First Fundamentals: First Impressions

[Mivo]

What a thorough and helpful review. Question: have you seen the Second Book of Go? To what extent does First Fundamentals dominate SBG as a book to recommend to new players?

Sorry for the late response. My plane of life has gotten a bit in turbulences lately, so that kept me on my toes (or rather, on the belly).

The SBG, well, I never actually liked it very much, but I'm not sure I read it at the right time. To me, it seemed too unfocused, too little material for most topics to be really useful. FF is more "focused" (a lot more material, too), but the difficulty is also quite varied, so it's hard to say for who it really is exactly.

Basically, SBG is like a plate of food samples and teasers, and FF is a box of high energy food pellets. Both will nourish you in some form, but neither are really comparable, cover the same ground or even aim at the same target group. SBG is an intro book, FF is a work book. The material/price ratio of FF is definitely significantly better.

I think if I had to recommend a few books to beginners, I'd suggest that web course (whatever it is called!) or one of the first books, then a problem collection and Opening Theory Made Easy (I really like that book), and then First Fundamentals. FF stays with you a long time, so it's a bit like A&D, I guess (not saying they are the same -- just in terms of how much you can milk them).

[Bonobo]

Thanks Mivo and Boidhre, your reviews, however short they may be, have told me exactly what I’d have wanted to read about such a book.

I’ve just ordered the First Fundamentals, and I tell you, I am very curious. And I’m especially curious in what way it may change the way I teach the kids at the regular Go workshop that I instruct at the local school!

[Mivo]

I’ve just ordered the First Fundamentals, and I tell you, I am very curious. And I’m especially curious in what way it may change the way I teach the kids at the regular Go workshop that I instruct at the local school!

I think you'll be happy with the book. The biggest difference to most other books is how many "this is wrong!" diagrams it has, which I find really helpful as it stimulates one's own thinking, because your brain immediately starts to work out why the diagram is wrong or why the suggested moves are superior. I think I'm just the type of learner who prefers "active studying", and FF is an excellent companion for that. It's not for everyone, though.

[jts]

Thanks, mivo, your first impressions are very useful.

[Bonobo]

So … now that I’ve read the first 20 or so pages of this book, I can state that …

• … IMHO this is an enjoyable and enlightening read despite its sometimes a bit crude English (but who am I to complain since I, too, being German, am not a native speaker of English).

• … it seems to be very helpful for my level (currently 12k KGS, 12k Kaya, 16k DGS) since it apparently helps me focus on The Right Thing™.
  
  Sidenote: Just yesterday I won a Real Life game, playing White, against a German 13k (EGF) which, according to Sensei’s Library’s Rank Comparison Chart, compares to 7k (KGS) and 12k (DGS), and I remember how during the game I was able to apply what little I already had learnt from this book. And yes, I know this is just one game, but I was quite astonished to win by about 50 or more points (the win was so clear that we didn’t finish counting). It feels as if my thinking about the game has already changed.

• … its many diagrams are quite readable even for me who has some troubles reading diagrams with long move sequences.

• … the diagrams are very illustrative for explaining the principles Robert keeps talking about.

As mentioned in that other thread, I read it in the bathroom and I must be careful not to spend more time there than necessary just because I’m eager to read on further

So far I can warmly recommend this book, even though at 25 € it’s not really “cheap”, but you can first buy the PDF for half the price and later get a rebate if you then decide to buy the printed book.

And I’d really wish this book was available in German, too, because most Go players in my Real Life environment (local Go group where I’m by far the strongest player and the Go workshop I instruct at the local school).


Greetings, Tom
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Disclaimer: I’m in no way associated with Robert Jasiek, I’m neither married to nor in love with him I’m just a fellow German. Also, I’m still a relatively weak player, so please take my words with a grain of salt.