Playing chess while reading a book

Happy Sunday to all.  I was bored at home and sitting at my desk reading a book about the mafia so I figured that I could probably "multi-task" and play a couple of 10 minute games on here while reading.  

So I played a handful of games; when I'd hear the computer "click" indicating that the opponent had moved, then i'd quickly glance at the screen and immediately make my move, then go back to reading.  I don't think I had good results though, leaving myself open for forks, pins, and not even picking up on one-move threats and hanging pieces.  I did, however, manage to stalemate a certainly lost game in one.

I was wondering if any of you are good at playing chess while doing other things like reading.

I will post one game just so you can see my poor play.

I once had a guy (Igor Ivanov) reading a newspaper while he was playing me.  Very damn annoying, I must say.

A corollary to this topic is that one has to think that quite a substantial percentage of "live chess" players are playing while engaged in other activities, like talking on the phone, reading, watching movies, etc. . . especially the younger generation like myself who grew up with the internets..

Oh yeah...which book about the mafia? 

Donnie Brasco, by Joseph Pistone & Richard Woodley, 1987.  It's the book on which the movie of the same name was based, in 1997.  

awesome movie, havnt read the book

Yes, great movie!

Seen the movie. Haven't read the book !

I've found that classical music increases my chess vision.  This is a fact for me personally.

It makes sense, if you consider the Mozart effect, and how listening to classical music can boost scores on math tests.

That coupled with the conclusion by many that chess players perform better in math and science, I can understand the correlation.

Ask my why, and I can provide no worthy answer, though.  My best guess, as I've stated on here numerous times, is the relationship between chess and spatial-temporal reasoning, which is also necesarry to performing well in mathematics.

Well, I'm having a lot of trouble buying that...

Yep, "Andy" and me too.  Plus the topic was about physically reading a book while playing chess (with the priority on the reading, not the chess), not listening to music while playing chess.    

Oh yeah! (I forgot about that).

Is spacial reasoning useful in solving math problems?  Maybe in some abstract problems mathematicians solve... but nothing I've seen yet seems to require any kind of visual-spacial reasoning (?).

If music helps in your games, I'd be willing to bet it's because of how it alters your mood.  You're more relaxed / confident / cheerful and so you trust your analysis or are more upbeat about defending a tough position, etc.

While going over a difficult problem, sometimes it's useful to distract yourself with something (like music) and let your unconscious mind chew on it... maybe go to sleep and wake up the next day with an answer (if you're so lucky ;).  But while chess does deal with abstract and grand ideas (where I consider this unconscious method to be useful) you're also faced with many immediate practical problems that require at least a little calculation to solve.  And calculation requires your immediate/conscious concentration.

Well, thank God they did lots and lots of studies on it.  I mean, I never could've seen that it was pure crap by myself.

@Waffllemaster, yes, spatial-temporal reasoning and mathematics performance go hand in hand.

@Kenpo - I didn't know you were an authority on the psychological relationship between spatial-temporal reasoning and its correlation with mathematics, or the supposed mozart effect on spatial temporal reasoning.  Please, enlighten me, since my alma mater has essentially failed me.  

First, I'm not sure which particular study you're referring to, but there have been numerous studies conducted in the area, and the consensus is that there is a significant relationship between classical music and a temporary enhancement of spatial temporal reasoning.  Whether or not the game of chess calls on the use of spatial reasoning is the real question, and the answer is debatable. 

I like to approach any and all topics with a disconfirmation approach when researching (and yes, I am a researcher in the field of Psychology). The correlation exists, but it seems that the problem here lies in the interpretation of these studies, which are strictly correlational, and non-experimental, therefore, not causal.  We cannot infer that, for example, classical music causes an increase in spatial reasoning, because we cannot be sure that anything truly causes anything (see third variable problem, and bidirectionality problem), therefore, the most we can offer is a relationship.  And this relationship does not tell us, for instance, whether those that are classically trained musicians are better in spatial reasoning because they're classically trained musicians, OR, whether they became classically trained musicians because they possessed an innate ability to reason spatially.  Further, we also cannot be certain whether these are the only two variables at play here, and that there isn't some other underlying issue at work all together.

Anyways, here are a few articles supporting my claim, and there's plenty more that I can't post, because they're only available through my university library (and I'm sure there are non supporting articles as well, so I guess you really can't tell that it's pure crap [or otherwise] all by yourself, Mr. Clifton). ;)

http://www.dlib.si/preview/URN:NBN:SI:DOC-3PJCCGDN/6d957cfa-e2c8-4f25-9f4c-2c91845b33e9 

http://www.uwosh.edu/departments/psychology/rauscher/Rauscher%20&%20Gruhn.pdf

doi: 10.1006/ebeh.2001.0250

doi: 10.1177/1943862112438106

Also, Waffllemaster, I'm unsure how you can accept that certain music alters your mood, yet are unable to accept its relationship with spatial temporal reasoning or chess.  Care to explain?

Trying to "multi-task" while playing chess is a bad idea, esp if you want to improve. And BTW the whole concept of "multi-tasking" is pretty much BS anyway.

http://www.health.com/health/article/0,,20505051,00.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/13/multitasking-is-bad-for-you_n_925958.html

As for books on the mafia, I've read bios of Myer Lansky, Lucky Luciano, Joe Bonano and Frank Costello and found them all very fascinating...but not while I was playing chess!

NimzoRoy, agreed.  Multi-tasking is not truly multi-tasking at all.  It's actually your brain simply altering from one task to another...not completing several tasks simultaneously.  

Kenpo, forgive me, I just thought your response came off rather authoritative, so yes, I was being facetious.  My apologies.  

Well, yes I can.  Of course, I can't speak for you (but then again, you don't seem to be able to speak for yourself either). 

If it can alter you mood could it alter your appetite or help you quit smoking?  Sure, but primarily it affects your mood... I may go so far as to say measurably it only affects mood.