I went looking for a chess book and found "Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess".

The simplicity yet profundity of his explanation is, well, of course it's genius.

I have a feeling I'm going to improve rapidly over the next short while.

really?

I've  read that book 3 times and I learned from it every time. There are plenty fine chess books out there, but the new computer age has helped me study and learn like never before. I thank all who participate and thank God for any new innovation he allows us to discover.

Excellent book - my brother gave me a rare hardcover print of it.

It's a decent introductory tactics trainer, nothing more. You won't learn any "principals" except by osmosis. It's not wasted money or time.

The basic idea is to study checkmate.  Of course the goal of chess is to win but how can a beginner wrap their head around the idea of the importance of endgame when they go into games against better players certain of losing, only hoping to learn something from the experience.

With an understanding of beginnings and the principles of middlegame play, knowing how to mate will tie it together and you'll start to win.

 So you're saying it's an overwhelmingly rich game

That's implied.  But I wouldn't say more so than any other of the main games.

For me, once you overcome the early hurdles and the possibilities open up, yes it's pretty amazing.