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The Immortal Game (Abridged): A History of Chess Audiobook
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(3.05) - 584 listener ratings
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A surprising, charming, and ever-fascinating history of the seemingly simple game that has had a profound effect on societies the world over. Why has one game, alone among the thousands of games invented and played throughout human history, not only survived but thrived within every culture it has touched? What is it about its thirty-two figurative pieces, moving about its sixty-four black and white squares according to very simple rules, that has captivated people for nearly 1,500 years? Why has it driven some of its greatest players into paranoia and madness, and yet is hailed as a remarkably powerful educational tool? Nearly everyone has played chess at some point in their lives. Its rules and pieces have served as a metaphor for society including military strategy, mathematics, artificial intelligence, literature, and the arts. It has been condemned as the devil’s game by popes, rabbis, and imams, and lauded as a guide to proper living by different popes, rabbis, and imams. In his wide-ranging and ever fascinating examination of chess, David Shenk gleefully unearths the hidden history of a game that seems so simple yet contains infinity. From its invention somewhere in India around 500 A.D., to its enthusiastic adoption by the Persians and its spread by Islamic warriors, to its remarkable use as a moral guide in the Middle Ages and its political utility in the Enlightenment, to its crucial importance in the birth of cognitive science and its key role in the new aesthetic of modernism in 20th century art, to its 21st century importance to the development of artificial intelligence and use as a teaching tool in inner-city America, chess has been a remarkably omnipresent factor in the development of civilization. Indeed as Shenk shows, some neuroscientists believe that playing chess may actually alter the structure of the brain, that it may for individuals be what it has been for civilization: a virus that makes us smarter.
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"This history of Chess provides fascinating information that most people, even the true enthusiasts, probably have not been aware of. It is compelling, easy to read and leaves you forever conscious of how this game has been woven into the fabric of civilizations before us and now. I rated it so highly in part because it is unique. In a sea of chess books, this one stands out. Don't get it to learn how to play, but definitely do if you like to think and wonder as part of your entertainment menu."
— Gary (5 out of 5 stars)
The Immortal Game Listener Reviews
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" A thoroughly enjoyable read. Probably helps to be a chess enthusiast but it's a light read, a survey history of the game and the many luminaries who have played it, learned from and used it as a metaphor for love, war and life. I found Shenk's discussion of metaphor and it's place in life and learning to be one of the more interesting parts of the book. The other, which I truly enjoyed, was the section where he looks into how the great chessplayer develops and how they think about the game. This was fascinating. Through it all runs a wonderfully brief and accessible account of one of history's greatest games. Well done. "
— Bill, 2/19/2014 -
" I read this on the flight home today. A pleasant read, and I loved his commentary on the "Immortal Game" itself. As a lover of chess but not even a "novice" level player, this was a light introduction to chess' influence on art, science, philosophy, and politics, but had enough "real" chess in it to feel like more than a beach book. "
— Glenn, 1/9/2014 -
" I'm a geek. I like chess. This book is sweet for chess geeks. "
— Ryan, 1/9/2014 -
" Awesome book if you are into chess, a great history of the great game. "
— Osvaldo, 12/20/2013 -
" Great book. Made me love the game again. "
— Lizzy, 12/17/2013 -
" If you enjoy the game at any level you will love this book "
— Mike, 12/2/2013 -
" I couldn't put this down! The history of chess wrapped up in the story of one of the most important games ever played. "
— Joel, 11/26/2013 -
" I just finished reading this book and am very impressed. It is an easily readable history of the great game. The author gives you an insight into how influential chess has been in culture, science, and the politics. Fascinating. "
— David, 11/14/2013 -
" I loved this history of chess that is tied to the "Immortal Game". The way he walks through the game at the beginning of each chapter to bring the "Immortal Game" to light was great. "
— Wes, 11/12/2013 -
" great audio book, fascinating stuff. "
— Jose, 11/4/2013 -
" Well, my computer still crushes me when I try and play chess, but at least I know more about the game's history and it's relationship to great thinkers than this fucking machine does. Up yours computer. "
— Alex, 11/1/2013 -
" It was interesting enough to rekindle a long smoldering love of the game. Recommended for those curious on why chess is so well loved. "
— Mike, 9/6/2013 -
" A really great book that I read sometime ago: because of my interests in chess and history I fully intend to reread this someday and once again enjoy Shenk's examination of the far reaching influence that the game of chess has had throughout it's long history. "
— Michael, 7/29/2013 -
" This book is good for chess fans and also for people who have never played the game. The history of chess would be interesting to anyone considering how it has been used for analogies and computer programming. "
— Brian, 6/25/2013 -
" Fascinating subject. It's a shame this book was written by a talentless hack. "
— Anthony, 6/30/2011 -
" I loved this history of chess that is tied to the "Immortal Game". The way he walks through the game at the beginning of each chapter to bring the "Immortal Game" to light was great. "
— Wes, 3/29/2011 -
" Great writing, clever layout, weaving history through the telling of a painfully gorgeous game, play by play, and a fun romp through Persian castles, rumors about why the Vizier piece became a Queen, seas of interesting anecdote, and Shenk's own familial relationship with the game. "
— Jcooper, 1/13/2011 -
" Enjoyed it. Shenk creatively weaves a narrow history of chess with an account of the Immortal Game between Anderssen and Keiseritzky. "
— Brett, 1/10/2011 -
" Fun, informative history of the game. "
— Benjamin, 1/4/2011 -
" Good overview of the history of the game, the secrets of its lasting attraction and role in the development of cognitive science, AI, etc. "
— Ian, 10/27/2010 -
" A really great book that I read sometime ago: because of my interests in chess and history I fully intend to reread this someday and once again enjoy Shenk's examination of the far reaching influence that the game of chess has had throughout it's long history. "
— Michael, 8/4/2010 -
" SMART ENOUGH !! ! <br/>LIKED IT AND THE WAY HE TALKS ABOUT CHESS !! LUVD IT :D "
— ????, 3/13/2010 -
" Awesome book if you are into chess, a great history of the great game. "
— Osvaldo, 11/3/2009 -
" A very interesting book covering all historical aspects of the game, right down to its political impact, evolution of playing pieces and rules throughout the years. Who would've thought this game could impact the important history of so many different cultures? "
— Doppelganger, 8/28/2009
About David Shenk
David Shenk is the author of five national bestsellers including The Forgetting, Data Smog, and, most recently, The Immortal Game. He is a contributor to National Geographic, Slate, Gourmet, Harper’s, the New Yorker, NPR, and PBS.