First Life and Death - Review by the Author

[RobertJasiek]

General Specification

* Title: First Life and Death
* Author: Robert Jasiek
* Publisher: Robert Jasiek
* Edition: 2016
* Language: English
* Price: EUR 25 (book), EUR 12.50 (PDF)
* Contents: life + death
* ISBN: none
* Printing: good
* Layout: good
* Editing: good
* Pages: 232
* Size: 148mm x 210mm
* Diagrams per Page on Average: 9
* Method of Teaching: principles, methods, examples
* Read when EGF: 30k - 5k
* Subjective Rank Improvement: ++
* Subjective Topic Coverage: o
* Subjective Aims' Achievement: ++

Motivation

On the one hand, the English literature has had first introductions to the game for newbies - on the other hand, there have been the following 'life and death' books for kyus: Life and Death Problems 1 - Basics has theory for all kyus but a too small percentage of the problems are for double digit kyus. Get Strong at Life and Death and Life and Death (Davies) have some contents for double digit kyus, other contents suitable only for single digit kyus but lack some essential contents for double digit kyus. In other words, a 'life and death' book specifically written for double digit kyus (EGF) and describing every essential aspect of theory has been missing. First Life and Death fills this gap in the literature by explaining everything a beginner needs to know about 'life and death' but omitting advanced topics relevant only for strong players.

Theory

First Life and Death consists of two major parts: the theory part (96 pages) and the problems part (128 pages). Besides there is an index.

The 17 chapters of the theory part explain life and death from scratch proceeding to increasingly demanding topics. Every chapter starts with theory explained by clear and general principles, examples, and (where necessary) terms, and concludes with a few easy problems and their answers so that the reader can check his understanding of the theory.

The first few chapters about establishing independent life, removal of dead stones, recognizing nakade, seki and sacrifice allow beginners of 'life and death' study to follow the later chapters well. Everybody with at least some prior on-topic knowledge can skip the initial pages. Although there is nothing difficult about the topics in the next chapters about removing dead groups with kos, unsettled groups, and how to approach and count liberties of eyes, there are even dans with related knowledge gaps. Why? Everybody should know the basics!

Shape, approach and boundary defects, the major types of liberty shortages and simple fractions of an eye belong to the topics often distinguishing double from single digit kyus. A double digit kyu must acquire such knowledge to reach a single digit kyu's level of 'life and death' skill. Knowing how to invade, what basic strategic mistakes to avoid and how to perform tactical reading are topics for players to 5 kyu but double digit kyus face the same problems and so benefit from learning these topics earlier.

The long chapter about capturing races plays a special role. Although its reading can be postponed, there is more to learn about the topic than in every other English book that does not specialise in capturing races; nevertheless, the theory is restricted to those basics applicable by double digit kyus. The same can be said about tactical reading. Although its chapter has an ordinary length, the answers in the problems part of the book explain the necessary decision-making of tactical reading for the most difficult problems.

Problems

The second part of the book consists of seven chapters and 213 problems. Altogether the book has 274 problems, of which most are newly invented.

Every chapter has its problems roughly sorted by increasing difficulty from 'very easy' for 20 to 10 kyus to 'single digit kyu level'. If all problems were for double digit kyus, they would have no guarantee to increase their current skill of solving life and death problems. The problems of intermediate level provide the reference of where the reader hits his current wall. Every chapter starts with presenting the techniques and concludes by exemplifying them once more. Hence the reader gets three chances to learn them. Furthermore, whenever necessary, the problems apply the theory of the first part of the book.

The first six problem chapters discuss the most fundamental topics 'cut and connection', 'capture' and 'atari' as well as the second fundamental level about 'construction of an eye', 'partition of an eye' and 'size of the eyespace'. These are the topics double digit kyus must become familiar with. Beginners dismissing the basics as "too easy" get stuck at their current level of solving life and death. First they must acquire a firm understanding of the fundamentals. The grouping of the problems by topic eases learning. Needless to say, the chapters explain the techniques with details, such as threats, preventing the opponent from applying a technique, defense versus attack, expansion versus reduction and throw-in.

Whilst the first six chapters only occasionally study groups of a few related problems with similar shapes, the seventh chapter has 11 groups of altogether 57 problems. A typical group of problems first studies relatively easier problems before proceeding to a more difficult problem requiring tactical reading that is one move deeper. Thereby the reader improves his iterative reading. Furthermore, the Mixed Problems chapter presumes knowledge of the previous chapters' techniques and combines their application. After cracking the nuts, this final chapter rewards the reader with a clear summary of the major types of problems from the point of view of tactical reading.

Throughout the book, explanations are the more detailed the more demanding an aspect or the variations of a problem are. Almost all diagrams only show a few moves so that the reader can easily follow the sequences.

Drawbacks?

Does the book make solving life and death problems effortless? Sorry, but there is no such thing. Life and death is the hardest topic of all. Each player must also invest the effort of correct tactical reading. Is solving life and death problems fun? It can be if we think of them as crime novels and ask: "Who dies first?" Would I do something differently if I had to write this book again? I would not again under-estimate the task. 'Life and death' is always richer than expected...

Conclusion

First Life and Death raises a player's skill of solving life and death problems from beginner to intermediate level.

[DrStraw]

Isn't the phrase "Review by the Author" a little contradictory?

[dfan]

Isn't the phrase "Review by the Author" a little contradictory?

Here is the most recent long discussion of Robert's use of the phrase "Review by the Author" I could find: Positional Judgement 2 / Dynamics - Review by the Author

It is one of many.

Summary:

• Pretty much no one else likes it
• Robert's not going to stop using it

[oren]

"Review by author" is a bit better than before when he just did "Review" as if he was reviewing someone else's work.

[Jhyn]

Summary:

• Pretty much no one else likes it
• Robert's not going to stop using it

I'm perfectly fine with it, as are a few other people (not the majority, it seems), as I appreciate having information about new go books even in the form of unambiguous advertisement.

But the second point is the most important. This discussion has been done to death and hopefully we won't have it again. (see the lined thread for an idea why)

[ez4u]

I think that if you find it contradictory, you are placing a mental "independent" or "unbiased" in front of "review". Googling for the definition of review tells me that this is a step too far. I don't expect an unbiased review from RJ just as I don't expect an independent publisher's review on Amazon or an unbiased review on a product website. If you insist that reviews be written by a third party, in the end that only gets you so far, right?

[Bantari]

I think any review is good info, and personally I don't really care if the thread title says "by Author" or not. It is not that hard to figure out, really.

[wineandgolover]

Summary:

• Pretty much no one else likes it
• Robert's not going to stop using it

This discussion has been done to death and hopefully we won't have it again. (see the lined thread for an idea why)

Apparently the suggestion to end the discussion only applies to opponents of self-reviews, as the follow-up posts have shown.