These are two of my favorite chess books OAT.

Let's talk to our pieces and through inter-subjectivity produce Zugzwang Lite on our way to victory with the Black Pieces!

In order to maximize our potential are we playing a Sicilian or some kind of hedgehog?

I probably need to give one of those a try because the Silman book I'm reading now is dry as a bone and not getting me anywhere.

To the guys who have read them. What are they about? Why should one read them?

7DCS is a very fun read.

You made a "discussion" thread about these books, and all you got to say about them is this?

7DCS some people say is more/less a chess psychology book. But it's more than that. What Rowson has determined is that chess players quite often make the same types of mistakes (chess sins) in their games over and over.

He worked very hard to categorize these sins and extend his thought process to each one. The chess examples alone are well selected and highlight each sin. Once you realize that you are susceptible to certain chess sins you can take that awareness to your chess approach and ultimately/hopefully become a better player.

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CFZ is sort of a sequel to 7DCS but it has stand alone merit itself. The title is in the style of Simon Webb's classic Chess for Tigers. Rowson talks about the difference between White and Black and our preconceived notions.

Here's a description from online:

Jonathan Rowson, author of the highly acclaimed Seven Deadly Chess Sins, investigates three questions important to all chess-players:
1) Why is it so difficult, especially for adult players, to improve?
2) What kinds of mental attitudes are needed to find good moves in different phases of the game?
3) Is White's alleged first-move advantage a myth, and does it make a difference whether you are playing Black or White?
In a strikingly original work, Rowson makes use of his academic background in philosophy and psychology to answer these questions in an entertaining and instructive way. This book assists all players in their efforts to improve, and provides fresh insights into the opening and early middlegame.

Rowson presents many new ideas on how Black should best combat White's early initiative, and make use of the extra information that he gains as a result of moving second. For instance, he shows that in some cases a situation he calls 'Zugzwang Lite' can arise, where White finds himself lacking any constructive moves. He also takes a close look at the theories of two players who, in differing styles, have specialized in championing Black's cause: Mihai Suba and Andras Adorjan. Readers are also equipped with a 'mental toolkit' that will enable them to handle many typical over-the-board situations with greater success, and avoid a variety of psychological pitfalls.

Chess for Zebras offers fresh insights into human idiosyncrasies in all phases of the game. The depth and breadth of this book will therefore help players to appreciate chess at a more profound level, and make steps towards sustained and significant improvement.

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Why should one read them?

Well first and foremost because chess is a very psychological game. Bobby Fischer described the game as "psychological warfare". Properly analyzing your weaknesses, categorizing your typical mistakes, and being better equipped for the psychological struggle that chess is will make you a stronger player.

Some coaches won't even teach adult chess players. They say that they can't improve. Rowson tackles this head on and works to prove that this is just plain false. What he will help you realize is that adult chess players don't often need to learn something "new" but instead "unlearn" the bad habits they've developed throughout the years.

Plus the books are written in a style, with great quotes throughout, that is fun to read and easy to identify with.

LOLOLOL

I should have multiquoted but I was on my phone.

Why should I NOT read these books?

Interesting fact is that before reading either book fully I selected my most recent chess coach b/c he has taken a lot of his philosophy from these books. The coach's job is not to impart knowledge but to help train and set tasks/oversee the student's improvement.

Uhhh, so that's what I've been doing wrong for years :O

Lol. I mean, you follow that too. Instead of just lecturing or trying to teach opening stuff or whatever, you focus on games and mistakes - how to think and notice opportunities and interesting ideas based on what I seem to not be doing in my games.

Also, you provided many etudes, which is quite good training for the sort of vague "creative" dimension and also calculation. Although I never finished them and still haven't (they are tough!).

If you don't want to realize your chess mistakes and want to make the same ones over and over again.