This book is usually listed in the top ten books of almost all chess enthusiasts. I read this immediately after reading Botvinnik’s 100 selected games, and it is quite a contrast.
The book is delightful not only in terms of its analysis but also the human aspect of the match. Tal has a unique way of explaining positions, and ideas and has an almost magical ability to calculate long lines, and evaluate them. The Magician from Riga also has a reverence for Botvinnik that comes across clearly in the pages, and at certain points in the book you feel that it was Botvinnik and not Tal who won the match!
Chess books are not novels, but this is a breeze to read through. It is written beautifully, and more than that you come to adore Tal for his humility and love for the game. After reading this book – I decided to read every book that Tal has ever written!