by Fred Waitzkin, 240pp. (1993 Penguin Group)
 
The Father of a Prodigy Observes the World of Chess

This is the story of Fred Waitzkin and his son. From the moment six-year-old Josh first sits down at a chessboard until he competes for the national championship, he is drawn into the insular, international network of chess. Through it father and son must also navigate the difficult waters of their own relationship.
 
The compelling saga of three years in the life of a real American chess prodigy. This is the book upon which the feature length film of the same name was based. The film starred, among others, Ben Kingsley, Joe Mantegna, Joan Allen and Laurence Fishburne,

"A touching story of a father and son. You don't have to know the game to enjoy every page." -Cleveland Amory

"The quest is beautifully resolved.in a contest that knits together all the book's rich themes." -The New York Times

"Searching for Bobby Fischer works splendidly both as a piece of reporting on the chess world and an irresistable portrait of a prodigy. I've seldom been so captivated by a book." - Tom Stoppard

"I do not play chess, but Fred Waitzkin caught me unawares. In the framework of chess he has written a book about human feelings: a book so warm and revealing that it has captivated me. Who could resist Fred's son Joshua?" - Anthony Lewis