Reality Check: What the Ancient Game of Chess Can Teach You About Success in Modern Competitive Settings

I soon found out that I had entered the realm of an innovative thinker. The chess diagrams are used as visual aids to support the discussed principles, and the underlying chess concepts are explained in simple terms. Drawing on her experiences as a woman in a male-dominated field, immigrant, and lessons learned on her path to a corporate litigator, Alisa Melekhina, Esq. Without the typical dumbing down of self-help books, Reality Check introduces a sophisticated, philosophical discussion of high-level existential questions, paired with concrete, strategic advice. Her precocious and simultaneous success in chess, academics and entrepreneurship should be especially inspiring to young people and women." —WGM Jennifer Shahade, 2-time U.S. I read it one time to explore, a second time to understand, and a third time to learn and think some more. An appendix of select annotated chess games, demonstrating key strategies in action, is available for experienced players. A must-read for those on the journey of success-oriented life!" —Schuster Tanger, Managing Member of Lucus Advisors LLC "Alisa's insight into what it takes to succeed at an early age will be interesting to educators, parents as well as ambitious kids themselves. Reality Check is intended for both chess-playing and non-chess-playing audiences. I honestly can't remember the last time I read a book so densely interspersed with nuggets of time

"A tantalizing read" according to Reader. The author delves deeper and wider into various connections between chess and real-world decision making than I've yet seen. Upon finishing the book, I'm left with a number of points to continue considering along with specific ideas for areas I should consider improving upon going forward. Would recommend to chess playing friends and non-chess playing friends. Highly recommended! Rooted in the author's experiences in the worlds of chess and law, this book speaks to the reality of balancing multiple interests and living in different worlds true of all our lives. The book unlocks from the world of chess fresh lessons in the old topics of strategy, rational thinking, and cultural pressures, making them accessible and interesting whether