Endgame

Bobby Fischer’s Remarkable Rise and Fall—from America’s Brightest Prodigy to the Edge of Madness

By: Frank Brady

Narrated by: Ray Porter

Length: 13 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

From Frank Brady, who wrote one of the best-selling books on Bobby Fischer of all time and who was himself a friend of Fischer’s, comes an impressively researched biography that for the first time completely captures the remarkable arc of Bobby Fischer’s life. When Bobby Fischer passed away in January 2008, he left behind a confounding legacy. Everyone knew the basics of his life—he began as a brilliant youngster, then became the pride of American chess, then took a sharp turn, struggling with paranoia and mental illness. But nobody truly understood him.

What motivated Fischer from such a young age, and what was the source of his remarkable intellect? How could a man so ambivalent about money and fame be so driven to succeed? What drew this man of Jewish descent to fulminate against Jews, and how was it that a mind so famously disciplined could unravel so completely? From Fischer’s meteoric rise, to an utterly dominant prime unequaled by any American chess player, to his eventual descent into madness, the book draws upon hundreds of newly discovered documents and recordings and numerous firsthand interviews conducted with those who knew Fischer best. It paints, for the very first time, a complete picture of one of America’s most enigmatic icons. This is the definitive account of a fascinating man and an extraordinary life, one that at last reconciles Fischer’s deeply contradictory legacy and answers the question, who was Bobby Fischer?

©2011 Frank Brady (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“The Mozart of the chessboard is inseparable from the monster of paranoid egotism in this fascinating biography. Brady, founding publisher of Chess Life magazine and a friend of Fischer, gives a richly detailed account of the impoverished Brooklyn wunderkind’s sensational opening…Brady gives us a vivid, tragic narrative of a life that became a chess game.” (Publishers Weekly)

“I learned something new on nearly every page of this wonderful book. Frank Brady is the perfect biographer for Bobby Fischer, and Endgame tells the full and fair story of Fischer’s astonishing rise and heartbreaking fall." (Christopher Chabris, author of The Invisible Gorilla )

“Fischer is America’s greatest antihero. This fascinating biography is filled with hope, Cold War intrigue, the fulfillment of genius, and an explosive fall from grace that is both deeply moving and, ultimately, profoundly sad.” (Jeremy Silman, author of The Amateur’s Mind)

Excellent book!!!

For somebody who only plays chess once in a blue moon I found this book very intriguing. Bobby really comes across as seriously tormented from a young age until his death. There is not too much technical language, but the author does jump time quite a bit which can make it difficult to follow.

Fascinating story of a troubled genius!

What made the experience of listening to Endgame the most enjoyable?

Well weaved story and outstanding narration

Who was your favorite character and why?

Of Course Fisher himself

What does Ray Porter bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Quality of narration is outstanding. I particularly liked how he played with different accents.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Fisher's behaviors prior to matches.

A sad ending to a remarkable legacy.

Fascinating. Thanks to the publisher and the author for allowing this book to be printed and for Amazon and Audible for a great presentation.

Bias mars the fasinating story of Bobby Fischer

What did you love best about Endgame?

Endgame revealed the more public timeline and details of Fischer's life and that by itself was interesting. But, holes in the narrative called into question the objectivity and research depth of the author.

Would you ever listen to anything by Frank Brady again?

I was not too impressed with Brady. Where was the interview with Fischer's wife? What about Fischer's sister and brother in-law. For that, you will have to go to the internet.

Have you listened to any of Ray Porter’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Ray Porter did fine, that wasn't the problem.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

no, but I did finish it.

Any additional comments?

Fischer is a very public and controversial figure. His true story was not revealed in this biography, far from it. My brief additional research showed that Brady was carrying an agenda in this book.

Revealing

Is full o new details not published in other sources. For me, completely unveils new perspectives on the life, thoughts and behavior of this great mind and poor lonely man.

Outstanding Read About Americas GOAT

Arguably, Bobby Fischer was the greatest chess player of all time. This book does an excellent job explaining his life and idiosyncrasies that lead him to the top and how the same traits dropped him into the abyss.
I’m a 60 year old biker and I cried several times listening to this book. Ray Porter was the perfect narrator to lend voice to this audiobook. In particular, I appreciate that the author gave this remarkable man the respect that he deserved by giving honest accounts of the events and letting the listener/reader make their own mind up about Bobby Fischer’s achievements, criticism and decline without trying to sensationalize his fall.

Paul Carlisle
I am an avid lifelong chess player that owes my love of the game solely to Bobby Fischer.

Bobby Fischer was a Jerk

Would you listen to Endgame again? Why?

No but only because I've read much about Bobby Fischer.

What did you like best about this story?

Chess strategy

Any additional comments?

Bobby Fischer was brilliant but strange and spoiled. He was fascinating though.

What a Nutcase

What did you like best about this story?

The intense and almost psychotic hatred for Jews, I had no idea.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

The narration was okay. The Russian accents were nothing to write home a bout.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The 1992 comeback against Spassky. I felt like he had come full circle.

A Gifted Mind Gone to Waste

I enjoy reading biographies and have always wanted to know more about Bobby Fischer. I suppose I've been living under a rock as I had no idea regarding his viscous antisemitism and his anger toward the U.S., especially after 9/11.

While you will learn about the young genius and how he became a champion at such an early age, on the flip side, you will learn about his paranoia about imagined Russian conspiracies, medical procedures and practices, and from being taken advantage of financially.

Ray Porter, in my opinion, has a gift at reading these long books and again, he turns in another strong performance (Ghost in the Wires was the first time I heard him).

Not a great book in terms of entertainment, but factually compelling, and if I were a chess player, I would probably say this is must reading to learn more about the history of championship chess during the late 50s through the early 70s.

A great life lesson for anyone

A great life lesson for anyone. A story of rise and fall in humanity, ingenuity and sportsmanship