The basics are concisely covered in the first few chapters. Pure chess and brain food is at the end of the book when Silman talks about the greatest endgame players of all time and describes the chess sadist. Then, don't forget about the chapter on chess for fun for anyone. i.e. trapping a rook with a pawn and a bishop. I liked the chapter breakdowns for the first three chapters. If I wanted to look up certain drawing rook tactics, I had to go to Alburts book "Just the Facts," to get a reference for what I wanted right then. Clarity goes to Silman for explaining "opposition". I look to the Bibliography for ideas for adding to my library.