our environment. Be thankful you don't collect something really expensive like ex-wives or exotic sports cars.
I tell myself that one day I will retire and that I will have time then to read them all but I fear my good friend, Gordon Brown, will never let me have enough money to afford to retire so I may never get to read any of them.
However, I tell myself I need chess books for reasons other that actually reading them. I actually do refer to my opening books quite regularly (In fact my book on the Morra Gambit purchased about 9 months ago is already falling apart) and endgame books can be an invaluable source of reference but it is those books on middle games, tactics and strategy that tend to sit on the shelf unread and perhaps those are the most important ones.