I enjoy reading about chess at least as much as I enjoy playing it, and I look for books that will improve my play by (1) giving me something to practice (i.e. workbooks) or (2) correcting my thinking. This book purports to be in the second category, but I can tell you, as a beginner, I got nothing out of it.There is very little English describing how to excel; rather the author gives you games to look at as examples and you, the reader, are supposed understand the brilliance behind the moves. For me, this is not enough: I need a tour guide to show me the sights, not just a taxi driver to take me to them. I'm guessing that very good players don't need such hand-holding, hence my title for this review.One reviewer suggested that you will like this book if you like Rowson's "The Seven Deadly Chess Sins". Well, I'm only partway through TSDCS but I can tell you that I'm really enjoying it, but did not enjoy (or learn from) Excelling at Chess.