The Moves that Matter

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What to expect

'A powerfully unconventional and mind-expanding book ... A generous, nuanced and witty meditation on confronting the challenges life throws at us all' Oliver Burkeman, author of The Antidote

Refined and perfected throughout human history, chess has long been a touchstone for shrewd tacticians and master strategists. But enfolded within this ancient game can be found a singularly resonant metaphor for the challenges, thrills and setbacks that fill our lives with meaning and complexity.

Jonathan Rowson’s competitive success as a Grandmaster and his work as a philosopher of public policy have given him a unique perspective on why the great game is more important than ever for understanding the conflicts and uncertainties of the modern world. In sixty-four witty and addictive vignettes, Rowson takes us on a tour of life where everything is at play – an exhilarating journey from the aesthetics of cyborgs to the psychology of gang violence, the joys of parenting to the ultimate endgame of death. Chess emerges as a rich and endlessly evocative way of thinking about the desires that shape the world around us.

The Moves That Matter celebrates the redeeming power of intense concentration, while offering a humane and compassionate account of our interdependence and need for community. Jonathan Rowson reveals, one move at a time, what it means to love, think or care deeply in the intricate game of life.

Critics Review

  • At a time when we urgently need new ways to think about the challenge of creating a meaningful life – far more than we need conventional self-help advice – Jonathan Rowson has written a powerfully unconventional and mind-expanding book … A generous, nuanced and witty meditation on confronting the challenges life throws at us all

    Oliver Burkeman, author of 'The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking'

  • Terrific … What a beautiful, thoughtful work. I see thinking in a fresh light. I see my own life in a fresh light as well

    David Bodanis, author of 'Einstein's Greatest Mistake' and 'E=MC2'

  • A remarkable, highly original and personal book, unlike anything else you have ever read, packed with wisdom about life. You need to know next to nothing about chess to enjoy it and to want to keep coming back for more

    Iain McGilchrist, author of 'The Master and his Emissary'

  • Rowson’s is an unusual, important voice and perspective on our times: a humane thinker deeply interested in the implications of technology; an expert constantly probing at the limits of expertise … A wise, surprising and uplifting book

    Tom Chatfield, author of 'Critical Thinking'

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