How chess and mess define the meaning of life
Stephen Poole previews cultural studies titles in 2007
Saturday December 30, 2006
The Guardian
Chess genius Garry Kasparov, whom no one would dare to call a “demented control freak” to his face, retired from competitive play in 2005, but has hardly been idle since, founding the Russian political party United Civil Front and continuing to write his history of chess, titled with no false modesty My Great Predecessors.
Now, somewhat like a hirsute, modern Sun Tzu, he offers his general philosophy of strategy, How Life Imitates Chess (Heinemann, March). As he promised in a Wall Street Journal article last year, the book “examines the unique formulae people use in thinking and problem-solving. For example, the way hope and doubt affect how we process information, or the way we perform in a crisis.
I hope it will also serve as a guide to improving these processes.” Can the ability to calculate a 20-move forced tactical sequence in chess help you navigate the shark-infested waters of office politics? We shall see.
Here is the full article.
I don’t think that Garry Kasparov is “demented”
A “Control Freak” though? – quite possibly
This demented control freak is risking his life to bring back freedom to Russia. I don’t know anything about his personal life, but what I’ve seen of his public life has greatly impressed me.
I’m gonna pre-order it =D
Freaks write about freaks. The author has right to call Kasparov one.
“I don’t think that Garry Kasparov is “demented”” Your opinion matters.
As the book been released?
I think that the most educational post on this topic was the Goichberg-Polgar Debate posted on April 5 on this site.
She was very unhappy with the actions of the Kasparov Chess Foundation but she didn’t hold K himself responsible. Susan does not expect K to even control his own foundation.
GK has simply gone too far. Sure, any person is entitled to their own opinion. However, GK is neither a trained psychologist, nor a political scientist, nor an experienced politician, nor even an economist. So where does his socio-political expertise in these political matters arise from?
Answer: His own opinion and experience. The risks he may either be taking or creating for the media (grand-standing) are irrelevant.
He is becoming a legend in his own mind.