★This book not only recounts the personal legends of two chess grandmasters but also delves into their historic rivalry. Readers will gain a deep understanding of a pivotal era in chess history and how these two players shaped the theory and practice of modern chess.
★The book features numerous brilliant game excerpts, which not only showcase the extraordinary skills of the two players but also, through detailed annotations and analysis, help readers understand their thought processes.

Sigbert Tarrasch (1862-1934) and Aaron Nimzowitsch (1886-1935) can be regarded as the two most arrogant chess players in history. This book tells the fascinating story of their lifelong rivalry. They clashed in personality, chess style, and writing, both seeking the truth in chess but from completely different perspectives.

Tarrasch is often depicted as a dogmatic theorist, while Nimzowitsch dismissed his advice as nothing more than the well-meaning suggestions of a housewife. Nimzowitsch saw himself as a philosopher and designed a complete "system" that revealed the secrets of positional chess.
Has chess history treated these outstanding players fairly, or have they merely been caricatured? What was the role of the third protagonist, Semyon Alapin, in this debate? Nimzowitsch contemptuously called him "the artist of variations." These questions and the various viewpoints are at the heart of Hendriks' in-depth investigation.
Besides our main characters, many others joined the debate, such as the reigning world champions (Steinitz, Lasker, Capablanca, and Alekhine) and the advocates of hypermodern chess (especially Reti and Tartakower). They all had their own ideas on how to become a better chess player, and their disputes remain relevant to this day.

Since Hendriks' groundbreaking first chess instructional book, "Move First, Think Later," his subsequent works, "The Origin of Good Chess" and "The Ink War," have focused on chess history. His books always spark lively discussions in the chess world. This book continues that tradition. "The Philosopher and the Housewife" offers an in-depth look at this tumultuous period in chess history and provides a refreshing perspective on the evolution of chess expertise. The numerous chess game fragments in the book vividly illustrate this captivating story.

Willie Hendrix

Dutch chess master and chess book author. In 2001, he was awarded the title of International Master (IM) by the World Chess Federation (FIDE). Hendriks is not only an outstanding chess player but also an influential chess writer and coach. His works have attracted extensive attention and discussion in the chess world.

Hendriks' chess ideas are strongly anti-traditional. He advocates improving chess skills through extensive practice in games rather than relying solely on theoretical study. He believes that the development of chess knowledge is a gradual accumulation process rather than the sudden discovery by a few geniuses. His works not only provide rich game analyses but also put forward many new viewpoints on chess training and thinking. His books have attracted widespread attention and discussion in the chess world, providing new perspectives and methods for chess players.