Every Move Must Have a Purpose: Strategies from Chess for Business and Life by Bruce Pandolfini, Hyperion Books, 111 Pages, $17.95 Hardcover, November 2003, ISBN 0786868856

This book is a classic example of what I call an airplane read: a fast paced book with about 100 pages that fits nicely in a pocket of your suit or briefcase. The author is a world-class chess teacher, who uses chess to teach about life and business. I was excited to read this book because I have always been captivated by the game of chess; in fact, a couple times in my life it has just plain dumbfounded me. The idea that you have sixty-four squares, sixteen pieces, and seemingly limitless possibilities, makes the game irresistible.

The author combines anecdotes and research to explore fifteen vital chess principles. He also includes stories from some of the greatest players in chess history, such as Jos Ral Capablanca. Much of the information surpasses chess and has profound applicability to life. As the author states in the foreword:

Chess players make it their business to master both the obvious and the ambiguous. Their rules are as straightforward as they are subtle. But chess is not the mere play of contradictions. Its also a contest, and for real, just like business. Great truths are true for any game. Chess and business, the two worlds might be different if they werent so alike. Success in either could be hard if it werent so simple.

The beauty of this book is that it is both practical and relevant. At the beginning of each chapter, the author offers a piece of wisdom related to chess. For example: Practically every situation has hidden value for the opportunist. He also offers real life advice at the end of each chapter, such as: Some moves are right only because they are a little wrong. This is one of those books that gets your brain percolating and teaches you strategies that will help you for the rest of your life. A book for a strategist or chess enthusiast, this book will prompt you to be more thoughtful about everything you do.

American Still Life : The Jim Beam Story and the Making of the World’s #1 Bourbon by F. Paul Pacult, John Wiley & Sons, 240 Pages, $24.95, Hardcover, August 2003, ISBN 0471444073

Some things are just part of the American Tradition: Apple Pie, The Liberty Bell, and The Old West to name a few. That is also where Jim Beam whiskey fits into the grand scheme of America: the enduring tradition of an icon. American Still Life captures the essence of what has made the Beam family synonymous with sippin whiskey, and how they made Jim Beam the worlds number one Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey.
Author F. Paul Pacult molds the story of the Beam family into a fascinating narrative, told as if it was your own family history. The tale follows pioneer Jacob Beam settling in Kentucky in 1787, through to his great great great grandson Booker Noe, the Jim Beam spokesman today. The dynasty and brand are observed through days on the frontier, prohibition, the depression, WW II, the rise of vodka in the pop culture, and to the appreciation whiskey has gained today as Americas national drink.
The author does a great job of presenting the history of what was once considered an adjunct farm activity, into a source of pride and heritage for all Americans. Pacult not only gives the history of Jim Beam, he also goes through the process of making the whiskey. As an expert of beverage alcohol and spirits, he gives in-depth explanations of what exactly has given Jim Beam whiskey the flavor that has become familiar to so many people. He ends the book with a whiskey tasting guide that examines all the Jim Beams brands with a master tasters touch.
I love how colorful this book is. Filled with vivid imagery and great characters, it is very entertaining and such an easy read. For example, the author writes in the preface about Booker and the Beam legacy:

Booker was so appealing because of his boundless enthusiasm, and no-nonsense personality. Tall as he was wide of girth, Booker commanded the speakers table by merely sitting there. He defined what a Kentucky whiskeyman should be…The Jim Beam Bourbon sage is one part family history, one part riveting fireside tale about the western frontier, one part memorabilia scrapbook, and part international business opusinextricably interwoven into the tale of Americas independence.

Whether you are interested in finding out how a great legacy of a business is established and maintained or if you are a history buff, this book is perfect. This is well-told story that is worth your time.