Chess Books For Christmas

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If you're looking for a Christmas gift (or birthday or other holiday gift) for a chess-playing friend or relative, you can hardly go wrong in giving him or her a good chess book. The aspiring chess master is always looking for additional sources of education and inspiration to improve his game.

You should discretely find out what books your chess-lover already has. This should be fairly easy, as devoted chess players are generally proud of their libraries and anxious to show them off. You might as what books they need to fill in the gaps of their library. The missing volume of an opening series or a particularly coveted book on tactics will be sure to please.

If you want some recommendations, here are some of the old tried and true chess books that have stood the test of time.

Openings

The ideas Behind the Chess Openings, by Reuben Fine. Fine was one of the strongest American masters from the middle of the 20th century, and was considered a likely contender for the world championship in the 1940's. His book on the openings is a classic. And while it does not have the extensive analysis of modern opening "encyclopedias," it has useful treatments of the broad ideas behind the major opening systems.

For the latest on opening theory, most tournament players will want to have the 15th edition of Modern Chess Openings, by Nick DeFirmian. "MCO-15" is a modern (published 2008) and more extensive treatment than Fine's Ideas. While no book can cover every opening line, this one covers most of the important ones, and has extensive footnote references.

Tactics

There are two classic works on tactics that every amateur chess player should have: 1001 Winning Chess Sacrifices and Combinations, and its companion volume, 1001 Brilliant Ways to Checkmate, both by Fred Reinfeld. Many of today's masters have learned their tactics from these books.

Endings

Another of Reuben Fine's great works is his book on the endings, Basic Chess Endings. this is a fairly comprehensive work on the endings. The book has been criticized for its inaccuracies, but these are mostly minor. It is still extremely valuable for Fine's teaching of the principles of endgame play.

Another great book on the endings is A Guide To Chess Endings, by former world champion Max Euwe and David Hooper. This book focuses on practical endings with pawns. As such it is extremely valuable for the practical tournament player.

These are just a few of the many good books available on the game of chess; enjoy looking around to find just the right book for your chess-playing friend.

Steve Coffee has been playing chess for over 5 decades, and has loved every minute of it.

Visit Steve's website about chess strategies for chess players of beginning and intermediate skill levels.

Two Books on Writing Fiction You MUST Have!

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I've been writing for well over 15 years and have read a lot of books on the craft. Some are lifesavers, other have a few pearls of wisdom, while a few aren't worth the time or money. There are even books on writing that leave you feeling defeated and wanting to throw your computer, along with your dreams of becoming a successful writer, out the window.

I won't talk about books that cover the basics, such as The Elements of Style. I will assume you know the essential mechanics of writing and know how to form cohesive sentences. The following books, my two absolute favorites, will give you the shot of adrenaline you may be in desperate need of to keep going, keep pursuing, and keep following your writing dreams!

On Writing by Stephen King - This has got to be my number one book on writing. The first half is an autobiography. I found his writing to be very real and from the heart. I laughed and even felt a bit saddened at times. You read about his childhood, his first attempts at publishing when he was in grade school, and all of the hard work, long hours and dedication he put into his writing career. This in itself gave me hope that I could someday be a successful author as well!

The second half of the book is a no bull, no fluff guide to writing. What I like most about it is that he doesn't bog you down with rule after rule, and strict organization. Forget outlines and note cards and character sketches! He recommends that you just sit down at your computer, go with your muse and see where he/she takes you. He tells you what you need to know from idea to sale, as well as a few simple considerations and rules. He uses examples of his own work and that of others to show what's good prose and what's not. He offers some exercises as well.

My writing has flourished because of this book. It's spontaneous and real. When I sit down at the computer I don't even know what the next scene will entail, but I'm always amazed to see what my inner self can come up with once I get out of my own way.

Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury - Be prepared! Ray Bradbury will take you by the hand and leave you breathless in this little book. I can honestly say that I've never felt more exhilarated or had more ideas popping into my mind than after reading this book. He advises you to stay drunk on writing because it saves us from reality, to write at least a thousand words a day every day, to write from real life, and much more. What I liked most about this book is the way I felt after reading it. Zen in the Art of Writing is like having Ray Bradbury right there with you, guiding you, cheering you on, and urging you to stop creeping and start flying!

Much in the same vein as Stephen King's book, this gem is not about rules that fence you in and leave you no room to breathe, but in letting loose the inner writer. It draws that fine line between genius and insanity. I loved it!

My creativity has soared because of these books. I highly recommend them.

Deciding to become a full time freelancer was both a matter of choice and necessity. Simply put, I enjoy writing and helping others to succeed. Being a web writer has helped me to do just that.

In my two decades of writing I've...

* Ghostwritten several nonfiction books that have become best-sellers
* Written articles that ranked #1 on the 1st page of Google within hours
* Helped website owners increase their web traffic
* Written the Health and Wellness column for a major magazine
* Authored several best selling novels
* Been the marketing director and radio manager for a publishing company
* Penned thousands of articles on a wide variety of subjects

KellyWallace-Romance Author

Making It In Hollywood, By: Bryan Hidalgo and Gail O'Donnell

Bryan Hidalgo and Gail O'Donnell have amassed a collection of over 100 interviews of Hollywood's top contemporary talent from the acting community, along with screenwriters and directors. Each interview is structured with a head shot of the person, their short bio, and a dozen or so revealing questions asking what factors have contributed towards their success in their profession. Their answers are soberly articulated both humbly and modestly, but a common thread exists - it takes hard work and never giving up!

Hidalgo and O'Donnell queried professionals from both sides of the camera lens. The common question first asked was always, "How did your career begin?" For screenwriter Wesley Strick, he began writing as a rock critic and journalist in Berkeley. Many actors such as: James Rebhorn, Marcia Cross, David Paymer, Alex O'Loughlin, Michael Emerson and scores of others studied acting in school. For Joe Penny "It just happened," as he went to pick up a friend taking an acting class and sat down to watch what was going on, thinking "I can do that." Elizabeth Perkins was at a barbecue in Chicago when someone asked her, "What do you do?" "I'm an actor," she replied, thinking to herself that's what she'd like to be; allowing the self-actualization of the candid remark to then pull her into her career. My favorite was David Zayas, best known for his role as a cop, actually was a cop.

In a fashion reminiscent of James Lipton's famous interviews from Inside the Actors Studio, Bryan Hidalgo and Gail O'Donnell each follow their structured guideline; allowing the commonality of the questions to paint an even backdrop for their readers, thus allowing the nuances of the replies to be easily perceived. "It's a tough profession," actor Joe Mantegna points out. "There are 140,000 members of SAG and less than 1 percent make a decent living," Mantegna continued. You have to love the journey, as in his case, "I was a fifteen-year overnight success..." Auditions, for example, are either loved or hated, but nobody treats them with disregard. Jason Alexander said, "Most actors think auditions are hell, I love them. To me they are a one-night-only performance of a role I think I can do better than anyone else."

In a way, Making It in Hollywood is like squeezing People Magazine into a 400 word periodical; the "espresso press of just the thoughts" of the entertainment industry's contemporary finest, sans hype and advertising. My surprising observation was although I only recognized many actors from their professional characterizations, each of their personal interviews were riveting. I found myself glued to the book, turning pages and going from actor to screenwriter to director seamlessly, realizing the symbiotic relationship they all have towards one another.

Making It in Hollywood is a must read for all those taking acting classes, or aspiring to "get tape" in the industry. It's a great gift as a graduation present to those that like to be on the receiving side of the lights, as well as those more comfortable writing or making movies. It's a book that crosses genres from reference to philosophy, from self help to anecdotal humor. This is an invaluable book for not only people seeking work in the entrainment industry but for fans of the magic of Hollywood. This book is easy to read, filled with actual stories of those who've found success and is literally a blueprint on how to build your career. It can best be summed up with the song lyrics from New York, New York, "If you can make it there, you can make it... anywhere."

Reviewed by: Gary R. Sorkin

Gary R. Sorkin is the Senior Editor for Pacific Book Review. Please visit Pacific Book Review at: http://www.pacificbookreview.com/