DECODING GENIUS
The Unexpected Lessons of After-School Chess Club
COMING SOON TO AMAZON
COMING SOON TO AMAZON
What if genius has been hiding in plain sight?
Driven by a desire to help his young son and an insatiable curiosity for how things work, Dan Shapiro took a deep dive into the chess world. He learned of magical players able to compete in dozens of games at once, blindfolded. He uncovered stunning tales of prodigies and the strategies that allowed one nation to dominate the game for half a century. In Decoding Genius, Dan unravels these mysteries and much more.
Whether you are the parent or grandparent of a chess player, a new player yourself, or simply chasing the secrets of high performers across disciplines, this book demonstrates the power of the chess mind. Dan illustrates why, for centuries, practically every culture in the world has recognized chess for its unique ability to develop intellect, promote creativity, and bring people together.
From the Book:
“I remember sitting in the dorm room with my fellow students watching the James Bond movie From Russia with Love. That movie has a scene where an assassin from Bond’s nemesis criminal organization, SPECTRE, played a tense, methodical game of chess in an opulent setting among numerous spectators, and it hit me square in the face.
If you want to show someone is highly intelligent, you show them playing chess. Everyone understands this or believes it on an almost instinctual level. Chess has this reputation that it produces geniuses and that geniuses are drawn to chess. The assassin was an evil genius, to be sure, but that didn’t change the basic concept: aptitude at chess equals a brilliant mind.
I was no chess player, but I was fascinated by the idea of chess as a litmus test for brilliance. Why were chess players considered to be so smart? Where did that idea come from? And was it even true?”
About the Author
Dan Shapiro is a lifelong student committed to the pursuit of knowledge and new experiences. He has worked in the investment industry for nearly three decades. A volunteer and board member for many nonprofit organizations, Dan is a wine collector, home cook, musician, and vintage guitar collector. He is passionate about the game of chess, which he enjoys playing with his son, Harry. Dan lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with his wife and two sons.
