‘Mind Master, in chess terms, is a novelty…a whiff of fresh air. It borders on a novel (Anand probably wanted it to read like that) with his life experiences and contains traces of an invisible writer, especially when he talks of himself as the “other”. A collection of moments from his career and life, both serious and silly, which blend into one whole.’ – Open

‘Wonderfully captures the drama and intrigue that can surround chess.’– Firstpost

‘Several things raise this book well above the norm in terms of sporting biographies. There are other stellar qualities as well. The narrative dips in and out of Anand’s life, pausing to take snapshots of key moments. Somehow, without going through the tedium of chronological description, it gives a pretty complete picture of his life and career…and utterly fascinating descriptions of Anand’s thought processes.’ – Business Standard

‘Many moments in…Mind Master: Winning Lessons from a Champion’s Life…will surprise you. “We didn’t know that about him!” plays out like a refrain in your mind as the five-time World Champion takes you through his phenomenal journey, the highs and the lows of being a champion.’ – Telegraph

‘This is one of those books which you do not want to finish early, you want to savour every essence of it and then reminisce the pleasant as well as some unpleasant memories to treasure all the highs and lows that Vishy Anand went through in his life.’ – ChessBase

‘The book will not only appeal to chess aficionados and sports fans, but can also become a template for any youngster trying to chart out a life path which is somewhat different from the norm.’– Financial Express

‘In [Mind Master], Viswanathan Anand offers golden words of advice on how young players should make their moves in the competitive world of chess… [The] milestones and roadblocks in a champion's journey are effectively explained.’ – Sunday Mid-Day

Viswanathan Anand, known fondly as Vishy, is one of the most prominent names in chess. Over the three decades since he turned Grandmaster, he has won five world championship titles among innumerable other tournaments and has continued to push past barriers to remain among the world's top chess players. His achievements have helped inspire a generation of chess players in India. Vishy is an astronomy buff, and an avid reader on math, economics and current affairs. He loves to travel, particularly on wildlife safaris. He supports many charitable causes, chief among them being that of children with cerebral palsy and other neurological disabilities.

Susan Ninan is a sports writer with ESPN and is based in Bengaluru. She has previously worked with Times of India and has covered major sporting events like the Commonwealth Games, the World Chess Championships and the Olympics. When she is not writing on sport or travelling to find a story worth writing, she loves sniffing around bookstores and going backpacking, or at best making plans for the latter.