Hey all,

Just looking for a quick answer here.

What's a good book on life and death? For a 30 kyu.

Is this a good one? http://www.amazon.com/Life-Death-Elemen ... 748&sr=8-1

Thank you.

L19 forever

No, I would say it would be a bit challenging for a complete beginner. I mean, if you're being modest I'm sure any player could benefit from trying to get through it, but if you're genuinely just starting then Graded Go Problems For Beginners, v. 1 & 2, is probably what you want.

http://www.kiseido.com/Begin.htm

Would it be okay for a smart 30 kyu?

It's a present and I wanted it to be more conversational than a book of problems. But you probably know better than me, I haven't read the inside of "Life and Death".

Any other opinions out there?

Just saw that someone in Amazon review of this book is saying the same thing as you.
30-25 kyu problems book first.

Why do you want to get a life and death book for them and not a beginners' book, like Bozulich's The Second Book of Go?

Well, I thought life and death is most basic, like the ground we walk on.
Looking for book to send with beginner board.

I think most good beginners' books will cover at least the basic concepts of life and death, which is all you should really need to start out with.

I just want to give him life; the rest he can do himself.

What books do people suggest then?

I would suggest Volume 1 or 2 of Janice Kim's Learn to Play Go series personally, but I'm sure there are other ideas out there.

I would suggest Peter Shotwell's Go! More Than a Game. This is not only a beginner book that introduces the basic concepts of go and walks the reader through a few games, but also serves as an excellent introduction to the rich history and culture surrounding go.

_________________
Patience, grasshopper.

oooh, good suggestion.

Mostly just agreeing with what has already been written.

"Life & Death" is way too difficult for a 30 kyu player. They will get nothing out of it past the first chapter, if that.

The Janice Kim books, "2nd Book of Go," "Graded Go Problems Volumes 1&2," and "Go! More Than a Game" are all good suggestions.