A review by suggoiai
Searching for Bobby Fischer: The Father of a Prodigy Observes the World of Chess by Fred Waitzkin

5.0

Like many people, I had seen the film based on this book years ago. The book is different, truer to life, but the film captures the spirit of the book, even while bringing forward more minor characters, combining some others, and eliminating still more in the interest of time and comprehension. Still, the film took some great scenes directly from the text.

The book, like the film, takes a game that most people have only a passing knowledge of, and makes it exciting. Fred’s son, Josh, is as compassionate in this telling, and Fred’s criticism of himself is introspective and revealing.

I’ve rarely read a non-fiction book this gripping, and now want to watch the film again with this expanded view of the story in my head.

The reader was conversational and matter-of-fact, while still showing excitement and intensity at appropriate moments.

Well done.