Go Reviews

Go! More Than a Game
By Peter Shotwell
reviewed by Vincent Solimine, 14k

Although there are many good beginner go books, none can really be considered complete, tending to focus on playing fundamentals at the expense of the many other fascinating aspects of the game. Peter Shotwell's "Go! More Than A Game," however, can justly lay claim to the title, providing a complete text on the subject of the game of go. 

The best learning technique is to present a comprehensive overview of the subject. In teaching a language, for example, the beginner is introduced to the vast complexity of the language, the myriad verb tenses, idiomatic phrases, contractions, definite articles and
plurals. While the beginning student will not immediately seriously study many of these
topics, the foundation of the language is established and creates a framework upon which the mind can build. Without such a proper framework the mind can develop erroneous 
conceptualizations, detrimental procedures, and an overall myopic discernment of the 
subject. How many of us have finally understood a go concept after years of stumbling, only to realize that knowledge of the concept early on would have facilitated the journey?

"Go!" covers all of the major topics in go in a style that is creative, well thought out and effective. Examples include the use of analogies, go's connections to Eastern philosophies (as a Taoist I was pleased to finally see this approach embraced fully), example games chosen for their educational value (many are more understandable amateur games rather than professional games), chapters designed to complement each other and build on prior concepts. Josekis are introduced using full 19x19 board diagrams (again, framework for 
whole-board thinking), and concise move variations are included that clarify and reinforce. 
There are excellent discussions on such subjects as harmony, balance, finding your style, 
the conversation of go, efficiency, and shape, just to name a few. The reader is even 
treated to various examples of beautiful traditional go artwork.

Of special note are the final three chapters on "The History of Go", "Go and Western Science", and "Go, Business, and the Thirty-Six Strategies of the Dark School of Taoism." 
The "History of Go" chapter is exceptional. Unlike other go books that too often gloss over 
go history, here Mr. Shotwell takes the reader back in time and then guides us through the 
game's rich and fascinating history, ending with the modern global game we know today. The "Go and Western Science" chapter is absorbing and thought provoking. Instead of the 
ubiquitous "computers can't play go" thesis, we are shown the game of go through the prism of the cognitive sciences, introduced to topics such as Chunk Theory and Surreal Numbers, challenged by discussions of various cognitive experiments, and encouraged to experiment on ourselves!

The final chapter, "Go, Business, and the Thirty-Six Strategies of the Dark School of Taoism", explores the connections between go, business, politics, and Taoist philosophy in an captivating manner and alone is worth the price of the book. There truly is something here for everyone. Regardless of your level, this book will enhance your passion for the game, improve your knowledge of its history, add to your skill set, and give you a different way to think about and teach the game to others.

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