Chernev will be much more helpful at your level (IMHO). Here's a link to Coach Heisman's book list. With the exception of still recommending MCO (FCO is a much better resource), it's pretty comprehensive.
http://www.danheisman.com/Events_Books/General_Book_Guide.htm
Agree on Chernev before Nimzowitsch.
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708104437/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/logichess.pdf
MCO15 is now nearly a decade old.
https://web.archive.org/web/20140626165820/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen110.pdf
In 2010, FM Carsten Hansen wrote that FCO "is not particularly suited for players who are just starting out."
https://web.archive.org/web/20140626173432/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen128.pdf
I imagine that it might nevertheless be worthwhile to browse through it, but it would perhaps be a good idea to look at some sample pages (available at the Gambit Publications site) before buying.
Possibly helpful:
Simple Attacking Plans by Fred Wilson (2012)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708090402/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review874.pdf
The Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played by Irving Chernev
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/most-instructive-games-of-chess-ever-played/
Winning Chess by Irving Chernev and Fred Reinfeld (1949)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708093415/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review919.pdf
Discovering Chess Openings by GM Johm Emms (2006)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627114655/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen91.pdf
Openings for Amateurs by Pete Tamburro (2014)
http://kenilworthian.blogspot.com/2014/05/review-of-pete-tamburros-openings-for.html
Chess Endgames for Kids by Karsten Müller (2015)
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/chess-endgames-for-kids/
A Guide to Chess Improvement by Dan Heisman (2010)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708105628/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review781.pdf
That's great thanks for the tips guys. I did read that at my current level I don't really need to worry about learning all of the openings and should instead pick one or 2 to focus on. Out of habit I always start my games the same way (no matter which colour I am) at the moment as it feels pretty safe to me, however, I don't know the name of the opening (or if it even is a standard opening haha).
Based on what my oppenent does my opening sequence tends to go something like this;
Any ideas what this is called and is it worth me reading more about this opening as it feels pretty comfortable to me.
Thanks again.
Glad to help. The quickest way to check out your opening is with a database. I know you're not a premium member and don't have access to this one, but I bet if you googled "free chess database", you'd have some results. I often use the one that looks like it's open 24/7 and 365. 
Don't get obsessed with it, but just follow your opening and notice where other moves might be more popular or have a better winning percentage. Have fun!
I think I am in similar position to you. I used to play every now and then with friends, but nothing really serious. Then I started to get more and more interested in chess. Right now I am around 1350 in chess.com.
My first chess book was the Art of Checkmate, an old descriptive notation book, but which I found very interesting. It basically teaches you to recognise mating patterns, with example commented (full) games for each pattern and exercises. Some of these patterns involve attacks on the castled position, which makes for a nice attacking book. Since the patterns are accompanied by commented example games, the authors will also tell you what one side did wrong to enable that attack (removing the knight from its natural position at f3/f6 for example).
My second chess book was Combinations in the Middlegame (Bondarevsky). It's main worth was calling my attention to the idea of positional sacrifices. Never it had occurred to me before to make sacrifices to improve my position (open lines or diagonals for other pieces to attack).
These two books... I did not exactly choose them. It was what I happened to gather up at a local bookstore, and the fact that I read them first than other books was simply the product of chance.
I have read the beginning of My system, and to be frank, while it's a bit more complex than other books, it's perfectly readable for me. I have only read the first bit, about openings, development and liquidation, but it has some very useful advice which no doubt will improve a player's game.
Right now I am reading Ludek Pachman's Modern Chess Strategy (the one volume Dover edition) and I don't doubt that it was responsible for my improvement from 1200 (where I was before I started reading it) to where I am now, even though I have not finished it yet. The advice on the 7th and 8th ranks, passed pawns, and castling has helped me win many games (opposite side castling followed by a pawn advance in the side where your opponent has his king has proved especially helpful!).
Don't get intimidated by the variations that chess books often have, by 5, 6 ou 7 move mate exercises, just keep your board on your side when you read your book and play along. Sometimes there is a long variation in a commented example game which is not really important, I just skip them; sometimes it's a 6 move mate, and I can't visualise all the moves, I just think of the first one and the general idea and see if I get it right. It's natural players of our ranking can't visualise moves like masters do, we just have to adapt what we're reading to our capacities.
Reading chess books is usefull when you are around 1600 or more elo. Otherwise it is not worth reading these books.
@OP : your opening is called the 4 Knights game, because after 1.e4 e5, you both develop your knights on their natural squares, controlling the center.
However, after the next moves, you enter another opening which is called the Giuco Pianissimo in the Italian game, and that usually arises from a different move-order.
"If you find an opening here that appeals to you and you wish to find out more about it, the next step would be to obtain an introductory text devoted entirely to that subject." - GM John Emms in his 2006 introduction to basic opening principles, Discovering Chess Openings
"Throughout the book Emms uses excellently chosen examples to expand the readers understanding of both openings and chess in general. Thus equipped the student can carry this knowledge forward to study individual openings and build an opening repertoire. ... For beginning players, this book will offer an opportunity to start out on the right foot and really get a feel for what is happening on the board." - FM Carsten Hansen, reviewing the 2006 Emms book
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627114655/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen91.pdf
For 1 e4 e5 stuff, it might be helpful to look at Starting Out: Open Games by Glenn Flear (2010)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140626232452/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen134.pdf
and Starting Out: Ruy Lopez by John Shaw (2003).
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627024240/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen53.pdf
You might find something of interest in this list...some good chess books for those who have not yet added "Master" to their chess title...
https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/good-chess-books-for-beginners-and-beyond
Hi All,
I "learnt" how to play chess when I was around 6 years old (I'm now 28), I've played the odd couple of games in dribs and drabs with friends over the years but never anything serious and never spent time trying to improve.
Recently I've found myself playing Chess a lot more and I'm really keen to improve my abilities, I'm currently rated around 1200~ on here (though I've only played a few games) and I'm rated around 1350~ on "Chess with Friends".
I've purchased a couple of books based on recommendations that I'm going to begin reading, I just wondered if anyone has read these and could advise which would be the best to read first and also wondering if anyone had any recommendations for other books for people around my level that will help me improve further.
My System - Aron Nimzowitsch (21st century ed)
Logical Chess: Move by Move - Irving Chernev
Thanks,
Ryan.