This book is similar to Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess as far as the "no chess set needed" which makes it nice to keep on the nightstand for some late night reading. Speaking of Bobby Fischer, the book is written by Josh Waitzkin whose life was portrayed in the movie "Searching for Bobby Fischer" and a heck of a chess player in his own right, although last I heard he's retired from Chess. The book focuses on the attacking side of chess, pins, skewers, discovery checks, and my favorite the knight fork, and much more, all examples are clear and easy to digest without clogging up your mind with variations. This book will improve your chess. Overall I recommend this book for all beginners and amateur players.