Among the many reviews of Chess were some highly complimentary reviews appearing in major newspapers by staff columnists and syndicated chess journalists that can't be reproduced here in their entirety because of copyright restrictions. Here are some comments from a few of the more well known:
Boston Globe by Harold Dondis__".
. . the book recounts Schultz's experiences in the chess world and is the best
chronicle of international chess that I have encountered . . .
GM Larry Evans' Syndicated Column__
". . . this memoir is a valuable and accurate rendition of tempestuous
events that shaped chess history in the last half of the 20th century . .
."
Ft. Lauderdale Sun Sentinel by Bill Cornwall__".
. . If you enjoy reading the inside stories about the lives of chess people,
then Chessdon was written for
you. . ."
The following reviews are printed in their entirety. Click on
the author for the full reviews.
1) Dr. Frank Brady, Former Chess Life editor and author of
Bobby
Fischer Profile of a Prodigy
2) Grandmaster Pal Benko, Twice Candidate for the World
Championship
3) Phil Haley, FIDE Zonal President and Delegate to FIDE from
Canada
4) Egon Ditt, President German Chess Federation
5) Charles Pote, acclaimed award winning national chess
journalist
6) Almog Burstein (Israel), International Chess
Arbiter
7) International Journalist Sam Sloan.
8) GM Murray Chandler, Nov. 1999 British Chess
Magazine.
9) Steve Lopez, Chess Kamikaze Website
10) John Elburg, Netherlands Book Reviews
11) Dr. Frances Lipp, Yale Phd and noted
cousin of former Chess-in-the-Schools President Fan Adam
Text of Reviews
(1) Dr. Frank Brady, Former Chess Life editor and author of
Bobby
Fischer Profile of a Prodigy:
"This is one of the most interesting chess books ever written. Don
Schultz offers the inside story of American and International chess from the
1960s to the turn of the century. Having been in a privileged position as a
chess organizer, Schultz outlines the fabulous and all-too-human stories of
world champions, grandmasters and woodpushers alike. If you love chess, you will
not be able to put this book down until you’ve read every page."
(2) Grandmaster Pal Benko, Twice Candidate for the World
Championship:
"Schultz was involved in chess the last half century as a player and
relentless organizer. Because of this he was able to show what was going on
behind the scenes in Chess Politics. From start to finish—a riveting and
exciting book"
(3) Phil Haley, FIDE Zonal President and Delegate to FIDE from
Canada:
"A one of a kind book that will capture and hold the attention of not
only chess enthusiasts but the entire reading world. A candid view of chess and
chess politicians . . . names names . . .pulls no punches. . .tells it as it is.
With his intimate knowledge of chess personalities around the world, Don Schultz
is uniquely capable of capturing and holding the reader’s attention."
(4) Egon Ditt, President German Chess Federation:
"A great book and a great contribution to chess!"
(5) Charles Pote, acclaimed award winning national chess
journalist:
"A package from Don Schultz? Why would the USCF
President send a package to me? Hoping it wasn’t really from Ted Kacynski, I
mustered the courage to unwrap it—much to my relief, out feel a new book for
my review. I turned to page
one. That was 2:30 in the afternoon. Some four hours later I reluctantly closed
the book in time for dinner—but not before knowing—it’s a winner!! "Pulling
no punches, CHESSDON reveals everything from KGB involvement with chess, to
anecdotes, guaranteed to bring tears to your eyes. Chess personalities, ranging
from Bobby Fischer to Judit Polgar, are all present and accounted for, but it’s
the,
heretofore untold, personal insights into such titans of chess that I
enjoyed. For example, I didn’t know that even a Bobby Fischer would dare. . .
Do you know who won the first Earth vs. Outer Space chess game? All this, and
more, including many GM annotated games, are within CHESSDON."Simply put, Don’s book is a masterpiece and any review I might do would
be inadequate. I’ve read hundreds of chess books—Don’s book is the best
book about chess that I’ve ever read. Do yourself a favor and add CHESSDON to
your library."
(6) Almog Burstein (Israel), International Chess Arbiter: "Thrilling and enjoyable, humoristic and serious, sensitive and trenchant—all in one cover."
(7) International Journalist Sam Sloan:
"CHESSDON is probably the first book on chess politics ever
written. It can be said for certain that the book will be devoured by chess
politicians, organizers and administrators around the world. It covers material
and events which are not dealt with in any other book."
(8) GM Murray Chandler, British Chess Magazine
"Pour yourself a large cup
of strong coffee, for these are the memoirs of a chess politician. Don Schultz
has spent nearly 40 years as a chess volunteer organiser in the USA; as well as
being a past President of four State Chess Associations, he represented the USA
at FIDE (World Chess Federation) meetings from 1978-1994. From 1996-1999 he was
USCF (United States Chess Federation) President, and it was during this period
that he had the idea of chronicling his life in chess.
The book title and back-cover blurb
hint at mafia-like skulduggery. However the main revelations concern the inner
workings of FIDE over the past decade, of particular interest to those active in
international chess in that period. This account, though often subjective, is
certainly original and comprehensive, though as meeting follows meeting, and
squabble follows squabble, you are sometimes left dumbstruck at the futility of
petty chess politics. In a paradoxical way, that makes the book educational; it
gives a flavour of the way semi-voluntary organisations like FIDE function.
"Although the book is
self-published, the presentation is good, and includes a 16-page photo spread in
the centre."
(9) Steve A. Lopez author of The
Chess
Kamikaze Website or try the Chess
Kamikaze Club.
As former USCF Don Schultz explains in the subtitle to his
book Chessdon, he's been involved in chess for over forty years. During
that time he became involved in many aspects of the game: as a player, writer,
editor, publisher, and as a chess politician. In his book, he encapsulates his
decades of experience into a readable (and often entertaining) series of
anecdotes.
He begins with his early chess club experiences (for me, one
of the more enjoyable portions of the book) and later turns his attention to the
world of chess politics on the state, national, and world level. Schultz has
operated on all three levels, met and interacted with many famous chess
personalities, and reveals much of his experience in this book.
Very often, chess autobiographies somehow mutate into a
personal attack against people the author didn't like. Schultz admirably avoids
this temptation. By the time you finish the book, you know who the good guys and
bad guys were, but the bad guys aren't labelled as such; Schultz lets the
actions of these characters speak for themselves. He also has the honesty to
occasionally paint himself in a less than flattering light, which is refreshing
in an autobiography of any kind and extremely rare in chess-related
books.
Admittedly, this book is concerned primarily with chess
politics; if you're not interested in this area, you'll likely wish to read
something else. But there are a few inside tidbits scattered throughout the book
(concerning the first Karpov-Kasparov match, as well as other well-known chess
events) that aren't found anywhere else and which make it pretty worthwhile to
anyone interested in recent chess history. Schultz' book is a good read and I
recommend it if you have an interest in the aforementioned subject matter.
(10) John Elburg,
Netherlands Book Reviews
Here we have an exciting chess book from the former USCF
President and chess organiser Don Schultz. Don is a well-known organiser of
chess tournaments for over a half of a century.
The material here is quit unique story’s background
information meetings with famous and less famous chess players. {I found here
a lot of unpublished material}
For example see his interviews & meetings with players as Albert O'Kelly ,Fisher,Tal,
Najdorf,Kamsky, Karpov
Kasparov etc.{it seems he did meet them all!}
I believe Don Schulz was in a very privileged position to
meet so many interesting people but this of course offers us readers a unique
view behind the scene!
A collection of 28 games with comments from GM Gabriel
Schwartzmann and a collection photo’s complete this all.
I believe a very objective and honest work!
Highly
recommended! * *
* * *
11) Dr. Frances Lipp, Colorado
I
immediately put down Robb's biography of Victor Hugo to do some serious
browsing. I enjoyed that too. The subheadings, lively anecdotal style, index are
all helpful for browsing. Since I started to learn chess only a few months ago (at
age 69), I assumed I would be able to make no sense at all of the various chess
games you include, but GM Schwartzman's chatty analyses and your considerate
inclusion of the notation letters/numbers along the edges of the diagrams mean
that I cannot only enjoy the chat and but see that with a little effort I'll be
able to get beyond it into the details of the games (a little, anyway).
"I liked
reading your accounts of people such as Bobby Fischer, Garry Kasparov, Carol
Jarecki, Florencio Campomanes, Frank Camaratta, etc., whose names are familiar
to me from internet browsing and/or chess fame. The Acronym appendix is welcome
too -- now I know what the "A" in LMA stands for!"
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