I think the most instructive books are the best well annotated Tournament books, there you get the truth of competitive chess with the good games , blunders etc. all mixed together so you see in practice how real games are won and lost.

So historically I suggest New York 24, Zurich 53, Piatgorsky 1966 can any one suggest some good more modern tournament books?

What about Dvoretsky's volume 3: "Strategic Play"?
It's not nearly as advanced as his other works in the series.
I also think Rowson's books are excellent.


But I personally get the most out of well-annotated games from strong positional players, rather than textbooks.  For example, Karpov has some great annotated game collections.  I think picking a "hero" who plays the same sort of opening/middlegame positions as you and slowly going over their annotated games it the way to go.  BTW, my first hero was Capablanca...

I agree with Edge, i forgot about Stean 

Stean's Book simple chess, is a must have.
By the way Dover has published a cheap algebraic edition a few years back.

John Nunn, Chess Move by Move
Marovic Dynamical Pawn Play in Chess.

Gelfers book is very usefull but a large part is devoted to
endgame strategy.

I'm not really sure what an intermediate player is or what you have read before. I like Silman's "How To Reasses You Chess" but not other books by him. Gelfer's "Positional Chess Handbook" is also good. There are many other books available.