The Day Kasparov Quit

THE DAY KASPAROV QUIT and Other Chess Interviews
Author: Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam
New In Chess (2006)
344 pages
$24.95

Reviewed by Joshua Anderson

This book from NIC is one of the most recent additions to the growing field that celebrates the culture and history of chess rather than just the moves on the board.

The two ends of this genre are the educational and the entertainment. The educational end focuses on such books as HOW TO GET BETTER AT CHESS: CHESS MASTERS ON THEIR ART. The middle ground is covered by works like INTERVIEW WITH A GRANDMASTER. This book is on the entertainment end of the spectrum, with nary a question or comment about improving one's game. Does that make it a bad book? Not at all! It is in fact, quite a good book.

The book is a collection of interviews that took place between October 1994, and "The Day Kasparov Quit", in March 1995. There are about 30 interviews of about 20 different players. The people interviewed include several interviews of pre-Baby Boomers through Generation Y. This diverse selection represents both sexes and four continents.

On the surface, Geuzendam had an easy job -- ask a few questions and let the interviewee talk. Those of us that have read years of Chess Life, and other chess magazines, know that this is not the case. What makes Geuzendam such a strong interviewer is his ability to not only discuss the politics or history of a particular situation, but to draw on the interests of the individual, outside of chess, that give the reader a more complete description of the player. This picture, drawn by the words of the players themselves, highlights not only their chess skills, but also the interests and hobbies (often quite varied) that make them interesting people away from the chessboard as well. See MR. SILMAN'S and MR. DONALDSON'S reviews for several interesting quotes.

In conclusion, Geuzendam writes a highly entertaining book that compares well with similar works by New In Chess and other publishing houses.

Click to buy (or get more information about) THE DAY KASPAROV QUIT