The Immortal Game

A History of Chess

By: David Shenk

Narrated by: Rick Adamson

A surprising, charming, and ever-fascinating history of the seemingly simple game that has had a profound effect on societies the world over.

Why has one game, alone among the thousands of games invented and played throughout human history, not only survived but thrived within every culture it has touched? What is it about its thirty-two figurative pieces, moving about its sixty-four black and white squares according to very simple rules, that has captivated people for nearly 1,500 years? Why has it driven some of its greatest players into paranoia and madness, and yet is hailed as a remarkably powerful educational tool? Nearly everyone has played chess at some point in their lives. Its rules and pieces have served as a metaphor for society including military strategy, mathematics, artificial intelligence, literature, and the arts. It has been condemned as the devil’s game by popes, rabbis, and imams, and lauded as a guide to proper living by different popes, rabbis, and imams. In his wide-ranging and ever fascinating examination of chess, David Shenk gleefully unearths the hidden history of a game that seems so simple yet contains infinity.

From its invention somewhere in India around 500 A.D., to its enthusiastic adoption by the Persians and its spread by Islamic warriors, to its remarkable use as a moral guide in the Middle Ages and its political utility in the Enlightenment, to its crucial importance in the birth of cognitive science and its key role in the new aesthetic of modernism in 20th century art, to its 21st century importance to the development of artificial intelligence and use as a teaching tool in inner-city America, chess has been a remarkably omnipresent factor in the development of civilization. Indeed as Shenk shows, some neuroscientists believe that playing chess may actually alter the structure of the brain, that it may for individuals be what it has been for civilization: a virus that makes us smarter.

©2006 David Shenk (P)2006 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

A GLOBE & MAIL BEST BOOK OF 2006

"I loved this book. Full of burning enthusiasm for the greatest intellectual game in the world, it shows just what can happen when an accomplished author, full of fire and passion, tackles a most wonderful and intricate story. Like a great chess game, this is an achievement that will be talked about for many years to come."—Simon Winchester, author of The Professor and the Madman

“Even dedicated players will find much to learn here.” —Chicago Sun-Times

“A valuable review of the modern intersection of chess and artificial intelligence. . . . Rich in information and clearly written. . . . This is a welcome addition to any chess library, written by a smart and competent outsider.” — The Hamilton Spectator

two problems

I lost interest when he got into politics, philosophy and Freudian psychology. No need for them.

Good quick insight on the history of chess

Good quick insight on the history of chess, fim it's origins to the arise of chess computers.

Good Read

The reader was immersive. He has a thick tone that is fitting for this subject. The enunciation of names and places seem on point.

The book utself is brief but quite accessible. To those new to chess, I suggest doing some very basic preliminary reaearch about the major historical aspects of the game before listening to this one. They will be prepared to visualize the ideas that are going on throughout, and will provide a more fulfilling experience.

Wonderful!

I've always enjoyed the game, yet this just added to my fascination by giving my more backstory.

Dry but Historical

A boring listen but one that does well to weave a narrative across the history of chess, tying the game to different scientific and cultural events.

Great for beginners

I'm just getting into chess and loved this audiobook! Highly recommended if you want to learn about chess.

history of chess

well told story of the history of chess and why this game continues to intrigue people of all ages.