I finished reading Crazy Chess by Jacques Pino (published 1999) and The Idea of War by Michael Howard (published 2021).
The former is less an introductory book than a practical guide by a French chess player who, despite being the All-Japan Chess Champion in 1986 and 1993, fell out with the JCA and joined the JCF in 1994, eventually being inducted into its Hall of Fame. While one can sense his passion for chess—he was even involved in policy planning for French presidential candidates—I found the latter half, a parade of famous game analyses from that era, rather tedious.
Including more of Mr. Pino's own games might have made it more readable. However, in today's overly information-driven society, I question whether stockpiling game records directly correlates with chess skill. For someone like me, who established a basic brawling playstyle with the opening sacrifice for phienchette remains, I'll take this as fate telling me to do game study preparation.
The latter is a commentary on Clausewitz's On War, but I felt uneasy about the description of “total war” in the final chapter.
Howard's argument equating nuclear war with total war overlooks the reality that the advent of nuclear weapons has reduced war as a means of state policy to a functional exercise in thought experiments without nuclear use. (by Toyama). It also overlooks the fact that even detonating all nuclear weapons on Earth wouldn't annihilate humanity, meaning Clausewitz's concept of “absolute war” has been theoretically disproven (one could even say nuclear weapons were developed to disprove Clausewitz).
When I concentrate on reading military texts in coffee shops, customers around me (mainly women) often confront me. Undeterred, I reaffirm my resolve to continue refining my theoretical groundwork and laying the groundwork as a “person capable of taking responsibility for war.”
Upon graduating college (about 20 years ago), I felt consumed by my own intensity and withdrew from the academic world of political science. But now, having mastered political dynamics and resolved the incident, I am determined to return to the field of political science, bringing chess as my offering.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
youtube：jleoyamato