EP 319- Dr. Howard Burton- An Award Winning Documentary Filmmaker and Author on the Growth Opportunity for Chess, the Genius of Morphy, Fixing FIDE, and Whether Chess Skills Transfer to Other Domains

Published: Feb. 28, 2023, 9 a.m.

b'Dr. Howard Burton is a documentary filmmaker and author. Howard holds a PhD in theoretical physics and an MA in Philosophy.\\xa0He is also the founder of the award-winning multimedia initiative Ideas Roadshow. Their latest documentary, Through the Mirror of Chess: A Cultural Exploration, is a 4 part documentary that shows the cultural impact and history of chess from its origins to modern times. It is very informative and well produced, and features many familiar faces including GM Hou Yifan, IM Daniel Rensch, GM David Smerdon and Award Winning Chess Teacher Elizabeth Spiegel. In conjunction with the documentaries, Dr. Burton has written a book of opinion essays about the role of chess in culture, called Chessays: Travels Through the World of Chess. It is enjoyable and provocative and discusses all that is right as well as what could be fixed within the chess world. Our conversation touches on both Howard\\u2019s book and his documentaries, and as his work does, helps to contextualize the role of chess in the world. Topics include the shortcomings of FIDE, Howard\\u2019s admiration for Paul Morphy, whether chess skills are transferable beyond chess, and Howard\\u2019s own history with chess Timestamps of topics discussed can be found below.\\n\\n\\n0:00- What framed Howard\\u2019s approach to separating his book of essays and documentaries?\\n\\n07:00- As somewhat of an outsider to chess, how would Howard change the chess world if he could?\\n\\n13:00- What should the role of a chess governing body be?\\xa0\\n\\n26:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Aimchess.com. Aimchess\\u2019 algorithm reviews your games and gives you actionable advice on how to improve your game. Check it out for free, and if you choose to subscribe you can use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%.\\n\\ufeffOr use this link for the same discount:\\nhttps://aimchess.com/try?ref=benjohnson12\\n\\n28:00- What does Howard admire about Paul Morphy? Why does Howard think that Morphy isn\\u2019t placed on the same level as Fischer?\\xa0\\nMentioned: Paul Morphy: Pride and Sorrow of Chess\\xa0\\n36:00- How do the misogynistic statements of Fischer and Kasparov affect chess culture?\\xa0\\nMentjioned: GM Alejandro Ramirez under Investigation for Misconduct\\xa0\\n\\n44:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. Check out their latest courses here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/\\n\\n45:00- How did Howard interview people from all over the world for Through the Mirror of Chess?\\xa0\\nMentioned: Seven Games: A Human History,\\xa0Episode 263 with Oliver Roeder\\n\\n52:00- Does Howard play much chess?\\xa0\\n\\xa0Howard\\u2019s One Move at a Time Interview\\xa0\\n\\n55:00- What frustrates Howard about suggestions related to the\\xa0transferable skills of chess?\\xa0\\nMentioned: Brooklyn Castle featuring Elizabeth Spiegel\\xa0\\n\\n1:02:00- What role can chess play in social empowerment?\\nMentioned: Tunde Onakoya, Russell Makofsky of The Gift of Chess, GM Pontuss Carlsson\\xa0\\n\\nThanks to Howard for joining the show! Here are the links to keep up with him:\\xa0\\nChess.com Blog (including more thoughts on Fixing FIDE)\\xa0\\nInfo on watching the documentary here:\\nThrough the Mirror of Chess: A Cultural Exploration\\nAnd Get the Book Here:\\n\\xa0Chessays: Travels Through the World of Chess\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices'