Books I've read in 2025

Books I've read in 2025

The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday

A Century of Chess: Book I: 1900-1909 by Sam Kahn

Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki

Robert's Rules of Order

Theory of Moral Sentiments by Adam Smith

Rebuild: the Economy, Leadership, and You by Graham Boyd and Jack Reardon

Thus Spoke Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche

Star Trek Voyager Caretaker by L.A. Graf

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

Star Trek Voyager The Murdered Sun by Christie Golden

Letters from a Stoic by Lucius Annaeus Seneca

The Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant

The World as Will and Representation, Vol. 1 by Arthur Schopenhauer

Star Trek Voyager The Escape by Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch

Das Kapital Vol. 1 by Karl Marx

Right Thing, Right Now by Ryan Holiday

Breaking Through Power by Ralph Nader

Quote of the day October 25, 2025

"I think of myself as playing against the board, and not against my opponent." - Daniel Naroditsky

Quote of the day September 27, 2025

 "Focus on growth rather than rating."

- Grandmaster Elshan Moradi

Pictures from Saturday's Chess Club August 16, 2025

At this weekend's chess club our Vice President and I played a game of Tri-dimensional chess, the game created for the Star Trek series. I ended up prevailing in the game, checking where my pieces can go on the different levels of the play field. I ended up being caught off guard, not paying attention to the moves Nigraq can make. While scary at first, I pressed on and ended up delivering checkmate!

A frequent player in our weekend games has been Devon Stalker, who has learned what all the pieces are faster than our Vice President of the club. Both men ended up blundering their queens, though Nigraq was able to make a comeback and triumph in the end.

Our monthly puzzler was solved by KOTZ Radio's news director Desiree Hagan, who won our prize, a magnetic travel chess set.

Green For Life Season 1 Episode 6

 

This week Jon and I are joined by Robert Frederiksen, better known as Ravenspeaker! We talk to Ravenspeaker about the importance of storytelling and culture.

Geometrical Dance Daily Chess Puzzle

I like this puzzle; it looks like Black is winning here but White has a forced checkmate in 3.

The Rooks Rally Daily Chess Puzzle

It's Monday so we're back to an easy puzzle.

When the Puzzle Fights Back Daily Chess Puzzle

I didn't get this puzzle until I analyzed the position with Stockfish.

Checking Your First Impression Daily Chess Puzzle

I got the first move pretty easy. The following moves took me a minute to get.

Checks, Captures, Skewers Daily Chess Puzzle

Easy puzzle, a good example of a skewer.

The Chess Level 100 (Level 3) Man vs. Machine

 

I'm feeling so confident in this game that I start off playing The Grand Opening.

1. a3 Nc6 2. e4 Nd4 3. Nc3 h5 4. Bc4 Nb3 5. cxb3 h4 6. Nf3 c5 7. Ng5 Nh6 8. Nxf7 Nxf7 9. Bxf7+ Kxf7 10. Qf3+ Ke8 11. O-O Qc7 12. Nd5 g6 13. Nxc7+ Kd8 14. Nxa8 b6 15. d4 Rh5 16. dxc5 Bg7 17. Qf7 Rh7 18. Bg5 bxc5 19. Qxe7# 1-0

Managing Your Attacking Momentum Daily Chess Puzzle

It took me a minute to get this puzzle. There are some easy sacrifices that leaves you up material, but there are certain moves you have to find to get checkmate.

Chess.com buying Play Magnus, 3D Chess Game Plus (Level 2) Man vs. Machine

 I discuss Chess.com purchasing Play Magnus and what that means for Chess24. I play the level two computer in 3D Chess Game Plus in today's edition of Man vs. Machine. And I announce we're having Psiren as a guest on my podcast On Top of The World this Saturday, with the world premiere of his single My Friend.

Inviting All of Your Pieces to the Party Daily Chess Puzzle

It took me a minute here to find checkmate, there's a lot going on in this position. Fiona Steil-Antoni has a great video on what you should be looking for in this puzzle.

Chessable British Championship and Chess.com buys Play Magnus

 

I'm not a big fan of Chess24, but at least I am able to get games unlike KasparovChess. It'd be cool if the company can continue, but I doubt it.

The Chessable British Championship game was really interesting, with white having two rooks, while black had the bishop's pair. I didn't get the right move at the pause the video moment.

King Safety and Other Tactical Signals Daily Chess Puzzle

I really like this puzzle. Things are looking dire for white, but there's tactics in this position because White's winning even though you are down material.

Fork in the Road Daily Chess Puzzle

This is a good puzzle showing you have to find forcing moves.

Hot Pursuit Daily Chess Puzzle

This is a fun puzzle, and you have to be careful on one of the moves.

Watch Your Step Daily Chess Puzzle

It's Monday so we're back to easy puzzles. You do have to be careful against the bishop's pair.

Knight and Rook Reunion Daily Chess Puzzle

This took me a few minutes to get.