Long known as a cut-throat metaphor for warfare or business, this ancient game of strategy and self-discipline is revealed to be a singularly resonant metaphor for the challenges, thrills and set-backs that fill our daily lives with meaning and complexity. Jonathan Rowson's competitive success as a Grandmaster and his work as a philosopher of public policy have given him a unique perspective on why the game of chess is more important than ever for understanding the conflicts and uncertainties of the modern world. In 64 witty and addictive vignettes, Rowson takes us on an exhilarating tour of 'the game of life', from the psychology of gang violence, to the aesthetics of cyborgs, the beauty of technical details, and the endgame of death