Biographies & Autobiographies you've enjoyed
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Biographies & Autobiographies you've enjoyed
Hi all, some time back I created a thread about books on Soviet Chess, in which Yuri Averbakh's autobiography was recommended. I'm currently reading it and finding it very enjoyable, particularly players from the same era as Averbakh. Has anyone read Botvinnik's memoirs/autobiography?
Many thanks.
Many thanks.
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Re: Biographies & Autobiographies you've enjoyed
Over 1000 views and no comments, surely someone has read Botvinnik's?
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Re: Biographies & Autobiographies you've enjoyed
Kasparov's book "Child of change" is a good read.
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Re: Biographies & Autobiographies you've enjoyed
As long as you don't actually believe any of it
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)
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Re: Biographies & Autobiographies you've enjoyed
I enjoyed Pal Benko "My Life, Games and Compositions".
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Re: Biographies & Autobiographies you've enjoyed
Thanks John, I'll look into that. Perhaps if enough people contribute we can establish a top ten chess autobiographies or something like that.
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Re: Biographies & Autobiographies you've enjoyed
There is a good line in that where Kasparov talks about himself in the third person and says something like “Nigel Short had all the makings of a world champion, but for the terrible misfortune of being brought into the world only 3 years after Kasparov!” While this may be true, there’s self-assurance, then there’s arroganceMatt Mackenzie wrote:As long as you don't actually believe any of it
Keith Arkell’s book is a good read, and believe it or not Keene’s “Tony Miles: England’s Chess gladiator” is half decent, though how comfortable Miles would have been about Keene writing it, is another matter.
"When you see a good move, look for a better one!" - Lasker
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Re: Biographies & Autobiographies you've enjoyed
Golombek and Hartston's (1976) book of CHO'D Alexander's Best Games was a very pleasing recent purchase.
Contains a nine page personal memoir from Milner-Barry, his lifelong friend and Bletchley colleague, four nice glossy b&w images, and a further 20-25 pages of biographic material spread between 70 annotated games.
It could possibly have been longer (167 pages in total) but nevertheless, an enjoyable read if you can get it at an affordable price.
Contains a nine page personal memoir from Milner-Barry, his lifelong friend and Bletchley colleague, four nice glossy b&w images, and a further 20-25 pages of biographic material spread between 70 annotated games.
It could possibly have been longer (167 pages in total) but nevertheless, an enjoyable read if you can get it at an affordable price.
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Re: Biographies & Autobiographies you've enjoyed
I also enjoyed reading My Life, Games and Compositions by Pal Benko.John Moore wrote:I enjoyed Pal Benko "My Life, Games and Compositions".
However the autobiography is very selective.
As Hans Ree pointed out in his review of this book.
Nowhere in the 650 pages does Benko mention his Companion of many years the eight times Brazilian Ladies Champion WIM Ruth Cardoso 09-02-1934 to 11-02-2000.
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Re: Biographies & Autobiographies you've enjoyed
That led me to go look her up:Ken Norman wrote:I also enjoyed reading My Life, Games and Compositions by Pal Benko.John Moore wrote:I enjoyed Pal Benko "My Life, Games and Compositions".
However the autobiography is very selective.
As Hans Ree pointed out in his review of this book.
Nowhere in the 650 pages does Benko mention his Companion of many years the eight times Brazilian Ladies Champion WIM Ruth Cardoso 09-02-1934 to 11-02-2000.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Volgl_Cardoso
A 'biographical' book I enjoyed recently on chess was Moral Victories by David Lovejoy:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Moral-Victories ... B0027P89DG
It is a part biographical and part-fictionalised account of the life of Savielly Tartakower. It was interesting at the end to read which bits had been 'filled in' by Lovejoy.