gimmewuchagot excuse me we can't all be great chess players like the great 4th grader on chess.com!!!! why do you think i want books gimmewuchagot it is because i want to get better!!!And i already beat the tar out of my dad when we play and i am a 1171 thank you very much!

edsnotofthisworld, I think those are too advanced for him, he's only a 1114 on chess.com.

Just start with "How to Beat Your Dad at Chess," and "Chess Tactics for Kids," both by Murray Chandler, for the basic tactics and mating patterns. Once you get these, you can try all sorts of opening books.

Ziryab i am sure you do i know it because at one point you did not probably have books but you probably still played so sure you have natural talent!

Chernev, Logical Chess: Move by Move is $21.95 in the USA, but you can sometimes find a used copy. It was originally published in descriptive notation, but is readily available in algebraic. There are few books as good for starting on the long and productive enterprise of improving through learning.

Whatever miniscule ability I have for chess stems from book study; I have zero natural talent.

I read Natalia's post and asked her the same question I am asking you!

propably experience is the best leaner,play more(but with clear understanding of mistakes and strength..simply playing will be waste of time),here u asked of books,u will find millions of books on chess but everything about game will be there but it wont answer ur doubts and thought(mainly in books or engines variations of line or some reasons for move will be said)it wont answer what u think the right move is and y it is not sugested and another move is done instead,chess is a game of propability and combinations,there r various ways of responding for a move these stuff done only through due reasons(book will show others way on mentoring things and examples)not on urs way, something can be grasped but others cant be,if every body can think,learn,find reason like others there will be no value kasprov or....,everybody will have the same talent,U cant find the best post on chess improving(how to improve chess)done byWGM natalia pogonia,mean while book is just illusion not reality

To improve in chess, one can learn from one's own experiences or from or the experiences of others. Basically, that's what chess books provide: the experiences and insights of others.  Whether this ultimatley helps you depends on the attitude with which you aproach books and the effort you put into studying them.  Some things are almost impossible to learn without either books or a teacher, other things are just nice to have categorized for your own convenience. Whether, and how, you utilize books is up to you, but if cost is a factor, I'd suggest putting your local library to good use (even if your library, at least in the US, lacks a variety of chess books, it probably can get almost any book you wish through the intralibrary system). So, cost shouldn't even be a consideration.

Books alone can't make anyone, not even the strongest player, a better chess player.  You've got to practice them.

You're thinking of tactics books, which can be replaced by tactics trainer.  But there are some things you aren't going to learn from chessmentor or another computer program.  Books are helpful, of course.  If you find a book too challenging, then set it aside for awhile.  Try out various books, see what you like.

i am asking if they will help me play chess better?!

Well, what do you need in books to learn from them?

ok here are my concerns

1. i won't learn from them

2.most puzzle books ussualy have forced mates and such so why not just use tt and cm(tt=tactics trainer)(cm=Chess mentor)

Yes, they work, but do not expect book study alone to improve your game.  Reading about chess principles is one thing-applying them is another.

Not very much, usually less than 100 dollars.  Here are the books I recommend and why:

Zurich 1953 Candidates Tournament: Possibly the best chess book ever written.  Very clear, distinct approach to the middlegame without too many variations.  Written by David Bronstein

Guide to Chess Endings: Simple approach to the endgame.  Written by Dr. Max Euwe.

Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess: Never actually read this one before, but heard amazing things about it.  You don't even have to know chess notation to play through the examples here!

Teach Yourself Better Chess: Amazing book on the overall game of chess.  Beneath chess principles lie meta-principles.  You can't just know rules and principles-you have to know how and when they apply and when to break them.  Written by IM William Hartston.

Try these for starters.