The World Played Chess - by Robert Dugoni (Paperback)

About the Book

"In 1979, Vincent Bianco has just graduated high school. His only desire: collect a little beer money and enjoy his final summer before college. So he lands a job as a laborer on a construction crew. Working alongside two Vietnam vets, one suffering from PTSD, Vincent gets the education of a lifetime. Now forty years later, with his own son leaving for college, the lessons of that summer--Vincent's last taste of innocence and first taste of real life--dramatically unfold in a novel about breaking away, shaping a life, and seeking one's own destiny"--

Book Synopsis

"A fearless and sensitive coming-of-age story. I loved it." --Mark Sullivan, bestselling author of Beneath a Scarlet Sky and The Last Green Valley.

Bestselling author Robert Dugoni returns with an emotionally arresting follow-up to The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell.

In 1979, Vincent Bianco has just graduated high school. His only desire: collect a little beer money and enjoy his final summer before college. So he lands a job as a laborer on a construction crew. Working alongside two Vietnam vets, one suffering from PTSD, Vincent gets the education of a lifetime. Now forty years later, with his own son leaving for college, the lessons of that summer--Vincent's last taste of innocence and first taste of real life--dramatically unfold in a novel about breaking away, shaping a life, and seeking one's own destiny.

Review Quotes

Praise for The World Played Chess

"A riveting story of boys becoming men and the risks they take along the way." --Library Journal

"The World Played Chess is a shining example of a writer at the top of his game, and a deeply thought-provoking take on a man's coming of age." --Authorlink

"Dugoni tackles the transition from boyhood into manhood in a heartfelt, poignant, and somber manner. It's heartbreaking and hope filled...Raw, honest, and beautifully haunting." --Book Review Crew

"Wondrously brilliant and poignant...While not a Vietnam novel per se, the book resembles Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried and Philip Caputo's A Rumor of War in its sheer emotional resonance. Dugoni, though, seems to be channeling the lyrical storytelling magic of the great Pat Conroy more. The World Played Chess is this generation's The Prince of Tides and a candidate for best novel of 2021." --Jon Land, Providence Journal

"The World Played Chess is a masterwork of emotion from an author who seems like he hasn't met a genre he can't conquer. Rich with historical detail and as poignant and powerful as the best works of fiction, this novel is a gut-punch of a story that is as fearless as it is insightful." --Bookreporter

"Robert Dugoni writes about the war as if he had been there, though he wasn't, and that's not an easy thing to do. In addition to doing a ton of research, a novelist can only pull that off if his or her heart's in the right place. It's evident that Dugoni cares about Vietnam War veterans and the unique things that can still be learned from them. This is the best novel dealing with the Vietnam War and its ongoing legacy I've read in a long time." --The VVA Veteran

"Deftly combining elements of friendship, the trauma of war with what is basically a coming of age novel, The World Played Chess by Robert Dugoni is an inherently engaging, impressively entertaining, thoughtful and thought-provoking read." --Midwest Book Review

"With his usual narrative mastery, Dugoni takes on the often-overlooked ordeal of boys becoming men and does so fearlessly and sensitively, chronicling the coming-of-age stories of three different men linked by war, friendship, and family. I loved it." --Mark Sullivan, bestselling author of Beneath a Scarlet Sky and The Last Green Valley

Praise for The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell

"This is the bestselling Dugoni's masterpiece, the book by which his work, and that of others, will be measured for years to come." --Providence Journal

"Dugoni has produced a novel that, if it doesn't cross entirely over into John Irving territory, certainly nestles in close to the border...Written in a gentle, introspective yet dramatic style that is very different from that of Dugoni's crime fiction, this is an inspirational story of a man who spends a lifetime getting to know himself." --Booklist

"Inspiring and aglow with the promise of redemption." --Kirkus Reviews

"Robert Dugoni has a rare and brilliant talent for infusing his characters with complex emotions. Frankly, this might be the best book of the year." --Bookreporter

"Distinctly different in style from Dugoni's typical fare...A captivating and poignant journey of strength and the power of finding your true self. Without a doubt, this is Dugoni's best yet." --Suspense Magazine

"Dugoni's writing is compellingly quick, simple, and evocative...A heartwarming novel that celebrates overcoming the unfairness of life." --Seattle Book Review