impressive chess book

https://www.chess.com/article/view/the-best-chess-books-ever

Silman's books.

Chess For Zebras by Jonathan Rowson.  How we think about chess positions and why.  Very enlightening.

I would have to say My System and A guide to chess improvement have been the two books that have really opened my mind when it comes to chess.  A close third would be logical chess move by move because those games, though simple, offer nice plans for beginners.  Silmans books are good to, especially Amateurs Mind, as it gives a lot of fundamental rules you should follow in regards to the play of the pieces, and examples showing those rules and the plans that must be formulated using those rules in action.  The Amateurs mind however, is a long book to go over, and you don't really get good at the techniques learned from that book without going over first how to reassess your chess, and the workbook that comes a long with it afterwards.  So the Silmans route is a long one, however, once you get it done, you will show a marked improvement.  In my personal opinion I would say study books like A Guide to Chess Improvement, My System, Logical chess move by move, in that order before going over Silmans books as you'd be better off learning the basics before you plow through the big boy material.  Not to say it can't be done the other way around.  It's just advice that was given me by a guy rated at 1900.  

I personally and finally showing some improvement following my own method of improvement, however, I coupled my reading with being a part of the prodigy program, where I received a nice beginner opening repertoire.  As a side project I am going off on a tangent and learning the Nimzovitch, and have ideas for learning the Sicilian after I get a better grasp of the Colorado Gambit.  I noticed I am not as good in blitz as I am in long game, however, I mostly play blitz!  Weird huh?  Anyway, I think it's because I often think very fast but still give long thinks in positions where most people would just push wood and win on time.

My agenda would be to just do all that I am suppose to do in the Prodigy program, and in addition to that, learn my "other stuff."  I personally hate the Silly Sicilian, but according to the Prodigy program, that is the opening I am suppose to learn.  ....  I will learn it, but only to learn how to beat people that play it.

I think the best thing one can do to improve in chess is analyze your own games, and putting together a personal opening book that you would refer to after repeating the same mistakes so it becomes more ingrained in you.  Best thing to do is remember key moves, not the exact variations, like pawn breaks, a pawn sac, etc.  I have been told to play the Alapin Sicilian as white in the Prodigy program so I am learning to play it.  Eventually I'll learn Nf3 variation, but all in due time.  

I'll write a post eventually if my method actually works, and I actually get better.  I play mostly on ICC right now though...  

There are other books I have my eyes set on after, or if, I get really good, but all in due time...  I'm staying away from opening books, but I do consult some because those happen to be the ones I am running across in my games.  Everyone I talk to tells me the best way to learn openings is to look them up after they come across in your games.  So that is what I do.  Rather than just systematically read all my opening books, I go over them, after they occur in my games.  Eventually, as time goes by, you will learn a lot of openings!

I play better OTB, so my online rating isn't so hot here.  Apparently my long game is better than what this site would lead someone to believe because I am rated a lot higher on ICC, and as I said, I am better at OTB.  However, In longer time controls, 2 hour games, I tend to move too fast.   So I have to learn to slow down in those situations.  Not too hard I don't think.  

I think the single most important book to grab for a beginner though, is A guide to chess improvement by Dan Heisman as it talks about 5 fundamentals you should get good at before you do things like go over Silmans books.  If you go over any book, without learning the 5 fundamentals Dan Heisman talks about, you will be like me, not get better for a long time, because you keep blundering pieces .  I learned a lot of bad habits from playing only blitz, and now is a time better than any to unlearn those bad habits, but it's going to be hard!   I'll let everyone know how it turns out if I ever get good at long game and play like 2 thousand games or so and get a lot better.  Of course it would take a long time to play 2 thousand long games .  Better get to it!