Beginner and Chess Books

Learning the moves at this time. When is the time to purchase Chess books? Books on Opening, Middle, and End game. Is this the proper time for me or is that months or a year down the road? I have not had any formal instruction. If now is the time to start a Chess library there are many books out there and surely some bad and most good. What author's do you recommend and the titles of the books which would be most helpful for me now and in the near future.

Thank you all very much.

Forty years ago I learned the basic moves, purchased a computer chess board and at the beginner level beat the computer once.

There is no such time as the wrong time to read chess books. But it is possible to read the wrong chess book. That is, there may be a mismatch between the knowledge or experience level of the reader versus the abilities assumed by the book of the reader...

For example...

The problem for many lower rated players is that without knowing better they may act on a book recommendation that is made by someone with little to no regard for the skill level of the reader. So the lower rated player may buy the book on faith that it will be useful, only to discover that the book is too difficult for them - typically because they were not sufficiently prepared for the level at which the material in the book is presented. As an analogy, it is like a student attempting to read a book on calculus, when they have not yet mastered arithmetic, algebra, etc.

The point is that even though one person (e.g., a higher rated player) may find a particular book useful or appropriate for them at their level, another, less knowledgeable or experienced player may find that same book to be over their head. Just like school subjects, one must prepare themself for the level of material which (s)he is about to learn.

For insight into how I went about selecting and recommending the books for my ‘Good Chess Books for Beginners and Beyond’ list (below), check the Comments section following the end of the article.

Good Chess Books for Beginners and Beyond...

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/good-chess-books-for-beginners-and-beyond

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell

The Best beginner chess book which increased my son's elo rating is

"Must Know Chess Concepts To Become A Strong Player"

available in amazon both in e book and hard copy...

I got into chess by reading the beginner's manual by Averbakh and Bejlin ( I don't know what the title is in English ). I don't know how valid it is compared to others from ad educational point of view, but thanks to that book my passion for chess literaly ingnited.

Sometimes, a well-written book can be more useful than a tecnnically better one.