Master the grand art of Chess Calculation )

Has anyone read this book by William Friend?

The concept interests me greatly since it is directed at one of my major weaknesses.  However, the two reviews on Amazon were very negative (however, they concentrated on aspects which seem to me are irrelevant to what the book claims to be about). Some of the very few comments, while very positive, about it on chess.com were treated by some as if they were simply disguised praise by the author.

I'd like to buy it,but don't want to just throw away my money.

Would appreciate hearing from anyone who is familiar with it (and objective).

i don't have the book but...i try to answer.

I had look in the book from amazon.

it looks more about patterns than calculation.

All the famous chess teacher's give the same way to train calculation :

- do 2 moves problems checkmate (problems so no patterns like in real game checkmates).(you can download here .pdf in the download page searching : problems)

- do pawns ending (like dejascacchi, google : dejascacchi and then download the .pdf pawns endings)

- (for the advance players) do studies. (you have a lot in chesscafe)

I really appreciate you both taking the time to respond to my inquiry.

However, I am obviously far below you both in my knowledge and skill level. The dejascacchi exercises look interesting and I will see what I can learn from trying to solve some of them.

And I am not quite sure how your answers relate to my question about the book by William Friend. I am guessing that your response means you doubt that his method will be of much help to any reader.  But I am not sure.

If anyone knows more about the book I would love to hear further.

I have the book. Of 386 pages 10 pages have to do with patterns. Pure calculation training from page 54 to page 371. The training starts of from one move ahead, then moves gradually upwards. All I can say is that my calculation skills have really improved  a lot after I worked through the exercises.