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)

Overly Factual

I thought this book was compelling because of its subject, and it's well written, with logical, linear threads.

But I wanted to read more about Fischer's breakdown, and what led him to withdraw from conventional life. I wanted to see Fisher from the inside. I don't know if that's even possible, or if he ever sought counseling or even knew or cared that his life was in a "move" more baffling than his most challenging chess match.

I'd love to see another writer, or even this one, continue to plunder the depths where "Endgame" leaves off.

Suspenseful, Outstanding Audible Book.

If you could sum up Endgame in three words, what would they be?

I am not a chess player, and barely know how to play the game, but this book was a home run! Perfectly written, with fantastic narration, and a

IT IS WHAT IT IS - A BOBBY FLOP

I can't say that I developed any feelings towards Bobby - maybe irritation and a desire to give him a lecture about pride in his country and a need to count his blessings and respect his talents....However, I would have felt better about this book if I could empathise with Bobby, understand what made him so 'dysfunctional', feel sad and sorry for him, appreciate his grievances and prejudices. But that is not the case. I was unmoved by his tantrums, disinterested in his achievements and uninspired by his wierd ways. The tragedy is that this book could have been about a fictional character. In fact I feel a whole lot closer to a dozen fictional characters than I do to the 'real' world famous Bobby Fischer. Is it Bobby (so cold and unable to connect); is it the author of the biography - or just me? I certainly won't be listing it for a must re-read before I die...I also won't be rushing off to sharpen my chess skills. This book could be a prescribed text book. It simply reported events and lacked'insights', interpretations and depth. I almost feel it did a disservice to Bobby. Maybe I'd brave another Bobby book - written from a more humanistic perspective. I think this failed...

So much I never knew

What a crazy ride he had. There were many things I never knew about Bobby. I am not a big chess person, but this story is so entertaining. It is hard to believe that all of this actually happen. You hear about the glory but never the struggles and madness of him. If you like books with interesting and unpredicatable characters, the read this book.

A Fascinating and Tragic Life of a Chess Genius

The story is very compelling and the narration is superb. I finished this audio book in just four days. If only he was as skilled in human relations as he was on the chess board, Bobby Fischer could truly have conquered the world.

Beautiful but sad

Although I am not a very good chess player, I really enjoy watching game analysis and always loved seeing Bobby's games and his genius. I knew that later he became a troubled man but I had no idea that it was so bad. Who knows what would have been if some parts of his life were just a little different.

Everyone interested in chess will enjoy following one of the greatest players who ever lived.

Wanted to like it

I really wanted to like this book. While Ray Porter was his typical great narrator. I found the story and acts of Booby displeasing. Book is well written and narrated. My rating is based on the story and the man and not a reflection on the author or reading.

Outstanding and Highly Recommended In Every Way

Wow. This is a great story about Bobby Fischer. The story is great. The narration is great. Everything is great. Highly recommended in every way.

Interesting information but not a good story

We all have our favorite authors - people who seem capable of telling a compelling story about almost anything. Malcolm Gladwell, Thomas Hager, Michael Lewis and Simon Winchester are a few of my favorites. I'll read anything those authors write. Endgame is sort of the opposite - lots of interesting information about Bobby Fisher, but not told in a manner that made me want to get back to the book. Actually, I was pleased when it finished.
I've enjoyed the narrator in the past, but this is not his best work.

review

The book itself is well done. The title would be more accurate as Endgame : The Life of a Jerk