I seriously like this inexpensive dover book called "How good is your chess?" by Leonard Barden. 35 or so master games. When it's your move you guess which is best, and then you are given a score. Allegedly you can average your score and he has provided a table that should place you in an ELO neighborhood. I think it'll cost you $4 new...absolutely worth it!
here's a link to the book.
Here are two books I didn't see on your list which every chess player could enjoy: The Mammoth Book of the World's Greatest Chess Games - Burgess, Nunn and Emms. The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal - Tal
diskamyl wrote:
how many of them have you studied?
uhh i havent finished any yet
torqamada wrote:
I have 2500 chess books anyone want to know any good ones?
Guessing yes...as that was the point of his post;)
Playing is not the solution to understanding chess...really? I mean it's very possible that some people benefit from reading the insights of others on chess playing but your statement is kind of depressing and makes chess sound way lamer than it actually is to me. Chess can't be figured out by playing? I'm sure someone was able to do it at some point.
torqamada wrote:
Chess books are essentially worthless paper, dust collectors and heavy to carry if you have no understanding of 'chess?' You could have 50 thousand books and still not understand the game. Having this or that book is of no consequence despite your cake sarcasm. There are no perfect books that will be of value unless you understand chess and know how to distill the available information to bring you to the next level. WIth the advent of chess engines and databases and internet info books are so last week. You can take a rank amatuer with a chess engine and turn them into a 2000 rated player here. So books, I wouldn't recommend any books, I would recommend playing chess, joining a club, playing OTB Tournaments and play and play and play.
1.Agree play is best.
2.Databases are great particularly for the fact that you can constantly add new games to your personal one's.
3. But book's have something neither of the first two have. If you can figure this out then you will know why books are indispensable.
jhuschstp wrote:
Playing is not the solution to understanding chess...really? I mean it's very possible that some people benefit from reading the insights of others on chess playing but your statement is kind of depressing and makes chess sound way lamer than it actually is to me. Chess can't be figured out by playing? I'm sure someone was able to do it at some point.
Well if you wanted to be a great mathematician you could spend all your time randomly playing with numbers... Or you could avail yourself of some of the knowledge that's been built upon for centuries by the greatest minds. I'm sure it took some of the pioneers of chess their whole lives to learn what they then put down in a book, so it makes sense to learn from them instead of spending maybe decades to figure out what's already been explained in the past? I think to get good you have to have good teachers, so books are a (weaker) substitute to having a world class player explaining to you the best techniques and ideas.
If chess books are useless, feel free to donate your library to me. 
Playing is great (actually, it's the whole point...not studying IMO). But it's easy to reach the point where you're making the same (or similar) mistakes over and over again. Reading/studying allows you to build on other people's knowledge rather than re-inventing the proverbial wheel. Of course, just reading about chess is boring and lame. Find whatever balance suits you best for whatever your goals are.
So, to the original poster...I can't say what books have quantitatively improved my chess the most, but I've enjoyed:
Reassess your Chess, Jeremy Silman
the Inner game of Chess, Andrew Soltis
The Ideas behind the Chess Openings, Reuben Fine
My System, Aron Nimzovitch
torqamada wrote:
Self discovery, experimentation, board time, playing others, instead of relying on others to grease your path. You will never ever discover chess by buying books, never, unless you discover for yourself why you are allured to the game and why it holds a special place? Unless you understand why you are attracted and why you want to play you will never get the gist of the game! Chess is your game not someone elses, learn to play first !
Why are you so adamant that this is the only way? Everyone is different and as such must follow different paths to learning.
Also, why wont you consider that books can lead a person to this self discovery you describe?
diskamyl wrote:
Very curious words from a 2200 player. I really wonder how you play the endings against that level of opposition, without having read any books. hmm..
You know, its funny, this is not the first time I've heard this sort of thing from masters around here. Its like they forgot what they did to get where they are and who helped them get there.
IMO books and play go hand in hand which is why i asked about BOOKS.You can learn new techniques from books and try them out and perfect them in play. So thanks to whoever answered my question, and continue to argue if you must and I would appreciate any real reccomendation
MRNChess wrote:
IMO books and play go hand in hand which is why i asked about BOOKS.You can learn new techniques from books and try them out and perfect them in play. So thanks to whoever answered my question, and continue to argue if you must and I would appreciate any real reccomendation
Sorry. I like Emmanuel Lasker's "Manual of Chess". I've not read it cover to cover but the parts I've looked at on combinations and positional play were very clear and instructive. Best thing is it's super cheap, I got mine for less than five dollars on Amazon. It's in descriptive notation though I know some people don't like that.
Also, I like to get several peoples ideas in chess and even some "outdated" theories. That way you have several good possibilities because you have accepted different ideas from different authors
thanks i was looking at that actually. can you give me the table of contents?
Looks like you can read most if not all of it on google books: http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=vNXFc-JWpH0C&dq=manual+of+chess&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=J7O_s5VKig&sig=0Q424DWBQTP3lDXoKnA-zEgirww&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result#PPP1,M1
I think books or lessons are important. I don't think most people will discover the game on their own.
This is a general comment since we're starting to talk educational philosophy, and where people might go wrong. It's not necessarily directed at MNRchess's question. I think it's important to start at the beginning and not try to study exclusively the advanced books too early. Dabble in the advanced ideas, sure. We all want to be like the greats and study books that are written at the master level. But I think the emphasis has to be on building the foundation and then advancing your knowledge from there.
I don't think a beginner could go too wrong for example with the first two books of the Seirawan series, and possibly the third after that.
1. Play Winning Chess. Intro to tactics, and some strategical ideas: force, time space, pawn structure.
2. Winning Chess Tactics.
3. Winning Chess Strategy.
I've studied the first two in order and thought they were good. There might possibly be better books, but I don't regret the time spent on these.
MRN, as much as I love books, and enjoy recommending them, in terms of topics I think you have a pretty good mix.
Do you have all the topics you're interested in?
How do you feel about the level of the books? Are you able to move through them OK? Do you often find yourself thinking, "Ah ha, now I see!"
If yes to these questions, I think you're good for now. If no and if you can elaborate, that might spark some additional ideas.
Here is my current chess library. If you have any book reccomendations for me plz feel free to post them. Thanks!
Introduction to Chess Moves and Tactics Simply Explained-Leonard Barden
Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess-Bobby Fischer
Chess Strategy- Edward Lasker
The Logical Approach to Chess- Dr. Max Euwe
Art of the Middle Game- Paul Keres and Alexander Kotov
Chess Openings: Traps and Zaps- Bruce Pandolfini
Chess Openings for Black, Explained- Lev Alburt
Starting Out: The Sicilian- John Emms
Silman’s Complete Endgame Course- Jeremy Silman
The Art of Combination- Eugene Znosko-Borovsky
How Not to Play Chess- Eugene Znosko-Borovsky
500 Master Games of Chess- Savielly Tartakower
Bobby Fischer: Profile of a Prodigy- Frank Brady
Award Winning Chess Problems- Burt Hochberg