My best chess mentor in a book, EVER, is...

[S.Taylor]

Andy
No sorry
Andrew Soltis.
Just 2 books maybe tells you everything!
That is, from intermediate player with difficulties, through to gm level.
Thay is, after years of trial and error and remaining clueless.

The 2 books are:
1.what it takes to become a gm
And
2.what it takes to become a chess master.
I mentioned them in reverse order, because if you start with the GM book, you may get entertainment value, followed by frustration when you see it gets a bit above your head.
It also has a brilliant computerchess chapter.
After that, you will be dying to go through the CM book and will appreciate it much more and absorb it better.
If anyone now becomes a GM by following this advice (ie these 2 books), don't forget to drop by and tell us!
(sorry, i maybe just am in one of those moods! I shouldn't speak so dramatically without being paid as an advertiser!).

[S.Taylor]

I would like to add, that my reasons for praising these 2 books so much and claiming them to be the ultimate, is that they address exactly what i personally would need if i now wanted to complete my study of chess with aim at grandmastery.
It speaks directly to my language, mind and heart.

I would like to point out, that i would expect that, if i had posted this thread(?) 20 years ago, it would likely have won top prize for most valuable thread of the year.

As of today, the whole world has run wild, and the rage of the street is different.

[Dann Corbit]

Tragically, it is Bobby Fischer.
An absolute whinging twit and racist bombard.
His chess books, were (none the less) marvelous.
I wish it were otherwise.
But my flame for chess started with "Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess"

[S.Taylor]

Are u trying to say that his book is the best?

I had the impression it was for beginners.

[Chessqueen]

A good book to read which not only help you understand Chess960 complexity, but it will help any player from different level including IM is " Play stronger standard chess by examinings Chess960" , by Gene Milener.

[Dann Corbit]

I am also very fond of the entire Yasser Seirawan book set:
https://www.amazon.com/Yasser-Seirawan/e/B000APA1FE