What do you think?
Rate this book
Lightning Kid: 64 Winning Lessons from the Boy Who Became Five-Time World Chess Champion
THIS IS VISHY'S STORY.
Smart ideas. Sharp moves. Sheer grit.
India's first chess Grandmaster and five-time World Chess Champion, Viswanathan Anand has wowed the world with his brilliant mind and fearless play.
From growing up as a young prodigy in Chennai, known as 'Lightning Kid' for his blazing-fast moves, to becoming a global legend by taking on the toughest chess players, Vishy's journey is packed with game-changing twists, masterful tactics and nail-biting matches.
This book dives into the most dramatic moments of Anand's life and career - wins, losses, comebacks and masterstrokes - along with 64 bite-sized lessons, one for every square on the chessboard. Whether it's learning how to stay calm under pressure, bounce back after a loss or think several moves ahead, this is the tale of a true champion - and a guide to thinking big, staying humble and playing your best game.
Smart ideas. Sharp moves. Sheer grit.
India's first chess Grandmaster and five-time World Chess Champion, Viswanathan Anand has wowed the world with his brilliant mind and fearless play.
From growing up as a young prodigy in Chennai, known as 'Lightning Kid' for his blazing-fast moves, to becoming a global legend by taking on the toughest chess players, Vishy's journey is packed with game-changing twists, masterful tactics and nail-biting matches.
This book dives into the most dramatic moments of Anand's life and career - wins, losses, comebacks and masterstrokes - along with 64 bite-sized lessons, one for every square on the chessboard. Whether it's learning how to stay calm under pressure, bounce back after a loss or think several moves ahead, this is the tale of a true champion - and a guide to thinking big, staying humble and playing your best game.
262 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 13, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 16, 2026
There is something very special about reading a book written by someone you have grown up hearing about. I have a signed copy of Lightning Kid and honestly, I was already excited before even starting it. We all know Viswanathan Anand as this legendary chess player, but this book makes him feel very real and human. The chapters are short and easy to read, and I liked how every chapter feels like a small lesson from his life. Even if you are not deeply into chess, the writing is simple enough to keep you interested. There are old photographs, stories from his early days, and little moments that make you understand how much hard work went behind becoming who he is today.
What I personally enjoyed most was how the book is not trying too hard to sound motivational. It does not feel fake or dramatic like many celebrity books sometimes do. Anand talks about losing, pressure, discipline, patience and learning from mistakes in such a calm and honest way. Some chapters genuinely made me stop and think about life. Right now when life feels heavier and more complicated than before, books like this feel comforting because the advice comes from real experience, not from someone pretending to have all the answers. I also loved the “Vishy Says” parts because they are short, direct and actually meaningful.
I will be honest, I am not a chess expert at all. While reading the chess parts, I tried understanding some moves and strategies, but I still think I need someone to properly teach me the game someday. But that did not stop me from enjoying this book. More than chess, this book is about mindset, growth and staying calm through difficult phases. The short chapters made it very easy to pick up anytime, and the mix of life lessons with chess stories worked beautifully for me. If you like memoirs that feel genuine and simple, or if you just want to read about someone who truly earned their success quietly and gracefully, this one is worth reading.
What I personally enjoyed most was how the book is not trying too hard to sound motivational. It does not feel fake or dramatic like many celebrity books sometimes do. Anand talks about losing, pressure, discipline, patience and learning from mistakes in such a calm and honest way. Some chapters genuinely made me stop and think about life. Right now when life feels heavier and more complicated than before, books like this feel comforting because the advice comes from real experience, not from someone pretending to have all the answers. I also loved the “Vishy Says” parts because they are short, direct and actually meaningful.
I will be honest, I am not a chess expert at all. While reading the chess parts, I tried understanding some moves and strategies, but I still think I need someone to properly teach me the game someday. But that did not stop me from enjoying this book. More than chess, this book is about mindset, growth and staying calm through difficult phases. The short chapters made it very easy to pick up anytime, and the mix of life lessons with chess stories worked beautifully for me. If you like memoirs that feel genuine and simple, or if you just want to read about someone who truly earned their success quietly and gracefully, this one is worth reading.
March 16, 2026
We all know the five-time World Chess Champion and Grand Master "Viswanathan Anand", but do we truly know the journey behind that calm smile and those historic triumphs?
♟️ This book gently takes us back to where it all began, a time when chess in India had minimal infrastructure, no real spotlight, and no Grandmaster to look up to. In that uncertain space stood one unwavering pillar of support for Vishy: his mother 🤱
❤️ From searching for the contact of Eugenio Torre in a bulky telephone directory to carefully noting down positions from the Chess Today television show, she quietly built the foundation of a future champion. It was under her guidance and support that he began playing chess at the age of six👍
♟️ He walks us through his evolution from being known as the “Lightning Kid” for his blistering speed in five-minute blitz games to becoming a five-time World Champion. He speaks not only about victories, but about painful losses, tough draws, missed opportunities, and powerful comebacks.
Through 64 crisp chapters, one for every square on the chessboard, he reflects on defining moments that shaped his life. He also acknowledges the quiet forces behind his success: his mother, his wife Aruna, and well-wishers like Mauricio “Maurice” Perea and his wife reminding us that no champion truly rises alone.
♟️ At its heart, this book is about mindset. Through lived experience, he shows us the value of staying calm under pressure, thinking several moves ahead, accepting setbacks with grace, and preparing with relentless discipline. His insights from milestone matches are not just technical takeaways but life lessons in disguise. A priceless gift to every chess player.
♟️ Overall, This is not just a memoir about a champion. It is a thoughtful guide to thinking big, staying grounded, and playing your own game on the board and in life with clarity, courage, and quiet confidence.
A must-read for both chess players and non-players because the lessons go far beyond the 64 squares. ♟️
♟️ This book gently takes us back to where it all began, a time when chess in India had minimal infrastructure, no real spotlight, and no Grandmaster to look up to. In that uncertain space stood one unwavering pillar of support for Vishy: his mother 🤱
❤️ From searching for the contact of Eugenio Torre in a bulky telephone directory to carefully noting down positions from the Chess Today television show, she quietly built the foundation of a future champion. It was under her guidance and support that he began playing chess at the age of six👍
♟️ He walks us through his evolution from being known as the “Lightning Kid” for his blistering speed in five-minute blitz games to becoming a five-time World Champion. He speaks not only about victories, but about painful losses, tough draws, missed opportunities, and powerful comebacks.
Through 64 crisp chapters, one for every square on the chessboard, he reflects on defining moments that shaped his life. He also acknowledges the quiet forces behind his success: his mother, his wife Aruna, and well-wishers like Mauricio “Maurice” Perea and his wife reminding us that no champion truly rises alone.
♟️ At its heart, this book is about mindset. Through lived experience, he shows us the value of staying calm under pressure, thinking several moves ahead, accepting setbacks with grace, and preparing with relentless discipline. His insights from milestone matches are not just technical takeaways but life lessons in disguise. A priceless gift to every chess player.
♟️ Overall, This is not just a memoir about a champion. It is a thoughtful guide to thinking big, staying grounded, and playing your own game on the board and in life with clarity, courage, and quiet confidence.
A must-read for both chess players and non-players because the lessons go far beyond the 64 squares. ♟️
April 25, 2026
Chess, the game of patience and intelligence. Viswanathan Anand beautifully conveys life lessons through his experiences. What I especially loved are the small sections called “Vishy Says” after every chapter; they truly feel like the cherry on top.
February 27, 2026
if the life lesson is from non other then five time world champion, it'll be worth it
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews