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Bobby Fischer: Profile of a Prodigy
Revealing biography of the controversial chess champion, written by a chess player who knew Fischer since the latter was 11. It chronicles Fischer's tumultuous public and private lives, including an analysis of 90 games that trace his rise to supremacy plus a complete history of the1972 Fischer-Spassky match. 26 photographs.
480 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1965
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About the author
Frank Brady
77 books31 followersFrank Brandy is the author of numerous critically acclaimed biographies. Internationally recognised as the greatest authority on the life and career of Bobby Fischer, he is also president of New York City's Marshall Chess Club and was the founding editor of Chess Life.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 12, 2008
Nearly everyone who has some decent experiance with chess has heard about Bobby Fischer and his mysterious behavior. He is one of the best chess players in history and I bought the book recently to get more insight into his character and mind. The book has about 400 pages and a little more than a half consists of his biography from childhood up to 1972 Fischer-Spassky Championship and the other part is 80 selected Fischer games with very good annotations and turnament results.
The biography in itself consists very little of Fischer's personal life, and majority of it are various turnament events and how well Fischer did at them. I think it's well worth reading for people who have interest in Bobby Fischer, and would like to immitate his career to some extent.
The part that has put biggest imprint on my memory is when the author (Bobby's early chess advisor) and Bobby went to meet one of the NYC bussinesmen who offered to fund Bobby's travel to a turnament. 'Tis what happened: after a short conversation the bussinessman added:
"[...] 'However there's just one thing I'd like you to do. If I put up the money and send you to this turnament, and when you win and are interviewed by the press, or anybody, I want you to say: 'I couldn't have won this turnament without the help of Sam Blanker."'
Bobby was on his feet immediately, seeming to have grown years in a moment. 'I can do that', he said evenly. 'If I win a turnament, I win it by myself. I do the playing. Nobody helps me. I win the turnament myself, with my own talent.'" Bobby rejected the offer for one particular reason.
This gives a lot of insight into Fischer's mind.
The pluses and minuses:
1. Pluses: The book was written in a very simplistic form without input of unnecessary words and information which makes it quick and pleasant to read. I read entire book in 3 days and I don't regret it. The attached annotated games and turnament results are a very good idea for people who are interested in Fischer's chess style (if it can be called a style) besides his biography.
2. Minuses: There's one huge problem with the book which to some extant destroys the postive impressions with the book. I took a way 2 points for this. The author over and over again rationalizes Fischer's behavior in a positive manner which might not be true and tries to impose on the reader the idea of Fischer being the greatest and most rightous genius on the planet. This happens especially in conclusion, of which I read only 2 pages as I couldn't cope with its "Fischer worshipping tone". I advise anyone who reads the book to simply not care so much about those parts.
The biography in itself consists very little of Fischer's personal life, and majority of it are various turnament events and how well Fischer did at them. I think it's well worth reading for people who have interest in Bobby Fischer, and would like to immitate his career to some extent.
The part that has put biggest imprint on my memory is when the author (Bobby's early chess advisor) and Bobby went to meet one of the NYC bussinesmen who offered to fund Bobby's travel to a turnament. 'Tis what happened: after a short conversation the bussinessman added:
"[...] 'However there's just one thing I'd like you to do. If I put up the money and send you to this turnament, and when you win and are interviewed by the press, or anybody, I want you to say: 'I couldn't have won this turnament without the help of Sam Blanker."'
Bobby was on his feet immediately, seeming to have grown years in a moment. 'I can do that', he said evenly. 'If I win a turnament, I win it by myself. I do the playing. Nobody helps me. I win the turnament myself, with my own talent.'" Bobby rejected the offer for one particular reason.
This gives a lot of insight into Fischer's mind.
The pluses and minuses:
1. Pluses: The book was written in a very simplistic form without input of unnecessary words and information which makes it quick and pleasant to read. I read entire book in 3 days and I don't regret it. The attached annotated games and turnament results are a very good idea for people who are interested in Fischer's chess style (if it can be called a style) besides his biography.
2. Minuses: There's one huge problem with the book which to some extant destroys the postive impressions with the book. I took a way 2 points for this. The author over and over again rationalizes Fischer's behavior in a positive manner which might not be true and tries to impose on the reader the idea of Fischer being the greatest and most rightous genius on the planet. This happens especially in conclusion, of which I read only 2 pages as I couldn't cope with its "Fischer worshipping tone". I advise anyone who reads the book to simply not care so much about those parts.
April 11, 2020
An excellent tale about one of the (if not the) greatest player in the history of chess. He is certainly the most colorful. How Bobby Fischer essentially taught himself chess and became the youngest grandmaster ever (up to that point), competing for the world championship at age 15, unheard of at that time. Because of his demands for perfection in the playing conditions, it would take him until age 29 to reach the summit (both Mikhail Tal and Garry Kasparov were younger champions).
Fischer was an interesting psychological case, and much has been written about his personality and behavior. The fact that he was fatherless has led to a lot of pop psychology. Brady conducts some of this, but he knows that he's doing it, and also he was closer to Fischer than almost anyone who has written about him. Brady was part of the USCF (United States Chess Federation) and helped Bobby in his quest for the World Championship, to which he was officially a candidate at various times from 1958-1972.
An insightful look into the inner workings of the chess world, and a fascinating telling of one of the greatest stories ever.
Fischer was an interesting psychological case, and much has been written about his personality and behavior. The fact that he was fatherless has led to a lot of pop psychology. Brady conducts some of this, but he knows that he's doing it, and also he was closer to Fischer than almost anyone who has written about him. Brady was part of the USCF (United States Chess Federation) and helped Bobby in his quest for the World Championship, to which he was officially a candidate at various times from 1958-1972.
An insightful look into the inner workings of the chess world, and a fascinating telling of one of the greatest stories ever.
February 6, 2023
Fischer’s life and legacy are incredible but i found the writing to be hard to follow
July 14, 2019
Sanitized but engrossing nonetheless
Eminently readable, but strangely unrevealing. Full of details about all sorts of Fischer tantrums, negotiations, etc., but somehow the real Fischer is absent. Noteworthy is Brady's refusal to write a single word about Fischer's sex life or lack thereof. Brady outlines his career from age six to the end of the World Championship match with Spassky in 1972. One gets the sense that Fischer was unconsciously a master of the psychology of intimidation, but gradually became more of a paranoid schizophrenic. As the book ends and Fischer has secured the world title, the reader can see he is about to leave the world of the sane. Also absent was any explanation, or quotes from Fischer on why he embraced the fundamentalist World Wide Church of God faith and dumped his nominal Jewish identity. I mean, does Fischer pray to a personal God? Does he actually believe in hell fire, etc.? Brady gives no hint. The details about Fischer's incredible work ethic and maniacal devotion to the game, however, help us to see how he became at the time the greatest chess player in the history of the game. Also good were the many glimpses of the chess players and personalities of the times, including Evans, Cramer, Edmunson, Reschevsky, Petrosian, Tal, Spassky, and others.
The other thing that Brady is mum on is Fischer's famous prejudices. Brady spares us Fischer's anti-Semitism, etc. There are almost no quotes of Fischer's famous stupidities. When Brady talks about the article in Harper's Magazine by Ralph Ginzburg in 1961 he says that "Bobby is depicted as a monster of egotism, scornful of everything outside himself and the game" who has a "hopeless vulgarity." But Brady quotes nary a word to show us what Fischer supposedly said. I guess the real problem with Brady's biography of Fischer ("profile") is that he was tiptoeing around Fischer's prejudices as though afraid to offend him, as though it was essential to stay in his good graces. Brady writes that when Fischer was displeased with anyone, he just cut them out of his life completely and ruthlessly. I think Brady was trying to write a true biography while staying within Fischer's good graces, an impossible task.
The guy who should write a Fischer biography is Grandmaster Larry Evans who knew him very well, who played at Fischer's level, and a man who was instrumental in helping Fischer achieve the success he did. Without the patience, understanding and guidance of Larry Evans it is likely that Fischer would have gone off the deep end long before he began, let alone finished, the historical match with Boris Spassky.
--Dennis Littrell, chess player and author of “The World Is Not as We Think It Is”
Eminently readable, but strangely unrevealing. Full of details about all sorts of Fischer tantrums, negotiations, etc., but somehow the real Fischer is absent. Noteworthy is Brady's refusal to write a single word about Fischer's sex life or lack thereof. Brady outlines his career from age six to the end of the World Championship match with Spassky in 1972. One gets the sense that Fischer was unconsciously a master of the psychology of intimidation, but gradually became more of a paranoid schizophrenic. As the book ends and Fischer has secured the world title, the reader can see he is about to leave the world of the sane. Also absent was any explanation, or quotes from Fischer on why he embraced the fundamentalist World Wide Church of God faith and dumped his nominal Jewish identity. I mean, does Fischer pray to a personal God? Does he actually believe in hell fire, etc.? Brady gives no hint. The details about Fischer's incredible work ethic and maniacal devotion to the game, however, help us to see how he became at the time the greatest chess player in the history of the game. Also good were the many glimpses of the chess players and personalities of the times, including Evans, Cramer, Edmunson, Reschevsky, Petrosian, Tal, Spassky, and others.
The other thing that Brady is mum on is Fischer's famous prejudices. Brady spares us Fischer's anti-Semitism, etc. There are almost no quotes of Fischer's famous stupidities. When Brady talks about the article in Harper's Magazine by Ralph Ginzburg in 1961 he says that "Bobby is depicted as a monster of egotism, scornful of everything outside himself and the game" who has a "hopeless vulgarity." But Brady quotes nary a word to show us what Fischer supposedly said. I guess the real problem with Brady's biography of Fischer ("profile") is that he was tiptoeing around Fischer's prejudices as though afraid to offend him, as though it was essential to stay in his good graces. Brady writes that when Fischer was displeased with anyone, he just cut them out of his life completely and ruthlessly. I think Brady was trying to write a true biography while staying within Fischer's good graces, an impossible task.
The guy who should write a Fischer biography is Grandmaster Larry Evans who knew him very well, who played at Fischer's level, and a man who was instrumental in helping Fischer achieve the success he did. Without the patience, understanding and guidance of Larry Evans it is likely that Fischer would have gone off the deep end long before he began, let alone finished, the historical match with Boris Spassky.
--Dennis Littrell, chess player and author of “The World Is Not as We Think It Is”
October 8, 2011
I had this book laying around for a few years but because I am interested in reading the recent follow up biography "Endgame", also by Brady, I thought I should read this one first.
The events of Fischer's early years and rise to world champion chronicled in this volume are particularly sad knowing the decline and erratic behavior that only increased after the final events covered here take place.
All of Fischer's eccentricities and social awkwardness, even rudeness are here still excused as indicating Fischer's slow to mature social skills while in hindsight they seem to be early warning sighs of the ultimate breakdown that seems to have occurred in "maturity".
It is however still romantic in a a sense to read these interesting accounts of traveling the world and getting paid just to play chess.
The events of Fischer's early years and rise to world champion chronicled in this volume are particularly sad knowing the decline and erratic behavior that only increased after the final events covered here take place.
All of Fischer's eccentricities and social awkwardness, even rudeness are here still excused as indicating Fischer's slow to mature social skills while in hindsight they seem to be early warning sighs of the ultimate breakdown that seems to have occurred in "maturity".
It is however still romantic in a a sense to read these interesting accounts of traveling the world and getting paid just to play chess.
January 30, 2013
Most non-chess people will find this book a good biography of Bobby Fischer's life up until he won the title of world chess champion. It might be a little tedious for the non-chess enthusiast; however, Frank Brady is an excellent author and he sets up the scenes in a way that Fischer's life comes alive. I am a chess enthusiast so I am a little biased about this book. If you love chess and love Fischer's chess genius, you will love this book. I think many people unfairly judge Fischer's behavior as being extreme or bizarre, I did until I read this book and gained new insight as to why he behaved the way that he did in certain situations. I have more respect for Fischer as a determined person than I did before. My appreciation for his artistic genius as a chess player grew as well.
May 9, 2007
I read the book in 2004 in Honolulu, Hawaii. My New Year's resolution was to take up chess just for mental exercise. Besides I didn't have a TV at the time and my only entertainment was my laptop which didn't have an internet connection. So I bought a Chessmaster program to while away the time.
The book itself was interesting for a neophyte of chess. At the end of the book it gave some Fischer games but since I just started they were too hard for me to understand. I sold the book which I regret now because I didn't expect to keep up with chess this long and it would have been a good book for any chess library.
The book itself was interesting for a neophyte of chess. At the end of the book it gave some Fischer games but since I just started they were too hard for me to understand. I sold the book which I regret now because I didn't expect to keep up with chess this long and it would have been a good book for any chess library.
October 29, 2010
Fascinating story of, in my mind, the greatest chessplayer of all time. You may legitimately challenge this assertion but there is no doubt that he was the most influential player who ever picked up a pawn.
This is probably the definitive bio on Bobby right up to his conquest of the world championship in 1972. It's probably a good thing that there is no sequel as his later years were marked by antisemitism, anti-Americanism, and downward spiral into insanity. Here we get to experience his precocious, meteoric rise to the chess summit. There were definitely challenges on the way but many of these were of his own invention.
This is probably the definitive bio on Bobby right up to his conquest of the world championship in 1972. It's probably a good thing that there is no sequel as his later years were marked by antisemitism, anti-Americanism, and downward spiral into insanity. Here we get to experience his precocious, meteoric rise to the chess summit. There were definitely challenges on the way but many of these were of his own invention.
April 21, 2007
I liked how this was primarily a biography and not a book of annotated chess games. It's apparent that the author is a fan of Bobby Fischer and also a personal acquaintance of the subject. I enjoy reading books about singular individuals who accomplish amazing things, and this book fits that bill. Thankfully, the book only covered the early part of Fischer's life, right up to the point where he wins the FIDE world chess championship -- we're spared the looniness and anti-Semitic views of the Bobby Fischer of today.
February 26, 2008
i'm by no means a biography reader, but this is great for any chess player who's heard of fischer (basically, any chess player). it's very informative, giving a deep impression of the tournament environment, and of bobby fischer's own play and personality.
i agree wholeheartedly with adrian's review of this book.
i agree wholeheartedly with adrian's review of this book.
April 8, 2014
4.5 stars. This was a fascinating look into one the life, motivations, psychology, and thrill of one of the best chess players in the history of the game. The annotated games at the end were a great learning tool, as well.
June 3, 2007
Not as humorous or easily read as Bobby Fischer v. the Rest of the World, but a detailed and more objective account nonetheless.
June 28, 2008
Bobby Fischer's in depth story. Full of juicy stories! I love this book
March 2, 2009
Bobby Fischer was one of the greatest chess players ever, but something of a troubled fellow. This was a very good book about his life up to and including his years playing tournament chess.
February 25, 2014
A bit sensationalist, but still invaluable.
February 27, 2016
Fascinating profile of a chess genius and the paranoia that accompanied a prodigy. Very sad story of what could have been
December 12, 2020
You can't figure out Bobby Fisher. But, Frank Brady personally knew Bobby for most of his life and he comes the closes to being able to explain his behavior.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews