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The Moves That Matter

A Chess Grandmaster on the Game of Life

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The Moves That Matter

By: Jonathan Rowson
Narrated by: Jonathan Rowson
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About this listen

 Bloomsbury presents The Moves that Matter written and read by Jonathan Rowson.

'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

Refined and perfected throughout human history, chess has long been a touchstone for shrewd tacticians and master strategists. But enfolded within this ancient game can be found a singularly resonant metaphor for the challenges, thrills and setbacks that fill our lives with meaning and complexity.

Jonathan Rowson’s competitive success as a Grandmaster and his work as a philosopher of public policy 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 a tour of life where everything is at play – an exhilarating journey from the aesthetics of cyborgs to the psychology of gang violence, the joys of parenting to the ultimate endgame of death. Chess emerges as a rich and endlessly evocative way of thinking about the desires that shape the world around us.

The Moves That Matter celebrates the redeeming power of intense concentration, while offering a humane and compassionate account of our interdependence and need for community. Jonathan Rowson reveals, one move at a time, what it means to love, think or care deeply in the intricate game of life.©2019 Jonathan Rowson (P)2019 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Philosophy Spirituality Witty

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All stars
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The word "palpable" was used too many times, almost as if something had to sound fancy and complicated, or because the author didn't know how to express his views.
I play chess and this is not a boring chess book, it is an interesting take on llife. Many parts are enjoyable but some felt like they were added for the sake of having more pages.

Interesting but overdone

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Thoroughly enjoyed it, thank you Jonathan for sharing your thoughts with us, even some embarrassing details, your honesty is much appreciated!

great book

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There is a really excellent book and I always enjoy it more when the author takes the time out to read it themselves. Particularly as Jonathan is great narrator. It’s very well thought out, full of interesting insights and quotations. Clearly a lot of effort over a significant amount of time has went into this book so it flows as well as it does. It’s a book I can already see I’ll re-listen to every year or two. Also spent about an hour with my wife trying to fully understand all the intricacies of the blue face puzzle, while often just about to grasp it fully and then finding I’d confused myself again (A knows this to be true but thinks B thinks...). 5 stars.

Blue Face

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I picked up this audio book almost accidentally, without much expectation even though other reviews were positive. But it proved to be one my favourite audio books I listened to in 2020. The author is undoubtedly a smart individual beyond chess and manages to open interesting perspectives while drawing paralells with the chess world. I'd say it's a blend of psychology, philosophy and sports. The author is open about his personal life and acknowledges his own limitations and missteps, which is unusual these days. Narration was perdect and the Scottish accent is just a cherry on the cake.

Unexpectedly brilliant

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This book is about much more than chess. It’s a lesson in life with chess interwoven into it.

I bought this after picking up chess again with my children. I didn’t know what to expect and loved it from start to finish.

Captivating

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I was not sure what to expect before I started listening to this - from what I had heard I knew it would be part personal story, part investigation of what is important in life and that chess would somehow be the prism through which the insights were explained/ revealed. (And i know the rules of chess but thats about it).

But nothing could prepare me for how utterly compelling the book was. The strangest “page turner” I have ever listened to - I wanted to hear more as quickly as possible. Several things made this the case. Firstly, it is beautifully written with exquisite precision. Much of the time I listened I was simply marvelling at the extreme aptness of the analogies he continually made. Second, linked to the first point, the clarity of thought and perceptiveness of what he was saying and the way he was able to communicate it so effectively was mesmerising. There was so much packed into so few words all the time. Thats what turned it into a “page turner” I kept wanting more of this concentrated insight.

The tools that Rowson used also worked brilliantly. Chess clearly does have a lot to teach us both directly, and as Rowson showed again and again (with astonishing insight and creativity) by analogy. The other tool he uses to great effect was his life experiences (which of course involve a lot of chess but go far beyond that).

Basically what the reader/ listener is gaining from this book that means it is worth so much more than anyone else writing about their life experiences (or chess for that matter) is that Rowson is a very very deep thinker and also a consummate communicator. He shines his powerful mind onto the deep questions of life we all face and helps the reader/listener expand their mind/ see things from refreshing, interesting, surprising, humorous and ultimately uplifting ways.

In summary this is an uncharacterisable tour de force which I would recommend everyone to read/ listen to - regardless of any interest in chess.

Final point: I am sometimes wary of buying audiobooks read by the author, but Rowson reads it perfectly and this very personal (though still universal) book gains a lot from having the author speak his own words.

Compelling, beautifully written, audio page turner

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says a lot of words without saying a lot
still nice to hear but wanted more from it

A decent book but not so amazing

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