Lessons in the Fundamentals of Go (Beginner and Elementary Go Books) [Paperback]

Toshiro Kageyama (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 268 pages
• Publisher: Kiseido Publishing Co; 2 edition (May 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 4906574289
• ISBN-13: 978-4906574285
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #200,544 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars works on many levels, September 13, 2000

By 

Leo Dorst (Amsterdam Netherlands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lessons in the Fundamentals of Go (Beginner and Elementary Go Books) (Paperback)

This is a famous book in the Go community. It is the only one we know which is good to read early on (after say 6 months of playing), but which remains a source of fresh insights even after 20 years of playing. I reread it regularly, always enjoy its strange style, and always come back with a better grasp of the fundamentals -- yet again. It is not that you forget them in the meantime, just that they sink in ever deeper with every game you play, so that with every rereading you recognize more of Kageyama's insights explicitly.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More than theory and problems, good common sense, October 24, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Lessons in the Fundamentals of Go (Beginner and Elementary Go Books) (Paperback)

This book covers an area that other good go books don't: basic common sense of go. Rather than talking about attack, life and death, territory, it talks about things that a wise teacher might say to a student. It's definitely worth buying this book to learn those concepts that aren't talked about in most go books. The author makes the book very personal with even a few unrelated stories that are still interesting (like going to the movies as a child).

One of the things that really affected me was his talk about ladders. He says that everyone should go back to this and learn to work them out in their head, even when it means thinking 30 or so moves in advance. For the lazy (which includes most of us), he say's he'll grab us by the scruff of the neck and smack some sense into us showing that we CAN solve these things and not to try to rely on tricks or formulas.

42 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kageyama is the man., February 23, 2001

By 

tellin fibo (47:36:23 N | 122:19:51 W) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lessons in the Fundamentals of Go (Beginner and Elementary Go Books) (Paperback)

With his no-nonsense style, and quick wit, Toshiro Kageyama takes you thorugh 'the basics' of Good Go. Go, like mathematics, is a language (one of its many names is literally translated as 'handtalk'). Here, Kageyama is teaching us how to spell.

We are provided with easy-to-follow instruction and guided problems in chapters on Life and Death, Ladders (including spiral ladders); Territory and Spheres of Influence; How to study Joseki; Good Shape and Bad; Endgame Pointers; and my favorite, Tesuji (snap-backs and the like).

Kageyama also gives us a general feel for how the stones 'move' on the board, and the direction of play. These Lessons, and his writing style, combine with anecdotes from his professional career and television appearances to make this a wholly enjoyable book.

More on his style: The effect of Kageyama's writing is as if he's right there with you; very conversational. He will encourage and support, but he will also slap your hand if you are not paying attention. Make no mistake, his sole intention is that you express yourself, get better, and have fun along the way.

Beginners around 20 kyu and below:
You may want to concentrate on learning the alphabet, so to speak. But you should know that this book has some very simple 'words'. As soon as you feel comfortable playing on a 19x19 board, then find this book.