National Network for Equitable Library Service

A surprising, charming, and ever-fascinating history of the seemingly simple game that has had a profound effect on societies the world over. Why has one game, alone among thousands of games played throughout human history, not only survived, but thrived within every culture it has touched? Chess has been a remarkably omnipresent factor in the development of civilization since its invention, and David Shenk unearths the hidden history of a game that has influenced everything from mathematics to military strategies, computer science, and art.