This book is somewhat difficult to get through if you are a part of the general population, however, if you know chess or the strategy required even in every day life, this is quite an interesting read. There is not exactly a plot that can be judged, but the insight provided of the mind of a genius is enough to delight the interested reader. ( )

This was a very good summary of the three-time chess world champion Mikhail Botvinnik. It was a little light on information about his youth -- for two obvious reasons (one is that few people's youthful experiences are remembered in any detail, and the other being that he grew up in the secretive Soviet Union). Otherwise, as is usual with any book written by Andy Soltis, we are generally given complete games with a fair amount of analysis, both "at the time" (usually Botvinnik's own annotations) and current thought.

I was most fascinated by two themes in this biography. The first was Botvinnik's ultra-structured personality, which required him to really hate his opponent before he could truly beat him (hence, Botvinnik's three non-consecutive turns as champion). The second was how important chess appeared to be in the Soviet Union during the post-World War II and Cold War periods. Botvinnik was sometimes prone to exaggerate his own importance to the cause of communism, but he seemed to believe that he reported only to the highest command -- perhaps even to Stalin himself. This book doesn't completely answer the question of whether other Soviet grandmasters were forced to lose matches in order to prove how powerful the player-of-the-year was, but there are enough hints to suspect this was the case.

All in all, it's a good mix of biography and chess analysis. (I would have liked to have seen a few more pictures in this nice hardcover book, but it's possible there weren't that many to pick from.) I'll probably never forget the mental image of Botvinnik preparing for one of his more important tournaments by requiring his practice opponent to smoke and blow that smoke in his face, so Botvinnik could learn to ignore the smell during the real match.

[Early Reviewer book]

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LT Haiku:

Methodical thought
plus overconfidence in
positional play. ( )

The author, Andrew Soltis,, begins his Preface to this account of the chess life of Mikhail Botvinnik with a question posed by his wife: Why would anyone want to read about such a cold personality? Her question pushed the author to ask a question of himself: why did I want to write about him?
The simple answer to both questions is writers and readers who are interested in the history of chess and the players who reached the pinnacle of accomplishment in the game. Particularly readers who want to know as much as possible about the interplay between the politics of Stalinist Russia and the dominance of the Soviet players in the mid-twentieth century. If you are that kind of reader there is a wealth of information here. This is not Soltis's first book on Botvinnik, and Soltis is held in high regard as a source of knowledge about chess. You can trust that you are in good hands. He includes a wealth of diagrams and chess notation for Botvinnik games. In addition to the analysis there is a discursive narrative that attempts to show that there is more to the World Chess Champion of his times than a "cold personality." To show some complexity and depth in the man himself Soltis puts the focus on the theme of revenge. Fleshed out in chapters that take up "Allies and Enemies," "Rivals," "Absolution," "War," and "The End of Revenge," the motif is covered from many angles. Readers can decide whether they find Botvinnik's attitudes and behaviors instructive or unacceptable. The quality of chess played during Botvinnik's life is all the more remarkable when we remember that notes and records were kept manually on index cards. These top players did their own analysis and preparation with no digital assistance. Toward the end of his life, the Russian champion became interested in the potential of computer programs to affect chess.
Finally, note that the last 23 pages of the book consist of a chronology; a career record against opponents; notes on sources; a bibliography; index of openings; index of opponents; and a general index. Useful ancillary material. ( )

Temporary impressions: This book fills a previously open slot in the legacy of this great chess grand master. Other books examine specific tournaments or his play against specific opponents. Others were written and annotated by Botvinnik himself and are somewhat out of date due to occasional faulty analysis (authors today use powerful computer engines as a double check), out of print, or unavailable outside of the Russian language.

This book by Andrew Soltis, a highly respected grand master and author, gives a thoroughly researched and well referenced biography, and includes representative and remarkable games, often comparing Botvinnik's own analysis with modern views of the position. There are 87 complete games using algebraic notation, along with a few isolated positions, and many anecdotes, quotations and other interesting information.

I don't know if I'd call this the definitive biography of this great master, and I haven't had time to work through the book at the chess board which is far more time-consuming than simply reading, but it looks like a real winner at first glance.

Critical review to follow as time permits.

This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Andrew Soltis presents the chess player a view of the chess world not found in the "how to play" books. The reader should have some successful experience playing the game. Set up the board and follow the narrative by moving the pieces. ( )