Learning Chess Terminology

I am a beginner level chess player with a good grasp of how each piece moves and a fair ability to assess the level of problems in the book "Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess".  I have worked through most of this book.  

But I'm finding Fischer doesn't really address a strategic approach to achieving the endgame positions presented in his problems.  So I was looking for a good book on strategy and planning.  I bought "How to Reassess Your Chess 4th Edition" by Jeremy Silman and, oh boy, the first pages are already presenting terminology and information I don't understand. For example, page 5, language like "Compare white's bishop, which is eyeing two position-penetrating diagonals and black's slacker Knight, and you'll immediately know which minor piece is winning this battle."  Well, no.  I don't know what is meant by "position-penetrating" and therefore I don't know which diagonals he refers to for the bishop or which pieces is winning the battle. He doesn't see a need to teach me. 

Is there a better book for me?  Or can I get some help here as I go along with lingo, such as position-penetrating? I want to play better than just looking at the board and defending because the other player has a grasp of strategy and planning.  

Thank you, Xty

You might want to do some puzzles+tactics to improve your playing, especially if you are a beginner. When I was like 900, I didn't study many endgames, and did puzzles instead. They work. Even now, I only study basic endgames. Terminology is hard to understand, and takes some time to grasp. I just looked into 101 endgames you must know(Jesus La Ville) and did a few common ones. I'm not an expert though, so you might want to ask some other people who are better than me. Also, maybe play a few games on Chess.com.

As for this:

For example, page 5, language like "Compare white's bishop, which is eyeing two position-penetrating diagonals and black's slacker Knight, and you'll immediately know which minor piece is winning this battle." 

I don't know the exact example, but slacker knight is probably just a more interesting way of saying that knight is not a good piece. His movement is probably either restricted by opponent's pawns or is placed on a rim without influence on the position. Something like this:

In any case, here is a guide that might help you started in chess:

https://www.chess.com/blog/nklristic/the-beginners-tale-first-steps-to-chess-improvement

Thank you both ChessDude009 and nklristic for the prompt comments and advice.  I'm encouraged now to keep working puzzles and will definitely study the recommended blog you've written, nklristic.  
  

You're welcome. Best of luck.

Reassess is aimed at 1600+ (some suggest 1800+). Its for advanced players. It assumes a lot of basic and intermediate knowledge. Jeremy Silman also wrote Amateur's Mind which is aimed at 1200-1400+ so you could try this. It still assumes some basic positional knowledge and experience. I read it last November and thought it was a great introduction to middlegame planning and strategy. The 2nd edition has 25 tests where you come up with a plan for the position. Jeremy's answers for these alone is over 100 pages of material.

Get a book by a true classic pedagogist like Ludek Pachman.

Hi! My name is Lauren Goodkind and I’m a chess coach  based in California: www.ChessBylauren.com. 

 I recommend two chess books for you, which is available on Amazon.com: 

  1) "50 Poison Pieces" which is endorsed by Chess Master Eric Schiller  

  2) "Queen For  A Day: The Girl's Guide to Chess Mastery".  This book for beginners is endorsed by WGM Jennifer Shahade, WGM Jennifer Yu, and more.  In this book, you get to play an entire chess game with a fictional character, Sophia.  

I hope that this helps.  

Wow, such generous, helpful responses from everyone here.  Thank you for the pointers and recommendations. 

As far as I know, "position-penetrating" is not real chess terminology. Instead, it is an attempt to be poetic about the power of the bishop. A bit clumsy.

Thanks magipi, that's helpful. 

Do you have some books to recommend for beginners like me?

Terms like “position penetrating “ aren’t chess terms. They’re descriptive terms, similar to what kind of language you’d find in an English essay or a novel. The bishops penetrate the enemy position, it’s meant to draw an image in your head.

Logical chess move by move by Irving Chernev is a good one.

Great Masters of the Chessboard, by Richard Reti