Guide to Good Chess

Rating:
Summary: A good book for the beginner who knows the rules.
Review: I like this book. It's great for beginners wondering why they can't get through the opening without getting crushed. Purdy's Guide provides dozens of rules of thumb. Follow these, and you'll usually get at least beyond the opening.

He also has some middlegame and endgame tips, in addition to lots of small examples. Purdy's prose is fluid and disarming, neither condescending nor placating,

The downside to these rules of thumb? Purdy does not explain in much depth why violating these rules can hurt your game. But for a beginner, does the reason matter? You'll enjoy the game more if you follow the principles.

I suggest reading this book before going on to Seirawan's wonderful and personally genuine Winning Chess series. Seirawan concentrates on piece mobility and tactics more than on general principles.

There are more reviews under an older edition, sub-titled "First Steps to Fine Points".

Rating:
Summary: decent beginner's book - cookbook style
Review: this books delivers many rules and rules of thumb. These are helpful mostly for beginners - contrary to the authors preface statement. The book covers opening , middlegame and endgame so we have a one-book-solution for a player who wants to do somthing for his play.

However, the 12th edition might have been reworked as to eliminate some errata, mainly in the discussion of openings (p.53: D12 gets a ?, undeserved ! asf.)

there was a good review in the magazine: "Europa Rochade #10 2003 p.91"