When possible, I suggest looking at online samples of books:
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7651.pdf
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/2774.pdf
A natural book to consider: Zurich 1953 by Bronstein
http://exeterchessclub.org.uk/content/review-zurich-1953-bronstein
http://theweekinchess.com/john-watson-reviews/john-watson-book-review-106-zurich-1953-by-najdorf
Possibly of interest:
https://www.chess.com/article/view/the-best-chess-books-ever
https://www.chess.com/article/view/chess-books-and-youth-vs-old-age
https://www.chess.com/article/view/chess-cyborg-chess-teachers-and-chess-books
One of my favorite comments from many years ago:
"Remember, if you like books--like reading them and owning them--there's no such thing as 'one chess book.' ... as you acquire one or two and read them through--even if you don't--you'll find yourself drawn to the chess section every time you walk into Walden's or Barnes and Noble or Borders. If you leaf through the books and compare their contents to what you need, you'll soon find yourself dedicating a shelf or two of your bookcase to chess books. You'll want to have all of Sierawan's books (as soon as they're back in print). You'll yearn to complete your collection of Alburt's series. You'll start haunting used book shops for old copies of Fischer's 'My 60 Memorable Games.' Your hair will gradually grow unkempt, and a distracted wild look will creep into your eyes. If you're separated from your books for too long, your hands will begin to twitch and you'll start plotting knight moves across the checkered tablecloth at the Italian restaurant where you're supposed to be wooing your wife / girlfriend. You've entered a perilous zone ... 'Chessbibliomania' is not a condition to be easily dismissed, and research has shown it isn't curable. Maybe you'll be better off just buying a gin rummy program for your computer and avoiding this chess book madness altogether. Happy reading!!"
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.chess.misc/msg/d96eccf5ddec3c33
I was wondering if anyone has the Paul Keres 1948 tournament book with annotated games from that famous tourney. Apparently it was only published in English for the first time last year and Amazon doesn't have many reviews yet.
And generally, what books would anyone recommend to get from the genre of annotated games collection, such as X's best games of chess... I have Fischer's MMG, Tal's 2 books and just ordered Bent Larsen's. I am particularly looking for books with nice and lucid annotations, with more focus on prose and the thinking process rather than endless variations analysis. I read that Smyslov's and Alekhine's are very good. Any others? I would also prefer more modern games, or at least post Alekhine era.
Thanks!