Move by Move
Life Lessons on and off the Chessboard
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4.8 • 6 Ratings
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
A little book of life advice drawing on the timeless wisdom of chess from Maurice Ashley, the first African American Chess Grandmaster.
At age thirty-three, Maurice Ashley became the first African American to attain the rank of International Grand Master of Chess. Since that historic moment, he has brought his love of the game to a wide audience as an educator, innovator, and motivational speaker.
In Move by Move, Ashley guides readers through the essential lessons that chess has taught him about life, using both personal examples from his rise from an immigrant kid playing matches in Brooklyn parks to the most rarified levels of competition, as well as insights and anecdotes from fellow notable chess players. In short chapters with practical takeaways, this book reaches from the fundamental to the counterintuitive on subjects ranging from self-knowledge to strategic thinking to the importance of failure. This little book of wisdom is the perfect gift for graduates, chess enthusiasts, and anyone interested in understanding how lessons from the most famous and long-lasting game of strategy can help you reach your personal and professional goals.
NOT JUST FOR CHESS PLAYERS: Chess is timeless. This book is perfect for anyone who plays chess, is chess-aspirational, or just has positive associations with the game. For the reader seeking a motivational book with actionable takeaways, Maurice Ashley offers the perfect authoritative yet accessible volume.
AUTHORITATIVE, EXPERT AUTHOR: Maurice Ashley made history as the first Black Grandmaster in the annals of the game and translates his love of chess to others as a three-time national championship coach, ESPN commentator, NBC National Chess Championships commentator, iPhone app designer, puzzle inventor, and motivational speaker.
GIFTABLE PACKAGE: This small, jacketed hardcover is elegant and classic, like the game itself. An outstanding gift book for graduation, Father's Day, birthday, retirement, and more, Move by Move also makes a great add-on gift to a chess set or a standalone present for beginner chess players and experts alike.
Perfect for:Readers of self-help, personal growth, and popular business booksAnyone seeking guidance on applying strategic thinking to their daily livesChess players and fans of the gamePeople who loved The Queen’s Gambit and want to learn more about chessGift for grads and anyone else who may enjoy or benefit from inspirational books
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Ashley (The Most Valuable Skills in Chess), the first Black chess grandmaster, mines his career for lucid advice on success, problem-solving, and risk-taking. Framing loss as a teaching tool, Ashley describes how repeated losses to "tactical wizard" Ronnie Simpson motivated him to zero in on his opponent's weaknesses, devise a winning counterattack, and develop the skills that helped him achieve grandmaster status in 1999. Elsewhere, Ashley notes how some champions observe beginners at play in order to open their own minds to a "higher level of awareness"; debunks the importance of momentum for success, citing instances when players became overconfident after a strong opener and were subsequently defeated; and pushes back on the notion that there exists a single optimal move at any given point in a match—after only four moves per player, "more than 288 billion different possible positions can arise," he notes. Ashley's pedagogic expertise makes for elegant and accessible insights, including how to sacrifice valuable pieces to make way for ultimate triumph. Readers need not be chess players to benefit from Ashley's solid wisdom and inspiring dedication to the game.
Customer Reviews
Outstanding read. 5 STAR Experience
A new way of approaching life and scenarios. This book enabled me to think strategically and be patient with results. Highlight areas and reread it. The chess concept to life was interesting but the analogies really hit home. Great morning and night time read