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    The Immortal Game: A History of Chess
    Unavailable
    The Immortal Game: A History of Chess
    Unavailable
    The Immortal Game: A History of Chess
    Audiobook (abridged)6 hours

    The Immortal Game: A History of Chess

    Written by David Shenk

    Narrated by Rick Adamson

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    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.


    From the Hardcover edition.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateSep 5, 2006
    ISBN9780739340059
    Unavailable
    The Immortal Game: A History of Chess
    Author

    David Shenk

    David Shenk is an American writer, lecturer, and filmmaker. He is author of six books and has contributed to National Geographic, Slate, The New York Times, Gourmet, Harper's, Wired, The New Yorker, New Republic, The Nation, The American Scholar, NPR and PBS. In mid-2009, he joined The Atlantic as a correspondent. He is a 1988 graduate of Brown University.

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    Reviews for The Immortal Game

    4/5

    106 ratings9 reviews

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    • 5/5
      If you love chess this is an absolute must read.
    • 4/5
      I read this book upon a friend's insistence, and was happy I did. The book details the history of chess quite finely, and does it through the lens of a much-heralded match in the game's storied past. There were two bits of information I found illuminating: 1) The queen increased her power via new moves in response to historical female figures gaining and exertion of power, 2) the "en passant" move, which I had not previously known. While reading the book, I played some chess games online and downloaded an app, and summarily got my keister whupped. I still enjoy chess, but mastery is far off. I'll continue my quest for domination in the Scrabble realm.
    • 4/5
      The Immortal Game is an excellent debut novel. Right out of the gate Joannah Miley hooked me. I immediately identified with Ruby, the main character. Her loneliness and drive to make it through college, study and get good grades at the expense of her social life, makes her sympathetic.

      Then she plays a simple game of Chess with the handsome boy all the other college girls are crushing on. That simple game plays out throughout the book. Just like a chess master is god over the chessmen so might we have gods who ‘move’ us. Soon we learn of the ancient gods, some of who are among us, who have chosen to place Mt. Olympus “above” Mt. Olympus in Washington State.

      The setting is unobtrusive and lived in, the Pacific Northwest setting is a near future place where the world’s wars have once again come to the North American continent.

      As Ruby learns of the gods and finds that her relationship may be as a pawn in game of gods and goddesses we follow her, understanding why she makes her choices even when we don’t like them.

      There is a calm interlude in the book where everything is and heavenly, I found myself wanting some action. Then all Hell broke loose and I was left wishing for the quiet vistas, lovely settings, the calm coffee shop and the ambrosia bars. Enjoy the calm while you have it. Don't worry. Things will get worse!

      The book crosses a number of genre’s Young Adult, Romance, Paranormal/Fantasy/Science Fiction. It has some sexy scenes, but they are tame and not especially explicit.

      Favorite moment: In regards to remembering her Greek Mythology: “Who could have known that would be the important class?”

      I love the juxtaposition of Love and War, two very traditional topics when interacting with the gods. Though Miley has suggested this is the first book in a series, this book works as a total standalone. Thanks for that, Joannah.

      Write on.
    • 4/5
      Very enjoyable account of the history of Western chess, framed in a blow by blow account of a famous encounter between Adolph Anderssen and Lionel Kieseritsky in London (1861).
    • 4/5
      A good mixture between a plain but well documntd history of th Chess game, the vary basic concepts to understand Chess theory over time and also the personal exprience of the writer, grandson of an American master himself. I would recommend the book specially to those not understanding how this ancient game can still hook people from all ages in the XXI century.
    • 4/5
      Combines a general history of chess with a play-by-play account of one of history's most famous chess games. Interesting even for those who don't seriously play chess.
    • 4/5
      Elegant, short overview of chess history and what the game may mean. History is done in broad strokes and alternate chapters focus on the play by play of "The Immortal Game" Anderssen vs. Kieseritzky 06/21/1851 London.The alternate chapter structure works well and adds to the overall understanding of the subject. Shenk's writing is light handed, flexiable and very readable.
    • 5/5
      There are some books that you read in life that are unforgettable and you wouldn’t expect a book on the history of chess to be one of them. This book flies in the face of that. This piece of literature is wonderful from beginning to end. Shenk manages to cram the essential history of the game, the complete historical game ‘The Immortal Game’, his personal experiences with chess, the future of the game and so much more into 327 pages. None of it feels cramped, rushed or slap dash. It is a truly engaging and thrilling ride through one of the most under rated and unexplored games in the world. His light, fluffy and yet extremely professional and encompassing writing style. Wonderful mix of history lesson and personal voyage, create what should be mandatory reading; if you play or not. In a world where Call of Duty 4 is hailed as a gaming masterpiece, maybe it’s time to look a little further in order to see the reality of limitless possibility that is Chess.
    • 4/5
      This is a pretty fascinating read; it looks at chess, its history and development and changing roles, and tries to synthesize it around one of the most famous games ever, the Immortal Game won by Adolf Anderssen. Each chapter is followed by a bit of game analysis, and it works surprisingly well.The later chapters look at the link between chess and diplomacy, teaching, madness, and AI, and these were still pretty interesting angles to look at the game from, but I think I liked the history part a bit more. It fit his writing style better. Still, this is where chess is going and has always been; a tool to explore new cognitive fronts and explain new topics. So why not?There are a few points that I was annoyed by. He makes references to games or setups, but then doesn't provide answers for them, not even in his notes, although he notes that they have been solved. I think it's this tendency to gloss over points, or not always put things in context, that is the main drawback to the book. But it's still a very interesting read, and well worth the time I put into it.