Chess Player Biographies?

So I just ordered the Life & Games of Mikhail Tal and was wondering if anyone has read any other biographies of Chess players and particularly liked them... I'm reading for pleasure, not for education.  No lessons, game analysis or other game improvement guidance needed although a bit of any of that obviously wouldn't hurt, I'm looking for something entertaining to read.  Doesn't necessarily have to be a biography but that's what I've got my mind on right now.  Any suggestions?

"From London to Elista," although not a biography, is one of the best things that happened to me so far. It's written by Kramnik's seconds, and tells the backstage stories of three of his world championship matches, and is filled with personal information that makes you dizzy if you're a Kramnik fan.

I loved the Tal book you're reading. Here are some I read, that I enjoy as well. I'm always re-reading through these books. The Oxford Companion to Chess I haven't read all the way through, but I'm getting close

Emanuel Lasker: The Life of a Chess Master

Fire on the Board: Shirov's Best Games

Paul Morphy: The Pride and Sorrow of Chess

The Oxford Companion to Chess

Alright Philidor, I just looked up a brief description of From London to Elista and like what I see so it's now in my shopping cart!

Trysts, of those 5 you named which one or two would you most recommend?  If you could narrow it down a little and I like the ones you suggest I'll be sure to borrow or buy the other ones you mentioned too.

Thanks guys, keep 'em comin!

"The Oxford Companion to Chess" really should be on your bookshelf! It's really fun and interesting

Well since you guys both suggested The Oxford Companion to Chess I've got no choice but to add it to my list.  Wowzers, $22 is the cheapest I can find it used and Amazon isn't even selling it new - luckily it's one of the few books my local Library has that I actually want.

If you want entertaining chess bio, you gotta find one on Alekhine. That dude had a crazy life. I don't know of any books, but there is a lot online if you google it.

Another one is "Achieving the aim", the autobiography of Botvinnik, but you really have to be into chess history & a botvinnik fan because the writing is quite dull, and there are almost no games.

I myself like the book, but could understand how a lot of people may not.

The Bobby Fischer I knew and other stories--Denker

Lots of fun in this one!

Unlimited Challenge by Kaspaov is interesting. You might also want to check out how Life Imitates Chess, also written by Kasparov. It's not exactly a biography, but it does contain some stories about his chess career.

Child of Change  by Garry Kasparov  is ok and interesting but now Garry  said is a load BS lol

The above is a very good overview of the lives and times of the greatest players from Philidor to Karpov with excellent diagrams, photos and illustrations.

I enjoyed "Bobby Fischer" by Frank Brady as well.

note: is from Philidor to Kasparov

Well, it'd be really tough to beat Tal's book there, but two other game collection sort of biographical book sort of things I particularly enjoyed are

Frank Marshall, United States Chess Champion by Andy Soltis (Who couldn't like Marshall sportingly tossing pieces about?  Too, I think people've mentioned it's one of Solis's best.)

Tony Miles: 'It's Only Me' compiled by Geoff Lawton (Not only good for Miles's sometimes...creative opening play, but he did endgames real good too.  Really, worth it for just his tournament reports I thought.)

yes, my apologies. I looked at the chapters which ended at Karpov, but Kasparov does feature at the end of that final chapter (1985 first edition).

yes,mine was published in 86', Mr Hartston should have a new update edition with the latest being Anand Viswanathan.

also I've just noted that is was Mr.William Hartston birthday yesterday (12th Aug.) turned 63.

interesting - below is his "Chess Openings" which i have a copy of, though i find the notations difficult to visualize.

"Fischer/Spassky" is a book I enjoyed immensely - a record of all the games of the WCC in 1972 by Richard Roberts, with Harold Schonberg, Al Horowitz and Samuel Reshevsky.

A list of Hartston's books is listed at this link: http://www.amazon.com/William-Roland-Hartston/e/B001HCWQJS/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

I know he had or still has a column in the British Express newspaper where he answers readers' miscellaneous questions. 

Brady's book: Endgame: Bobby Fischer's remarkable rise and fall... What a trip!

Thank god I stumbled across this thread, I was about to post one asking for reading material!!