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Samurai Chess: Mastering Strategic Thinking Through the Martial Art of the Mind
This rare and vintage book is a perfect addition to any bibliophile's collection
- GenresChessNonfiction
224 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 1998
7 people are currently reading
185 people want to read
About the author
Michael J. Gelb
37 books174 followersThe world’s leading authority on the application of genius thinking to personal and organizational development, Michael J. Gelb is a pioneer in the fields of creative thinking, innovative leadership and executive coaching. His clients include DuPont, Emerson, Genentech, KPMG, Merck, Microsoft, Nike and YPO.
Michael is a Senior Fellow at The Center for Humanistic Management and a member of the Leading People and Organizations Advisory Board at the Fordham University Gabelli School of Business. Michael was also awarded a Batten Fellowship in Innovation from the University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business, and he co-directed the acclaimed Leading Innovation Seminar there for more than 10 years. Michael was honored as “Brain of the Year” (1999) by the Brain Trust Charity – other recipients include Steven Hawking, Garry Kasparov and Edward De Bono.
Michael is the author of 17 books including How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci, Discover Your Genius, Innovate Like Edison, and The Art of Connection: 7 Relationship Building Skills Every Leader Needs Now.
Michael’s books have been translated into 25 languages and have sold more than one million copies. Recent releases include The Healing Organization: Awakening the Conscience of Business to Help Save the World, co-authored with Prof. Raj Sisodia, and Mastering the Art of Public Speaking: 8 Secrets to Transform Fear and Supercharge Your Career.
FUN FACTS
Author, Speaker, Consultant, Juggler!
A professional juggler who performed with the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan, Gelb introduced the idea of teaching juggling to promote accelerated learning and team-building. He is the author of The 5 Keys to High Performance: Juggling Your Way to Success.
A passionate wine lover, Gelb is the originator of a unique and enjoyable approach to teambuilding as expressed in Wine Drinking For Inspired Thinking: Uncork Your Creative Juices.
Michael trained as a teacher of the Alexander Technique, (the method taught at The Juilliard School for cultivating commanding stage presence), while completing his Masters degree. His thesis became his first book – Body Learning: An Introduction to the Alexander Technique.
A fifth degree black belt in the martial art of Aikido, Gelb is co-author with Grandmaster Raymond Keene, of Samurai Chess: Mastering Strategic Thinking Through the Martial Art of the Mind.
Michael is a Senior Fellow at The Center for Humanistic Management and a member of the Leading People and Organizations Advisory Board at the Fordham University Gabelli School of Business. Michael was also awarded a Batten Fellowship in Innovation from the University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business, and he co-directed the acclaimed Leading Innovation Seminar there for more than 10 years. Michael was honored as “Brain of the Year” (1999) by the Brain Trust Charity – other recipients include Steven Hawking, Garry Kasparov and Edward De Bono.
Michael is the author of 17 books including How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci, Discover Your Genius, Innovate Like Edison, and The Art of Connection: 7 Relationship Building Skills Every Leader Needs Now.
Michael’s books have been translated into 25 languages and have sold more than one million copies. Recent releases include The Healing Organization: Awakening the Conscience of Business to Help Save the World, co-authored with Prof. Raj Sisodia, and Mastering the Art of Public Speaking: 8 Secrets to Transform Fear and Supercharge Your Career.
FUN FACTS
Author, Speaker, Consultant, Juggler!
A professional juggler who performed with the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan, Gelb introduced the idea of teaching juggling to promote accelerated learning and team-building. He is the author of The 5 Keys to High Performance: Juggling Your Way to Success.
A passionate wine lover, Gelb is the originator of a unique and enjoyable approach to teambuilding as expressed in Wine Drinking For Inspired Thinking: Uncork Your Creative Juices.
Michael trained as a teacher of the Alexander Technique, (the method taught at The Juilliard School for cultivating commanding stage presence), while completing his Masters degree. His thesis became his first book – Body Learning: An Introduction to the Alexander Technique.
A fifth degree black belt in the martial art of Aikido, Gelb is co-author with Grandmaster Raymond Keene, of Samurai Chess: Mastering Strategic Thinking Through the Martial Art of the Mind.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 20, 2010
I give this book a low rating simply because there are many, many much better books about chess available.
This is written, and intended to be a "Sexy" book about chess, which is ridiculous. Sexy things always have a short event horizon; chess is quite the opposite.
Here you will gain; better thinking skills, better mind-body coordination (huh?), and many metaphors-for-success in business, life, the universe and everything.
Argh.
This is written, and intended to be a "Sexy" book about chess, which is ridiculous. Sexy things always have a short event horizon; chess is quite the opposite.
Here you will gain; better thinking skills, better mind-body coordination (huh?), and many metaphors-for-success in business, life, the universe and everything.
Argh.
July 15, 2021
Samurai’s, Martial Arts and Chess, Oh my goth! Enjoyed this read.
September 14, 2010
I bought this book with the express intention of teaching myself how to play chess. It worked! Not only am I now playing chess regularly, I am teaching my kids to play. I thought there would be a lot of resistance from them but, they love it! The authors do a great job of blending together the strategic thought of two seemingly unrelated areas of study. It turns out that the mental sport of chess and the martial art of Aikido have more in common than one would think at first glance. Both are studies in war and success in war boils down to strategy. I highly recommend this book and will use it time and again as a valued reference.
May 26, 2020
If you are a beginner to chess and looking to learn the game, then this is not the book for you. It does provide an overview of chess and basic rules, but this book is more about strategic thinking in chess, life and business. The authors draw upon the classic, The Book of Five Rings, by Myamoto Mussahi, in applying martial arts methods to chess. The value of this book, while offering new insights into the playing of chess, is its strategic thinking ideas for life and business.
June 2, 2025
This book is divided into four parts: lore on chess and the samurai, an explanation of chess for beginners, mental tactics for preparing, and then finally, its higher-level tactics relating to The Book of Five Rings and greater samurai culture.
The main problem is that for a book supposedly on samurai tactics, the first three sections consume an alarming percentage of the text, ultimately moving this piece from a lean and useful textbook to sub-par edu-pulp. Much of the first section is bloated with fluff more useful in trivia than tournament. For example, the book has dedicated segments on both Chess's Islamic history and Soviet history.
I'll relent that the final section did have some useful points for consideration, but I firmly believe it is too little too late. Had the lattermost chapter of the book been longer, or the former sections been less scatterbrained, I would not feel such passionate contempt. However, as it stands, I feel remorse that I cannot have a refund.
The main problem is that for a book supposedly on samurai tactics, the first three sections consume an alarming percentage of the text, ultimately moving this piece from a lean and useful textbook to sub-par edu-pulp. Much of the first section is bloated with fluff more useful in trivia than tournament. For example, the book has dedicated segments on both Chess's Islamic history and Soviet history.
I'll relent that the final section did have some useful points for consideration, but I firmly believe it is too little too late. Had the lattermost chapter of the book been longer, or the former sections been less scatterbrained, I would not feel such passionate contempt. However, as it stands, I feel remorse that I cannot have a refund.
January 6, 2014
Amazing book for beginners and advanced players alike. The main draw for this book though is that the ideas/principles it teaches can be applied even to work or your personal life.
The book also touches upon the background of some of the chess worlds biggest games and how each Grand Master played.
The exercises are well designed to and based off some of the classic chess matches.
The book also touches upon the background of some of the chess worlds biggest games and how each Grand Master played.
The exercises are well designed to and based off some of the classic chess matches.
March 24, 2007
Fairly easy to understand for the layman, but be ready to exercise those brain muscles. You'll be a contender in no time.
This was a birthday gift from my father which he probably regretted later. It enabled me to finally beat him at Chess. He rarely won a game after that. :-)
This was a birthday gift from my father which he probably regretted later. It enabled me to finally beat him at Chess. He rarely won a game after that. :-)
July 27, 2012
I really enjoyed the way this book attacks chess and presents strategies to the game. I also enjoyed how they present some of the historic games that have been played. An excellent book for chess enthusiasts.
August 21, 2007
Strategy. Whether it's Chess, business, life, or football, it's all the same. A cool book with an interesting way of relating samurai traditions and battle techniques to logical thinking and chess.
April 27, 2009
The only way to look at chess. Unless your a grandmaster
December 16, 2009
interesting book only glanced thru,may be able to download free.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews