The Moves that Matter

A Chess Grandmaster on the Game of Life

Jonathan Rowson author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Published:28th May '20

£10.99

Available for immediate dispatch.

The Moves that Matter cover

A chess Grandmaster reveals the powerful teachings the game offers for staying present, thriving in a complex world and crafting a fulfilling life

'A nuanced and witty meditation on confronting the challenges life throws at us all' Oliver Burkeman Jonathan Rowson’s competitive success as a chess Grandmaster and work as an applied philosopher have given him a unique perspective on why the great game is more important than ever for understanding the conflicts and uncertainties of the modern world. In sixty-four witty and addictive vignettes, Rowson takes us on an exhilarating tour of the game of life, from the psychology of gang violence, to the aesthetics of cyborgs, the beauty of technical details, and the endgame of death. Chess emerges as a singularly powerful metaphor for the thrills and set-backs that invest our daily lives with meaning and complexity.

Profound ... Part memoir, part guide to living * Daily Mail *
At a time when we urgently need new ways to think about the challenge of creating a meaningful life – far more than we need conventional self-help advice – Jonathan Rowson has written a powerfully unconventional and mind-expanding book ... A generous, nuanced and witty meditation on confronting the challenges life throws at us all -- Oliver Burkeman, author of 'The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking'
Terrific … What a beautiful, thoughtful work. I see thinking in a fresh light. I see my own life in a fresh light as well -- David Bodanis, author of 'Einstein’s Greatest Mistake' and 'E=MC2'
One comes away feeling better able to navigate not so much a chessboard but the world outside it -- Sarah Stein Lubrano * The School of Life *
A remarkable, highly original and personal book, unlike anything else you have ever read, packed with wisdom about life. You need to know next to nothing about chess to enjoy it and to want to keep coming back for more -- Iain McGilchrist, author of 'The Master and his Emissary'
Rowson's is an unusual, important voice and perspective on our times: a humane thinker deeply interested in the implications of technology; an expert constantly probing at the limits of expertise ... A wise, surprising and uplifting book -- Tom Chatfield, author of 'Critical Thinking'
A fascinating insight into how top chess players think * Glasgow Herald *

ISBN: 9781526603876

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 244g

352 pages