Customer Reviews

Genius in Chess (New American Batsford Chess Library)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Mr. Levitt has written a book about a very interesting subject, that is, the correlation of intelligence with chess. He touches a number of topics that are worthy of discussion (such as being neurotic, family background of chess players, their IQ's). Then he proposes his (approximate) formula about the correlation of IQ with chess. The second part of the book gives some tests, which he claims can be taken as a measure of 'chess intelligence', and gives results of a some famous and some not so famous chess players on these tests.

The problem with this book is that it is too sketchy. Neither the topics he touches upon, nor the tests are well worked. As it is, the book looks like a graduation thesis from a university, plus some tests, with some interesting personal anecdotes sprinkled amongst them. He gives very little empirical evidence for his formula; some of the tests performed by chess players (he admits) were done under the influence of alcohol, and therefore not so reliable; his sample size is not more than 10 in most tests.

Overall, it is an interesting book but as it is, I don't think it is worth spending $20. I would advise the interested readers to wait for a second and enlarged edition (if Mr. Levitt does so), otherwise, look for other reading on chess.

Since the book is comprised of two distinct parts, so will my review be structured.

Part 1 (The Nature of Chess Genius)

Reads like the work of a university student with too much time on his hands. It is at times dry, or else flippant. I don't doubt that GM Levitt is a smart guy himself (despite his jokingly arrogant claims to the contrary) and yet despite some interesting nuggets, I'm not sure I learned anything I didn't already know. For example, to be a chess master, one must be gifted and furthermore work very hard. (!)

In all honesty, I gained as much from an August 2006 article in Scientific American titled "The Expert Mind" and specifically the sidebar titled "A Grandmaster's Memory." Although Levitt does not explicitly mention the source, I believe he must have referenced the review article published in 1996, a year before "Genius in Chess." At the very least, both works heavily cite de Groot.

This book could be interesting to either chess players who don't mind indulging in a bit of fancy or else those who study psychology. On that note, I was surprised not to see any references to Nikolai Krogius and his seminal "Psychology in Chess."

Ultimately a lot of words and conjecture to say what has been said before.

Rating for Part 1: 1.5 stars

Part 2 (Tests)

More fun, although whether it is an accurate gauge of chess genius is doubtful, and certainly it won't improve your chess as much as a pointed lesson. If you are truly looking for chess problems there are many excellent books full of them.

Rating for Part 2: 3 stars

Finally, and as a matter of record, the book is marketed as part of the (then new, and possibly now defunct) American Batsford Chess Library. It is labeled on the copyright page as "A BATSFORD CHESS BOOK" yet typeset and edited for Gambit publications, and finally it is marketed (here in the US) through International Chess Enterprises (ICE), the latter of which does not appear to be in existence anymore, but which may have been related to Yasser Seirawan's company in Seattle.

P.S. Do there exist *less* attractive photos they could have chosen for Kasparov, Fischer, and Polgar for the front cover? Are we to see a correlation between genius and ugly? Sheesh.
(dock one quarter star)

Final rating: 2 stars

The author has written an excellent and quite readable work on the inner machinations of the Chess mind.

This is an honest, and humble account of what takes place in the upper levels of chess, and challenges the reader to glean from it, whatever golden nuggets that may be found. Although this is not an easy read, whatever is drawn from it will be a source of help and inspiration. Not born with chess talent, I must rely upon study, and enjoy works such as these which point out certain directions, without setting up roadblocks to success.