The german book "Die Macht der Bauern" from GM Hickl looks very good to me. Unfortunately german language is required.

IM John Donaldson, who recently captained the US Men's team to a bronze medal in Dresden, takes a more objective look at Aagaard's Attacking Manual here: http://www.jeremysilman.com/book_reviews_jd/Three_Books_on_Attack.html. I appreciated his leaving out the Watson-Aagaard-Silman feuds in the review. 

Donaldson also talks about "How to Crush Your Chess Opponents" by Simon Williams, and "The Art of Attacking Chess" by Zenon Franco. I own Franco's great solitaire chess workbook, "Chess Self-Improvement," and this new book of his sounds good as well.

Yes, i simply forgot Muller's book and it should be placed maybe before Tsermiadianos. It is really great book on endgames (and not only).

Thanks for the responses. Please keep the recommendations coming!

Despite what I said about openings, I will have a serious look at The Berlin Wall. If it is true that it is as instructional as you have all said, I'm sure I will enjoy it. I do play 1.e4 e5 sometimes as black, and having an endgame-opening handy might be an effective weapon in certain cases.  

Forcing Chess Moves also sounds like a good idea. How does it compare to Perfect Your Chess by Volokitin? I am halfway through that book and it has given me a tough time in places  .

I am also strongly tempted by Aagaard's Attacking Manual. The more exercises, the better.

I like Yusupov, but I am not sure I would learn much from Build Up Your Chess Vol.1. I am 2265 FIDE, and the sample chapter I saw looked a bit simple.

As for the How to Play Chess Endgames book, I have it and heartily recommend it to anyone, even if they do already have Endgame Manual and Fundamental Chess Endings. These make quite a nice set, and will keep you busy for a long, long time.  

I also would vote for Cox The Berlin wall.
But a good non opening alternative candidate is:
Muller/Pajeken How to play the endgame.

drkodos wrote on 11/20/08 at 02:07:13:



I third Hertan and second Cox's Berlin Wall.

I will pass on Dvoretsky's Analytical Manual because almost 90% of the book content was already published in various web sites (chesscafe.com, e3e5.com, chesspro.ru). For me this book does not contain anything new. Of course it is good to have all those articles together.
As for the best book my preference is as follows:
1) John Cox - Berlin Wall - superb book. It is not another one opening book but it is a true manual of the Berlin structures.
2) Jacob Aagaard - Attacking manual Vol.1
3) Tsermiadianos - How to beat the French Defence
3) Artur Yusupov - Build Up Your Chess Vol.1
4) Bob Rice - Three Moves Ahead - a very good reading about chess and business.

I second the choice of Hertan's Book and also nominate Cox's Berlin Wall, which I feel is much more than just an opening manual.