The Game of Go: The National Game of Japan [Paperback]

Arthur Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 15, 1989

Passing from China, where it was developed over 3,000 years ago, to Japan, where it today commands a vast and enthusiastic following, Go is probably the oldest intellectual game in the world. Similar to chess, it leaves nothing to chance, requiring great strategy and carefully plotted campaigns to achieve an impregnable position, block enemies from lines of communication and win a series of battles. To penetrate this complicated, challenging game requires a great guide— and this is it. Unsurpassable in its clarity and comprehensiveness, The Game of Go has been the classic guide to the game since it was first published in 1956.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Arthur Smith, the author, was one of the first Westerners to make a scientific study of the game of Go, and his classic work has never been surpassed for completeness, lucidity, and all-round excellence.

Product Details

• Paperback: 246 pages
• Publisher: Tuttle Publishing; 1st Tuttle Ed edition (December 15, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804802025
• ISBN-13: 978-0804802024
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,898,831 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars For collectors and historians only, May 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Game of Go: The National Game of Japan (Paperback)

Compared to the introductory books on Go written by professional players such as Janice Kim, Kaoru Iwamoto and Cho Chikun (and my apologies to anyone I left out), this book falls short in every important way. Somewhere inside it is everything a first book on Go should have, but the presentation is tedious and windy.

A century ago, this book and those like it were the only resources available to Westerners learning Go. Today, there are far better books on the market. Buy some of them.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Author didn't really understand the game, October 24, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Game of Go: The National Game of Japan (Paperback)

There are some very good insightful books about Go. This is not one of them. It was written in a time when there were really no good Western Go players. This book muddles the game and loses sight of the key elements. Look for other, better books on the subject.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Mostly For Go Historians, March 1, 2005

By 

Miss Puar - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Game of Go: The National Game of Japan (Paperback)

I enjoyed this book for the historical trivia it contains as well as the authentic Japanese terms. However, as a pratical tool for Go Beginners, most Westerners will have trouble with this one. If you are familiar with Go, and of Dan level you will most likely enjoy the later problems (which are very complex).
In all fairness, I think some reviewers have judged this book too harshly. Taking into account the time the book was first published and the lack of go material available then, this book does an adequate job in what it sets out to do: inform Westerners about Go. It is a pity that it is written more like a college essay than a book, and never really expresses the passion that Go players feel for this game.