Chess Queens: The True Story of a Chess Champion and the Greatest Female Players of All Time

This book changed my entire understanding of chess history and culture.Plus, it’s wildly entertaining.The author, WGM Jennifer Shahade, takes you on a multi-decade journey of women in chess, from past to present.In each chapter, you get beautiful stories of great women ascending the chess world. Rich portraits of these women come to life with her colorful and detailed prose.You revel in their awesome chess talent. Yet your heart also aches as you learn about the frequent sexism they faced.Not only did I find each women’s story fascinating, but I also learned something critical:Chess media has given women WAY too little attention.I had no idea until reading this book that there were so many great female chess players (and I've studied chess a LOT!) All that are profiled have had an inspiring and key role in its history.It made me realize how many more books and media we need like Chess Queens.Women deserve more attention. They’ve had a beautiful and powerful part of chess history - even as they’ve battled sexism that men have never had to face.With Chess Queens, Jennifer Shahade gives these female champions the spotlight they finally deserve. I hope other leaders in the chess world follow her example. The game is only great when it's inclusive.

This is a really amazing book that should be read by all chess players, regardless of gender. A wonderful mix of chess history, biography, accomplishment, and obstacles. The book is really well written and sourced. Hopefully Jennifer Shahade will have more books to come.

I became impatient waiting for my pre-ordered “Chess Queens” book to arrive, so I downloaded the audible version. This is a book for anyone interested in the human condition. All chess players will be interested in Jen’s reflections on the experience of chess competition, but I honestly don’t think this is a book only for chess players. It’s a book that reflects multi-cultural human experiences - challenges and triumphs, friendships and adversaries. I have so many favorite lines from this book.I read Jen’s first book “Chess Bitch” twice, shocked that I knew so little about competitive women chess players. As a late-in-life newcomer to competitive chess play I had many questions about the chess community. “Chess Bitch” gave me historical context I had been missing. I wondered how this book would match “Chess Bitch”.By sharing her experiences and observations Jen has left me with new and unexpected learning.

Jennifer sets out on a balancing act. She tells stories of sexism, but inoculates them with humor, sweeping visions of world history, side by side with the women and chess masters impacted by them, and personal anecdote with wide relevance.Overall, it's a remarkable piece of writing. At parts touching and at parts maddening, it unpacked the real-life around women in chess.

This book is written in a lively language, and is captivating and interesting - both from a historic point of view, and as a social commentary about women in a highly competitive, male-dominant sport.And if you loved queen's gambit, you'll absolutely enjoy this informative and personal account.

The author knows what it takes to be a chess champion and the challenges of being a woman in a predominantly male world...it means that she writes as an insider with real authority and insight. Many of the people she writes about - she knows personally - and has managed to dig into their fascinating experiences and backstories. These women chess players have broken many glass ceilings, proved an inspiration and been catalysts for cultural change. I really enjoyed reading these stories. They are stories that need to be told and Jennifer Shahade tells them beautifully.

A great book about some incredible women and some of the struggles they've gone through establishing themselves in the game.