The Best Chess Books for Beginners and Novices (Part 3)

Inspiration

When travelling along the long road to improvement, we chess players occasionally reach obstacles that seem insurmountable. Inspiring tales can often help us find the spirit to continue. We've selected a couple of books that are particularly worth checking out.

The Art of Learning by Josh Waitzkin is a fantastic philosophical trek through Josh's competitive careers - as both a chess player and martial artist. After winning eight National Youth Chess Championships, Josh undertook a new discipline, eventually becoming a Martial Arts World Champion. The tale is deep and inspiring, with Josh walking us through his own philosophy on learning.

If you're interested in reading more about Waitzkin's chess playing career, check out Searching For Bobby Fischer, written by Josh's father, Fred. Waitzkin tells a classic father-son story, set against the backdrop of his search for the missing Bobby Fischer.