Mortal Games

Look Clowns! - If you play chess, than you must read this book! There are very few (Good) books on the subject of world champions! Yea you might say BS - but I own over 1000 chess books and I put this one in the top 3%.

I enjoyed this book immensely. I think Waitzkin does a good job of portraying Garry Kasparov's life both within the chess world and as a budding political figure and chess celebrity. This book does well in illustrating the hectic life that goes with being the strongest chess player in the world. It also shows both his strengths and weaknesses in his personality, which project themselves onto the chessboard as well. We see Garry sometimes as both the confident champion who towers over opponents both on the chess board and physically. We also see an insecure young man who has been forced to face the world early in his life because of his success in chess.In this book, you can perceive Waitzkin's paternal instincts kicking in, as he also has a son who is a world-class player. I think at times Garry looks to Fred Waitzkin as a father figure (or at least that's how the book makes it seem). Waitzkin's text descriptions of the chess matches Garry plays are interesting. I think even those who do not play chess can appreciate the intensity of the games.In all, I think this is a great book which shows us the personality of Garry Kasparov.

Waitzkin, who also wrote Searching for Bobby Fischer, provides a rare glimpse into the world of Garry Kasparov. In so doing, he gives the reader an opportunity to see the intricacies of international chess also. Waitzkin's friendship with Kasparov allows unique and intimate pictures of the World Champion both at, and away from, the chessboard. Kasparov's rival, Anatoly Karpov, and the political tension between the two men play a large role in the book. Also included are information about Kasparov's family and the political upheaval and turmoil they endured, as well as enlightening accounts of Kasparov's interactions with other chess masters at various events and competitions around the world. The very best chess players always seem to possess a strange and captivating element of personality, and Waitzkin does well to introduce the reader to Garry Kasparov's.