July 30, 2004
"I think I've heard of Go..."
The game of Go is still gaining its popularity in the West. The typical responses when I mention it are:
From those who never heard of the game:
- Like Go Fish?
- Like Golf?
- Like Go Corporation?
- Like Go.com?
- Like Go-go dancing?
No.
From those who saw A Beautiful Mind or Pi:
- That game they were playing at Princeton?
- That game they used in the movie Pi?
- That game with black and white chips?
Yes.
People into games often confuse Go, when explained, with:
- Othello
- Pente
- Dots and Boxes
The hope is that more people will understand just what Go is. If you want to help spread Go, you can:
- Join the American Go Association
- Give to the American Go Foundation
- Ask your neighborhood retailer to carry the game
- Support any of your worthy Go vendors (Kiseido, Samarkand, Slate and Shell, Yutopian)
Posted by wayofgo at 10:25 PM | Comments (0)
July 29, 2004
Rules and Rules Part I
There are two kinds of rules you'll find in the Way of Go. First, there are the rules that govern play. "Black plays first, White plays second." "You cannot repeat board positions." And so on. These are not the rules that are the focus of the Way of Go. You can learn something about these rules in another post -- How to Play Go or you can order books on how to play. Since this book is meant for more than just Go players, The Way of Go covers another definition of the term rules.
The Way of Go is concerned with rules of thumb (aka, maxims, principles, heuristics, proverbs) that dictate better play, not how to play legal moves. In sum, The Way of Go uses the term "rules."
What's interesting about the Way of Go is that it takes these rules, which most of us are introduced to in a random, haphazard way, and organizes them in a way that is more telling of their nature. By knowing something of their nature, you can get a better sense of a more complete strategic decision-making picture.
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Press Release
THE WAY OF GO
8 Ancient Strategy Secrets for Success in Business and Life
(Simon & Schuster’s Free Press; August 16, 2004; $23)
By Troy Anderson
The Way of Go explores the underlying principles of the game of Go and its strategic applications for life. Troy Anderson, former insei (professional-in-training at the Japanese Professional Go Association), senior executive at Red Herring and Industry Standard magazines, and currently knowledge management expert at the Fannie Mae Foundation, shows how strategic types found in Go serve as a model for any strategic situation on the game board or off. Through a blend of engaging stories, enlightening parables, and best practices, Anderson shows how to apply Go’s core strategies to wide-ranging challenges in business, politics, sports, war, martial arts, or most any endeavor requiring strategy.
Selected reviews:
“If you are experienced enough to realize that no person, and certainly no book, will provide simple answers to challenging problems, you will be immediately drawn to this exposition of a refreshingly dynamic approach to evaluating, and devising responses to problems that inevitably present themselves amidst a dearth of information, time, and immediately available resources.” – Chris Kirschner, President, American Go Association, 6-dan
"This book will let loose the floodgates on wei-chi’s strategic depths and frameworks… I have seen almost every kind of strategy book, theory and idea. This book is the real thing… You get to know wei-chi from an expert’s point of view and see how it applies in almost every circumstance in business, sports and life…" – Samuel Lin, Vice Chairman of Greater China, UBS
Posted by wayofgo at 07:45 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
How Big is the World of Go?
There are probably more than 30,000,000 people in the world who play Go. Most are in Asia, but even in the US, there are probably more than 400,000 people who know something about the game of Go.
Played professionally in Asia for millions of dollars annually, one of the four accomplishments of ancient China, a meditation, a Way, the game of Go and the Go world is larger than you might think.
To see just how big Go is, see the following links for the depth and breadth of this great game!
Arranged alphabetically
Western sites (housing even more links):
The American Go Association
British Go Association
European Go Federation
The incomparable and enormous western Go archive
Gobase.org
Sensei's Wiki
Vendor sites:
Het Paard
IGS
Kiseido
Samarkand
Slate & Shell
Asian nation sites
China (in Chinese)
Japan (in English)
Korea (in Korean)
Taiwan (in traditional Chinese characters)
Posted by wayofgo at 03:40 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 28, 2004
Coming Soon to the US Go Congress
The Way of Go is coming to the US Go Congress! For more information on the US Go Congress, please go to the prep site. There will be a bookstore at the event on August 1st ONLY! Come and get a book or get a book signed (now on sale at Amazon).
Posted by wayofgo at 08:30 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
What is a Way?
The word Way comes from the Chinese word "dao" (Japanese "do") which can simply mean way or path, but in association with other arts like The Way of Tea (Sa-do), The Way of Archery (Kyu-do), or the Way of Calligraphy (Sho-do), it can take on a much deeper meaning -- a meditation, a way of life, or spiritual path.
For the character and more...
The Chinese character for the term dao or do.
Other Ways:
Kyudo - The Way of Archery
Shodo - The Way of Writing
Sado - The Way of Tea
Zen
Thanks to Bob Myers for the alternative Sado, instead of Chado, on the Way of Tea
Posted by wayofgo at 09:27 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
July 27, 2004
What is the Way of Go?
The Way of Go is a new book from Simon & Schuster.
The following description comes from the book jacket:
“For centuries, business, political, and military leaders throughout Asia have had a secret weapon for success—the philosophies and strategies found in an ancient game called Go. Now, Troy Anderson, an entrepreneur, knowledge management expert, Fortune 500 management consultant, and one of only five Americans to train at the Japanese Professional Go Academy, brings these philosophies and strategies to the West.
Leaders and intellects such as Mao Tse-tung, Bill Gates, and John Nash (the game was featured in the movie A Beautiful Mind) as well as many CEOs and political leaders throughout Asia are among the 27 million people who have played this simple two-person board game known as the "game of geniuses."
In this unique book, Troy Anderson shares the essential elements of strategy and competition that define the game of Go and shows how these principles can be applied wherever strategy is called for:
• How to make use of limited resources and time to produce the largest gain
• Which initiatives to continue and which to abandon
• When to lead and when to follow your opponent
• How to weigh competing interests among different units
• How to enter a market where the competition is already well established
• How to proceed to ensure success if the competition enters your market
• How to create a strategic plan when the market changes quickly
• How to go global but think locally
Go provides experience and understanding regarding basic strategic problems that no other art, science, or field, other than war, can readily claim. In addition to an enriching account of how the game of Go has influenced Anderson's life, the valuable lessons imparted here add up to a powerful prescription for success—whether you are seeking professional achievement, better competitive understanding, or simply a more rewarding life."
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July 13, 2004
Way of Go Book Jacket
Posted by wayofgo at 09:31 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
July 12, 2004
Preorder the Way of Go Today!
The Way of Go is now available for preorder from Amazon and Barnes and Noble!
Posted by wayofgo at 04:47 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
The cover of the Way of Go
Posted by wayofgo at 04:37 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Go Lessons
Are you interested in really investing in your Go? Want to take lessons from the author or other Way of Go teachers? Send email to "lessons" at this domain for more information.
Posted by wayofgo at 07:32 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Welcome to Way of Go
This site provides information which supplements the author's book, The Way of Go, to be published by Simon & Schuster's Free Press imprint, due August 16, 2004.
Posted by wayofgo at 03:13 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack