Ten years ago, my chess study focused on three books: Soltis, Pawn Structure Chess; Peter Romanovsky, Chess Middlegame Planning; and Aron Nimzovich, Chess Praxis. During that time, my chess skill moved up a level (from D class USCF to C class). Soltis book was tremendous help in connecting opening theory to middlegame and endgame plans, and thus also was helpful in dealing with those predictable Opening Novelties by weak players.