THE LIFE-CHANGING MAGIC OF CHESS
Maurice Ashley
I was contacted by Magic Cat Publishing to see if I would like to review this book. It is one of an increasing number of ‘The Life Changing Magic of’ series where I can see there is ‘Skateboarding, Baking and Drumming amongst its ranks.
This book exists to introduce children to chess but also because there simply aren’t enough books on the children’s shelves in book stores that perform this important task. True enough, there are plenty of books for kids on the market centred around beating your dad, improving your openings or endgames etc. but this is more than that. It’s a mini-story. It is a true tale of how a Black African-American became a grandmaster – the first Black African American at that. Maurice Ashley is a global chess celebrity commentating on major events and he surely gives inspiration here to all those black kids in particular who might be marginalised for whatever reason.
I do not shy away from talking about race or skin colour, and indeed the author specifically mentions it himself. I often ask why is it that there are so few black chess players at elite levels? Why is it that so many black kids just don’t have the opportunity to play and why even in my own country in England when I play in tournaments are there so few black faces to be seen? People can draw their own conclusions, that is not my role here but it does feel like the right time to have a book like this published. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying this book is solely aimed at black children - it isn’t - but why should black children not look to a successful black man to be their chess hero and role model?
Talent is global, opportunity is not. We have to give all children the opportunity to find chess, and ultimately they can find out who they are through this magnificent game.
So, what do we have here? Well the copy I reviewed is hardback and is fairly short at 40 pages, but this will be easily digestible for kids and parents alike. There are a great number of excellent illustrations drawn by Denis Angelov to accompany the text. I do think that the chess pieces could be a bit clearer in the diagrams – especially the kings and bishops but let’s see if the kids (or any beginners) find them to be just fine.
Throughout, he goes on to identify the chess pieces and explains the rules of the game. He introduces the (hopefully eager) reader to the likes of Mikhail Tal, Judit Polgar and Hou Yifan. Ashley gently encourages the newbie to the game reminding them that Ashley himself started at the very beginning. He learned to study, to find some tricks to use and that knowledge in chess is power. The more he worked, the more inspired he was to do even more.
Each time I turned the pages my eyes were first attracted to the images, and then the text. I tried to see the book through the eyes of a child with a myriad shapes and colours and words on the pages, but of course the content also has to be interesting enough to maintain their curiosity. I think we should ask the kids if this works or not, but I believe it does.
Maurice Ashley wants to say above all that chess is inclusive and it is fun. As we all know the magical thing about chess is that it can be played by anyone regardless of age, gender, (dis)ability or background. Ashley is an inspiration – and I can see that kids from difficult backgrounds, just as he was, will begin to believe in themselves. Ashley highlights issues such as being inspired by others, thinking ahead, and how to finish games. He further encourage kids to think of themselves as an athlete, and that chess even has its own Olympics – or Olympiads.
What really interests me about this is that Ashley makes it personal. Surely every child reading this book will think that the author is sitting right beside them, talking to them. He states that whatever happens in your life can help you in chess, (and I should state that I believe the reverse is true also) that despite all that noise happening around you in the world, you can learn to stay focussed. It will come as comforting news for kids to read that Ashley too suffered painful losses on his way to the GM title but that he was encouraged to keep going. Maurice had a goal – to become a GM but as in life, nothing comes for free, you have to work! You have to sacrifice something to achieve your goals.
I do like the two pages towards the end entitled ‘All about Maurice’ with real photographs from his own life. There is also a mini-glossary at the back which is useful.
Thus, I consider there is more in this book about the positive link between chess and life and personal achievement than actual moves and rules, although the necessary basics are indeed covered. It is lovely to observe that the author mentions people such as Daniel Pulvitt who has a visual impairment but became a grandmaster, and Tani Adewumi who fled a violent Nigeria, found chess and is working to become a grandmaster.
That’s a good thing because I cannot think of a book like this that is already out there, so in that sense it has achieved the aim and Magic Cat Publishing should be congratulated on taking this step. It will be interesting to see how well the book is received. As Maurice Ashley says ‘don’t give up on your dreams.’
Recommended for beginners.
For a change, I will leave the blurb to the end, rather than the beginning.
Chess is a bit like doing magic. The pieces come alive and you're the magician. You get to move them where you like, within the rules of the game. Cool, huh? So let me take you back to the very beginning and show you how it's done... Discover why the world's first Black Grandmaster Maurice Ashley thinks that chess is one of the best skills in life. Follow him on a journey from the Bronx to a world stage where he has taught thousands of young people the life philosophies of the game.
Packed with step-by-step skills and oozing with passion, these little handbooks are for any young reader who loves life. This practical biographical handbook for readers 6+ offers: -A child-friendly, joy-filled introduction to the game of chess -Inspirational words and advice from the first Black Grandmaster, Maurice Ashley -Step-by-step instructions on how to play the game of chess -Explanatory pictures of basic and advanced chess skills With fun-filled, engaging illustrations from Denis Angelov, and in the words of Maurice Ashley, this is the perfect book to inspire children to find their life's passion.
This book is in an exciting new series that celebrates the magic of life skills that bring joy, and the heroes who made them their passion. More in the Series The Life-changing Magic of Chess is part of the Life-changing Magic series, beginner's guides to skills that bring joy, written by real-life heroes who made them their passion. Complete the series with Olympic medalist Sky Brown in The Life-changing Magic of Skateboarding, world famous musician Nandi Bushell in The Life-changing Magic of Baking, and social media sensation baker Joy Wilson in The Life-changing Magic of Baking.
