https://web.archive.org/web/20140708105628/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review781.pdf
Books to read without a board
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May 10, 2019
0
#23
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.
want to come back to this and say thanks to this guy, this is EXACTLY what it turned out I was looking for. What a great book, in all honesty it could do with some diagrams and it's habit of switching between antiquated descriptive and algebraic notation is infuriating (an editor should have sorted this out!) but apart from that it's wonderful.
It doesn't feel the chore of reading a load of variations, I just open it up and enjoy reading without worrying about absorbing everything. It's great that it also provides advice too, the opening section was as much about opening principals as it was about giving you advice about openings to learn and play depending on your level. The pawn section is perhaps the best thing I've read on pawns, pushing them in the middlegame truly baffles me and it's nice to have it talk about ideas and theories rather than just "F5!!, then this, then this, then this."
Chess for tigers writted by Simon Webb who was knifed to death by his crazy son.
101 Chess Endgame Tips by Giddins
https://www.amazon.com/Chess-Endgame-Tips-Steve-Giddins/dp/1904600662
May 14, 2019
0
#26
ChessAuthor wrote:
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
It almost sounds like you are related to Michael Weitz. 
I read "Even Dead Men Play Chess" and enjoyed it. As soon as my lengthy reading list permits, I certainly will read the other titles you listed.
May 14, 2019
0
#27
OldPatzerMike wrote:
ChessAuthor wrote:
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
It almost sounds like you are related to Michael Weitz.
I read "Even Dead Men Play Chess" and enjoyed it. As soon as my lengthy reading list permits, I certainly will read the other titles you listed.
Who, me?? 
Thanks OldPatzerMike! I'm glad you enjoyed the first one. I know what you mean about lengthy reading lists, I have way too many books to get through as well. Enjoy, and thanks for reading!
Another Dan Heisman book. VERY conversational. I found I didn't have to use a board for quite a lot of it, and it covers a large variety of topics:
A Guide to Chess Improvement: The Best of Novice Nook
https://www.amazon.com/Guide-Chess-Improvement-Best-Novice-ebook/dp/B004Z99LUM/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=dan+heisman&qid=1555344170&s=gateway&sr=8-2
But other than that, as suggested before, tactics books are your best friend while commuting. The above suggestion is if you want to get away from tactics for a bit and just read something more conversational (and instructive)