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Searching for Bobby Fischer: The Father of a Prodigy Observes the World of Chess Audiobook
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(3.03) - 355 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Fred Waitzkin became smitten with chess during the historic Fischer-Spassky championship in 1972. When Fischer disappeared from public view, Waitzkin’s interest waned—until his own son, Josh, emerged as a chess prodigy.
Searching for Bobby Fischer is the story of Fred Waitzkin and his son, from the moment six-year-old Josh first sits down at a chessboard until he competes for the national championship.
Drawn into the insular, international network of chess, they must also navigate the difficult waters of their own relationship. All the while, Waitzkin searches for the elusive Bobby Fischer, whose myth still dominates the chess world and profoundly affects Waitzkin’s dreams for his son.
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"Excellent book ! As a so-so chess player, I not only enjoyed the story of this precocious chess player, but also the story of his father, who discovers the joys and pifalls experienced by an avid parent."
— Alfred (5 out of 5 stars)
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“In this superb audio version, narrator Lloyd James neither narrates nor reads. Instead, he just talks, reminisces, pontificates, explains, thinks out loud. It’s as if he were bending the ear of a bartender or therapist…[and] fully inhabits the first-person narrative…Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.”
— AudioFile -
“The story, which includes insights into chess and psychology, remains fresh and will hold listeners’ interest, regardless of whether they care about the game. James’ first-person narrative is compelling.”
— Booklist -
“Searching for Bobby Fischer receives Lloyd James’ winning narrative style as it tells of Fred and his son, a chess champion at age six. International chess matches serve as a backdrop for their developing relationship.”
— Reviewer’s Bookwatch -
“A touching story of a father and son…You don’t have to know the game to enjoy every page.”
— Cleveland Amory, New York Times bestselling author
Awards
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Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award
Searching for Bobby Fischer Listener Reviews
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" I love chess; thus, I understood and appreciated this book. I did not realize; however, how political chess is in other countries. This book gave me new insight into the world of chess. "
— Miriam, 12/29/2013 -
" Informative on the lives of parents and their children in the chess world and the stresses and sacrifices they make in order to become the next Bobby Fischer. "
— Susan, 12/15/2013 -
" I really liked the movie, so it was nice to read the true, un-hollywoodised story behind it. "
— Christopher, 9/1/2013 -
" I really enjoyed this one. Its not about Bobby Fischer, its a true story about a very young chess prodigy and the pressures of growing up and competing in chess. "
— Turaaa, 6/20/2013 -
" a nice book for the parents and friends of chess enthusiasts "
— Parwiz, 3/26/2013 -
" A good book with insights into the inner workings of the child prodigy and the world of competitive chess. I preferred the movie, but the book is still worth reading. "
— Serge, 2/22/2013 -
" A very fine book on the cutthroat world of chess, especially for those children who are good at it. But there is a deep spiritual side to this work as well that I particularly enjoyed. "
— Charles, 11/10/2012 -
" Does not chess whatsoever, but is an interesting and accurate look into the world of scholastic chess. "
— Pedro, 11/2/2012 -
" Exciting tale of a chess dad's adventure with chess hustlers, the KGB, and scariest of all, chess parents. "
— Matthew, 11/16/2011 -
" I'm learning a lot about the Iron Curtain and chess in general. I want to bust out a set and play me some amateur games. I'm no Josh, but this book is very interesting so far. Thanks to the Monkey for suggesting I read it. "
— Tarafina, 11/13/2011 -
" Informative on the lives of parents and their children in the chess world and the stresses and sacrifices they make in order to become the next Bobby Fischer. "
— Susan, 4/13/2011 -
" Does not chess whatsoever, but is an interesting and accurate look into the world of scholastic chess. "
— Pedro, 10/4/2010 -
" a nice book for the parents and friends of chess enthusiasts "
— Parwiz, 8/18/2010 -
" A very fine book on the cutthroat world of chess, especially for those children who are good at it. But there is a deep spiritual side to this work as well that I particularly enjoyed. "
— Charles, 8/25/2008 -
" I'm learning a lot about the Iron Curtain and chess in general. I want to bust out a set and play me some amateur games. I'm no Josh, but this book is very interesting so far. Thanks to the Monkey for suggesting I read it. "
— Tarafina, 2/11/2008
About Fred Waitzkin
Fred Waitzkin was born in Massachusetts in 1943 and graduated from Kenyon College. He has written for Esquire, The New York Times Magazine, Sports Illustrated, and Motorboating and Sailing. He lives in New York City and Martha’s Vineyard and fishes regularly in the Bahamas.
About Lloyd James
Lloyd James (a.k.a. Sean Pratt) has been a working professional actor in theater, film, television, and voice-overs for more than thirty years. He has narrated over one thousand audiobooks and won numerous Earphones Awards and nominations for the Audie Award and the Voice Arts Award. He holds a BFA degree in acting from Santa Fe University, New Mexico.