For your level, I would pick up Heisman's "Back to Basics: Tactics" - If you can solve the tactical exercises each within 5-10 seconds (don't believe Heisman's 15 seconds timing - too easy!) then it means you are probably intermediate in terms of tactical ability.
If you can't (which is probably the case, because some of the puzzles are actually tricky) then you should read the book carefully and do everything he recommends.
This one single book is all you need, if you read it carefully, to make you an intermediate tactical player.
As for strategic understanding, Silman is great, but you need to be able to add before you multiply, so read this first:
https://www.chess.com/blog/Cherub_Enjel/1-how-to-understand-everything-in-a-chess-game
If you don't agree with what I've said, then tell me.
Hey Everyone!
My name is Ben, and over the past year or two I've really come to love not only this game, but the process of learning and improving. I've been playing on this site for a while now, and I thought that now would be a good time to ask for some help. I would like to continue learning and improving, but there are so many books out there that it can be a little overwhelming to try to choose which ones to spend time with. I watch a lot of chess videos, but I have also picked up a couple of books already: Winning Chess Tactics by Yasser Seirawan, and both The Amateur's Mind and Silman's Complete Endgame Course by Jeremy Silman. I haven't picked up any books on specific openings (I enjoying Queen Pawn openings as White), but I also feel that my tactical eye and strategic understanding are not yet where I would like them to be. So, what are some of your favorite books and why? Are there any books that are must-haves for every chess player? Bobby Fischer's My 60 Memorable Games seems to be one of these, but what others can you suggest?
Thanks!