Sure I'll take a swing at this one. Silman of course is all over the Chess Mentor so you can certainly augment his books with the CM. Please note my use of the term augment rather than replace. Books are still a very convenient medium even though I've largely gone digital. There's a boatload of good tactics courses on CM and I think it's more efficient to study CM than books, but I'll still take a tactics book on the subway. I also use some Chess King software just for a different way of studying. I like their 6 part training set: 3 tactics, openings, endgames, and strategy. There are pretty good endgames courses on CM too although the 100 or so videos on the subject shouldn't be ignored either. Maybe at a 2000 level or so, Dvoretsky might be useful but for now Silman's endgame book plus the chess.com resources are more than enough for me. Haven't looked at Yusupov and see no reason to unless that so far distant I can't even see it on the horizon 2000 rating should happen. Haven't looked at My System either, but Coach Heisman thinks there are better books available today. I don't think there is a problem with CM not providing everything you need to break 2000 but I'm like you and am still looking for a magic elixir. Unfortunately hard work is apparently the only answer. Sorry my post is rambling so much but it's insomnia fueled...
Chess Mentor vs. Books
I think Chess Mentor works as a standalone product.
I would simply recommend to add these elements to your training :
- replay some of the failed exercises on a chessboard to foster better understanding and help retention
- go over failed puzzles again a couple of days later
So no books needed? Using a chessboard for CM is something I had not thought of. I should also keep a list of which lessons to go back to later since it changes your score on the 2nd attempt.
Not systematically, but using a chessboard to review failed exercises is probably a good way to help your brain absorb the new information better (I remember better what I play on a real chessboard myself, and many high-level trainers recommend to use real boards for better retention).
Books and Chess Mentor are only tools. It's not important how many tools you have : it's what you do with them. Get some books if it stimulates your chess study, but content-wise, there's already a lot of stuff in Chess Mentor...
Just wondering what people thought about what books are not necessary if replaced with Chess Mentor.
Step 1-6?
My System?
How to Reassess your Chess?
Various endgame and tactics books?
Artur Yusupov's 9 books?
What is still needed and what is duplication?