The World Played Chess: A Novel

Robert Dugoni has created a nearly perfect story of the challenge everyone faces in turning from child to adult. Told through the stories of three young men, in three different times, the after effects of the Vietnam war provide the thread that ties everything together.The writing is very good, capturing the voices of the narrators. I truly cared about all the characters, cheering when they succeeded and suffering when they struggled.The impact of PTSD on an entire generation of young men has never been fully acknowledged. This unflinching look at the symptoms and causes of PTSD gave me a new sympathy for our Veterans who fought in a far away country against an elusive and hard to identify enemy for reasons that seem senseless in retrospect.I recommend this book to anyone wanting to know more about the effects of war, the role of luck, and the burden parents carry to help their children steer a course to adulthood.

At my age of 50, I was very little and the war was near the end. For so many the war never ended. This book tells a story of a man who had to pull himself away mentally from the war and forgive so much to get there. I pray for all soldiers and thank them for their unselfish service.

After reading Dugoni’s first book, I had to read another to see if it lived up to the standards of the first. It did! And then some. If you have not yet been introduced to this gifted author, what are you waiting for?

Like so thousands of readers who loved “The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell,” I wondered if Bob Dugoni had another one in him. Could the ‘thriller’ writer who ventured into a new genre do it again? Would “The World Played Chess” be as good?I bought the book on the day that it was published and read it right away. It is just as good as “The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell.” I could not put it down and will never forget it.Other reviewers already provided plenty of details about the story so I will skip doing that. Instead, I would like to focus on how the book seems to operate on at least THREE LEVELS. Any one of them is worth your investment of time and money.LEVEL ONE is the surface level – a gripping story about a young man, Vincent, and a Vietnam veteran, William. We follow them across decades, locations, and life-altering decisions.Dugoni is a master storyteller at the peak of his game, and it shows here. The characters pull you in. The pages fly by. Dugoni makes ordinary lives extraordinary in richly described settings, reminiscent of a John Steinbeck novel.While reading the story, I found myself thinking of "The World According to Garp." So, it came as no surprise to see a reviewer mention John Irving.LEVEL TWO delivers a message. To be sure, the book teems with insights about life, love, parenting, letting go, holding on, death, sacrifice, forgiveness, and faith. What struck me most, though, was how the book picked up where Dugoni’s blockbuster “The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell” left off.If you read “The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell,” then you may recall its powerful ending. On the last page, we realize that “each of us has the ability to make our lives extraordinary.” Dugoni’s new book says, in effect, “So hurry up. Get going.”Watch for phrases like these three: “failure is easier to live with than regret,” “Growing old is a privilege, not a right,” and “life is fragile at any age, and that every day is a gift.”And my favorite: “learn to celebrate each morning that you wake, take a breath, and realize you’re still alive and the day is filled with endless potential.”Even the book’s title fits this idea, perhaps unexpectedly. Have you ever seen a tournament chess game – you know, the ones where master players use clocks and have limited time to make their moves? That’s the unspoken message here, at least for me. In the game of life, your clock is ticking. Make your moves. There's no time to dillydally.For, as John Irving's famous last line said, "In the world according to Garp, we are all terminal cases."LEVEL THREE is autobiographical. This might be a stretch, but here goes.On the final page of “The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell,” Dugoni wrote that there comes in a time when a person “stops looking forward and starts looking back.” Now, in his new book, the author himself looks into his rear-view mirror.Dugoni details in the Acknowledgments which parts of the story came from his own life. Quite a lot, it ends up. But it might be even more than what he acknowledged there.Dugoni raised two kids, had a near-fatal health scare, and recently turned sixty. He still has much to look forward to in life, but now, with “The World Played Chess,” he seems to pause and reflect. He wrote a 'manual' of sorts. He loaded his new book with life lessons and hard-won insights from a life well lived.BOTTOM LINE: "The World Played Chess" offers something for everyone. If you seek an interesting, inspiring story then you will get it. If you want something more – a friendly kick in the pants to go live your life to the fullest – then that is available to you as well. I highly recommend it.

Good mix of ages and the world they were involved in. Long-term male relationship in which each learned from the other. Enjoyable read.

Having lived a life similar to that of the story's protagonist, this book hit very close to home. The 60's and 70's were a pivotal time in our nation's history and this book captures the mood perfectly. I was drawn in because the flawed characters came across as believable and accurate. The story was revealed in a way to hold your attention and have you wanting more. A terrific experience for me.

A lovely connection between three young men at different times with different experiences that pushed them into manhood. Well written.

This booked touched me In a way few others ever had. I’ve read many stories of Vietnam and veterans, but never one that is done so magically as this one. Kudos Mr. Dugoni! You truly outdid yourself and I thank you for sharing with us what life is all about….luck we have and make for ourselves!

Easy to read with some content to make you think. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Would definitely recommend.Hope the author has more titles.

Love Dugoni. So insightfulWill bring you tears and memories of what might have beenWell done sir!Anxiously await your next masterpiece 💓

This book didn’t resonate with me as much as it would with readers in the USA. It’s not that I lack knowledge of the atrocities and uselessness of the war in Vietnam; more that the recalling of events in this lack a certain amount umph. Also, the abbreviations were used so much as to confuse at times.The plot is told in three timelines and involves two characters- mainly. 1967 onwards told by William who was drafted to Vietnam, 1979 told by Vincenzo (Vinnie) who is 18 and working to pay his way to university and 2016 told by Vincenzo who has possession of William’s Vietnam diary and whose son is about to start university.William and Vinnie become friends when on the same work outfit. It becomes increasingly obvious that William is suffering mentally from what is now called PTSD., as a result of the war. He has spells of great anger, shaking and lack of control. William gives Vinnie his diary so that the background and the horrendous consequences of the war are disclosed and so that Vinnie can understand William’s state of mind/actions.So the telling of William’s war experience is interspersed with Vinnie’’s recollections from 1979 and his present day, 2016.Whilst I found the book to be very well written and at times heartbreaking, it seemed to be a trudge to get to the point. I would recommend the book but highlight that it’s a very American slant- naturally!

I have become a committed reader of Robert D's novels.Everyone almost without exception have been entertaining, often challenging and very innovative. His use of language is so good, great descriptive phrases and compulsive reading.The World Played Chess is and was a significantly more challenging read and required a need to "stick with it". to begin to understand the deeper meaning of the novel. Although dealing very well with the horrors and pointless strategies of the Vietnam war, it's long term effect on all those directly and indirectly involved in the odious conflict it seems to bring its experiences to the lives of two other generations. A Difficult switching between different time periods and generations seems to bring the importance of life experiences to the various characters. Unfortunately I felt it was difficult to relax and simply enjoy the novel as a good read because of its message and for a UK reader the use of much American jargon and sporting references added more ambiguity for the reader.A well written novel but a read that required concentration and commitment to journey to its conclusion

This is an excellent book about the Vietnam War and also a coming of age book for other generations. Robert Dugoni writes well and this is no exception. William is a great character and his journal is a good thread tying the three timelines together. War fiction is my favourite genre and as a Brit I don't get to read much about Vietnam. I recommend this one.