I've heard this book mentioned and read the blurm the publisher obviously puts on the jacket, and have heard it recommended by some of you.  But not much has been actually said about it.

Would those of you who've read it please give your thoughts about this book?  It sounds like something I'd like to add to my library.

Thanks.

Basically, Silman starts with a position and orders his students to play it and to say out loud what they are planning each move.  99% of the time their plan is wrong according to Silman who proceeds to stomp them into submission.  To his credit, he does give decent explanations of each position and what should have been played.  On the other hand, he makes the process of finding the correct plan seem simple and formulaic when in reality it is much more complicated.  Read these reviews before purchasing.

I own it (along with a bazillion other books) and I have actually read at least half of it. I like Sillman's style and this book is very readable by an average player.  It's interesting to watch his students talk their way through the decision making process. Then Jeremy rips their decision and shows the "best" move. All-in-all its a good read, but requires a chess set to play through the moves while reading.

 

Brian 

I have it. I have read 80% of it. I recommend it and have praised it many times on this site. When I study this book, my chess improves. I think more clearly and I recognize better which to use to my advantage: bishops or knights, how to discover weak squares, how to structure my pawns in better ways. As for Silman's "formula" for deciding moves: this is something I have looked for and I believe it works. The trouble with it is that it takes so darn long to analyze that way and so in a timed game, for example, I find myself throwing it aside until I can practice with it a little more. When I take the time to apply that "formula" I find my vision of the board improves immensely.

 

I recommend the book.

 

Jason

I've read the whole thing, and I'd have to highly recommend it. If you want, then move on to his 'Reassess Your Chess' along with his 'Reassess Your Chess Workbook'. I haven't read Reassess Your Chess, but I'm going through his workbook now, which is what some people do. It's *very* helpful for my middlegame.

I agree. I have Reassess Your Chess and have read much of it as well. Many great insights.

 

Jason

How to reasses your chess by Silman is the best chess book i ever read. Before reading i could only beat players up to 1800, now having read the book i can challange players up to 2300[which is similiar to Fide Master] (or 2600 online players!). Not too bad i guess! In this time i have studied openings but nothing too intense.

 

Imo the Silman series is an essential read to all serious chess players (even if you are old school Aaron Nimzowitch fans). 

 

Honestly i thought 'Amatuers mind' was the next book in the series after HTRYC so maybe i wont need to buy it after all! In case anyone is wondering, Silmans 'Complete Endgame Course' is definatley essential to anyones library. 

 

Do yourself a favour; purchase and study his books. If you cant afford that, visit his website. There are alot of articles there written by IM Andrew Martin (a renownened British Chess coach) and others.

i have not read it yet.

to graw, (and anyone else who is interested)

i actually emailed IM Silman about which order one should read those three books and he replied (promptly at that!) that Amatuers mind would be what he would recommend first, then how to reassess your chess and finally the workbook, however I read HTRYC first and I am finding  the amatuers mind very good and  a good way to do fine tune what I got out of HTRYC. So I would still suggest taking a look! :)

 

Thanks a lot people.  I appreciate all the input on Silman's books.

A follow up book to consider is IM Silman's "How to Reassess Your Chess Workbook" which provides plenty of additional exercises to practice his assessment model. Within this book, Silman also gives the reader an interesting discussion about the issue of "candidate moves."

My experience is that Silman, more than any other author that I observe, largely polarizes his readers into two major groups who either worship him and his works or despises his techniques and/or writing style.

I unabashedly am a huge fan of Silman's authorship, and don't mind the occasional bashing I get from the few anti-Silman on ICC or FICS.

Several years ago I had the pleasure of purchasing lessons from Silman. During several of those sessions he had me play against him, with me talking out loud my thought process similar to what is depicted in his "Amateur's Mind." 

Does such technique help a player? I think it can.

This thinking-out-loud process is discussed in another great chess book, "Chess Training for Budding Champions" and elaborated in greater detail in "How to Think in Chess". 

I would bet that most players agree that one size does not fit all for chess books, and what one book may be raved about by some individuals may a snoozer to others. 

Regardless, I have enjoyed reading players' experiences with different books.