Good question 😀
Books to read without a board
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How about one or both of these:
https://www.amazon.com/Chess-Training-Pocket-Book-Comprehensive-ebook/dp/B010F4R864/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=lev+alburt&qid=1554902944&s=gateway&sr=8-4
https://www.amazon.com/Chess-Training-Pocket-Book-Positions-ebook/dp/B00YRJX6V0/ref=pd_sim_351_1/139-2739155-7115034?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00YRJX6V0&pd_rd_r=9e4c0447-5b94-11e9-8784-3d0308570a1e&pd_rd_w=sflQt&pd_rd_wg=vk0ZL&pf_rd_p=a098ee4c-2e0f-4821-b463-d4b049053104&pf_rd_r=QZGZXTAX0RSWPM42DNTP&psc=1&refRID=QZGZXTAX0RSWPM42DNTP
Apr 10, 2019
0
#4
I never understood utility of e-books. If i buy a chess book it is pretty obvious i read it with a chess board xD.
Maybe try: Winning Chess by Irving Chernev and Fred Reinfeld (1948)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708093415/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review919.pdf
Apr 10, 2019
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#6
ValoreMax schreef:
I never understood utility of e-books. If i buy a chess book it is pretty obvious i read it with a chess board xD.
You can read an e-book with a chess board as well. Not much difference. There are also e-books by Everyman which you can read with a program like chessbase, which i very much enjoy.
Kilbroney wrote:
there are no diagrams in the following book "...Chess - Words of Wisdom...." by Mike Henebry.
A blurb on the back cover explains it all, and I quote "..ChessWords of Wisdom is unique in that it is all text. There are no diagrams or analysis at all in the book. There is not a single game in the entire book ! Instead, the book is jam packed with essential chess knowledge in plain English..." The blurb goes to to tell you that "...you will learn :
the principles of the opening, middlegame and endgame.
how to evaluate pawn structures.
how to find weaknesses and exploit them.
how to attack, defend and plan.
about weak squares, critical moments, mobility, intuition, activity, coordination, tension, maneuvering(sic), style, analysis, and colour complexes (?)
how to study, practice and train.
how to prepare for tournaments.
the psychological aspects of chess.
the ideas behind dynamics, tactics, sacrifices, strategy and positional play.
the causes of time trouble and blunders.
how to calculate, win a won game, and to use technique.
tips for playing blitz and learning from computers.
the essential ideas, tips, practical advice, and the golden rules of Chess. and more more !..."
So, how can you not buy this book.
Based upon the free sample at the Kindle store, the book appears to be just a collection of sayings, aphorisms, and cliches....and without any games or positions to reinforce the "lessons."
Meh
Apr 11, 2019
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#9
Thanks for the suggestions, the endgame book is a good idea. I had a look at the one by Keres and that did not seem to be a very easy read but I'll check out some others.
Various endgame study possibilities discussed at:
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708103149/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review594.pdf
https://www.silmanjamespress.com/shop/chess/silmans-complete-endgame-course/
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/chess-endgames-for-kids/
http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Chess_Endgames_for_Kids.pdf
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7742.pdf
https://www.chess.com/article/view/book-review-winning-chess-endings
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708105702/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review645.pdf
http://www.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/100-Endgames-You-Must-Know-78p3863.htm
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/9026.pdf
http://chessimprover.com/averbakhs-chess-endings-essential-knowledge/
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708101138/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review373.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708234309/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review704.pdf
http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Understanding_Chess_Endgames.pdf
http://theweekinchess.com/john-watson-reviews/endings-endings-endings
http://theweekinchess.com/john-watson-reviews/the-end-game-comes-before-we-know-it
http://theweekinchess.com/john-watson-reviews/theres-an-end-to-it-all
Before buying any particular book, I suggest going to the publisher site to see if it is possible to view a sample.
Apr 11, 2019
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#11
a good tactic book? With the same logic than DeirdreSkye. Helps for pattern recoginition and discipline for calculating line with only help of your brain
Apr 11, 2019
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#12
Loseronthechessboard wrote:
a good tactic book? With the same logic than DeirdreSkye. Helps for pattern recoginition and discipline for calculating line with only help of your brain
to be honest that's a remarkably good point. I had 1001 checkmates by john nunn and was doing that in the house with pen and paper. That said it's not really reading. I'd love to be Tal/Alekhine but really I'm more comfortable with theory so I quite like lots of words.
Anyway I have two, and while I've only looked through them a bit I'm going to recommend them.
300 most important positions in chess - Thomas Enqvist - this is very nice because instead of it focusing on the game, it focuses on a particular aspect of it. not too much holding complicated variations in your head more ideas on the position.
From Amateur to IM - Hawkins: This is really great, essentially an endgame book, again looking at positions and discussing the concept of planning. well written too. This one feels like it should be more popular, far superior to the Paul Keres book on endings I looked at before.
Apr 11, 2019
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#13
tactic should always be in our top priority training session. The way i like to do it is to combine an easy one (tactic time for instance) were i try to solve as much as quickly possible with a more difficult one were i really take my time on the position (like John Emms The ultimate chess puzzle book or in the same range Xenon Franco Big Puzzle book. They can be quite challenging. If you want really challenging master level tactic book, just for fun, go with perfect your chess).
I'll check out your two books 
Apr 11, 2019
0
#14
Even Dead Men Play Chess
The Grandmaster's King
Till Tomorrow
all by Michael Weitz
Hard copy or e-book, no board required for any of them!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Michael-Weitz/e/B00J496B38/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1507674190&sr=1-2-ent
Back to Basics Tactics by Dan Heisman.....
https://www.amazon.com/Back-Basics-Tactics-ChessCafe-Chess/dp/1888690348/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=back+to+basics+tactics&qid=1555038026&s=books&sr=1-1
is one of the better tactics books for the improving chess amateur. It can be read without a board without much difficulty. All of the examples and exercises involve 5 moves or less. Lots of text, words and lucid explanation (theory); extremely instructive.
Chess Training Pocket Book (2 Vols) by Lev Alburt (mentioned earlier by Rsava) would also be very instructive and suitable for working though without a chess board.
https://www.amazon.com/Chess-Training-Pocket-Book-Comprehensive/dp/1889323225/ref=sr_1_1?crid=23H1MFUDU1HOW&keywords=chess+training+pocket+book&qid=1555038764&s=books&sprefix=chess+training+pocke%2Cstripbooks%2C220&sr=1-1
It would be remiss not to mention two classic tactics puzzle books by Fred Reinfeld, which would also serve the purpose, no board required, except that there is no explanatory text other than the list of moves in the solutions.
1001 Brilliant Ways to Checkmate
1001 Winning Chess Sacrifices and Combinations
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=1001+brilliant+ways+to+checkmate&i=stripbooks&crid=U11WCHY0F035&sprefix=1001+brilli%2Cstripbooks%2C194&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_11
Finally, some of the books recommended here might be of interest, but most would also require the use of an analysis board...
Good Chess Books for Beginners and Beyond...
https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/good-chess-books-for-beginners-and-beyond
What about Weapons of Chess?
Apr 12, 2019
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#17
ValoreMax wrote:
I never understood utility of e-books. If i buy a chess book it is pretty obvious i read it with a chess board xD.
That's curious, I never use a physical chessboard to study.
kindaspongey wrote:
What about Weapons of Chess?
Yes. That is an excellent, very instructive book, by Bruce Pandolfini, for the post-beginner through intermediate player. Introduces the basic concepts and techniques of positional chess. Lots of clear explanation and no chess board necessary!
Euthyphro399 wrote:
ValoreMax wrote:
I never understood utility of e-books. If i buy a chess book it is pretty obvious i read it with a chess board xD.
That's curious, I never use a physical chessboard to study.
Bobby Fischer did. Magnus Carlsen does.
Apr 12, 2019
0
#20
SeniorPatzer wrote:
Euthyphro399 wrote:
ValoreMax wrote:
I never understood utility of e-books. If i buy a chess book it is pretty obvious i read it with a chess board xD.
That's curious, I never use a physical chessboard to study.
Bobby Fischer did. Magnus Carlsen does.
I'm surprised you mentioned Bobby fischer. He is a bad example, as he is from a pre-computer era, so he didn't have that option.
With regard to Magnus Carlsen , I remember he said in an interview that he only uses a board when he analyses with some other person.
or computer/phone obviously.
Obviously there's loads of lists on recommended books and reading material to improve your chess, but most of these involve going over the game on a board or your favourite analysis tool. You need it to see the variations, I even found Logical Chess: Move by Move by Chernev, which is quite a basic move by move book tricky to hold in my mind while reading when it moved to the mating nets and the various possible variations.
However, I commute to work a fair distance by bus and like to set aside this time to do some chess improvement, I could solve puzzles or play on my phone, but I like to read as well. Any tips for a book I can stuff in my bag and browse on the bus to work?
(obviously not biographies and the like either)