The World Played Chess

A Novel

By: Robert Dugoni

Narrated by: Robert Dugoni, Todd Haberkorn

“A fearless and sensitive coming-of-age story. I loved it.”—Mark Sullivan, bestselling author of Beneath a Scarlet Sky and The Last Green Valley.

Bestselling author Robert Dugoni returns with an emotionally arresting follow-up to The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell.

In 1979, Vincent Bianco has just graduated high school. His only desire: collect a little beer money and enjoy his final summer before college. So he lands a job as a laborer on a construction crew. Working alongside two Vietnam vets, one suffering from PTSD, Vincent gets the education of a lifetime. Now forty years later, with his own son leaving for college, the lessons of that summer—Vincent’s last taste of innocence and first taste of real life—dramatically unfold in a novel about breaking away, shaping a life, and seeking one’s own destiny.

©2021 by La Mesa Fiction, LLC. (P)2021 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“With his usual narrative mastery, Dugoni takes on the often-overlooked ordeal of boys becoming men and does so fearlessly and sensitively, chronicling the coming-of-age stories of three different men linked by war, friendship, and family. I loved it.” (Mark Sullivan, best-selling author of Beneath a Scarlet Sky and The Last Green Valley)

“A riveting story of boys becoming men and the risks they take along the way.” (Library Journal)

“The World Played Chess is a shining example of a writer at the top of his game, and a deeply thought-provoking take on a man’s coming of age.” (Authorlink)

“Wondrously brilliant and poignant.... While not a Vietnam novel per se, the book resembles Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried and Philip Caputo’s A Rumor of War in its sheer emotional resonance. Dugoni, though, seems to be channeling the lyrical storytelling magic of the great Pat Conroy more. The World Played Chess is this generation’s The Prince of Tides and a candidate for best novel of 2021.” (Jon Land, Providence Journal)

A MUST READ FOR VIETNAM VETS

I have just finished listening to the audio book, The World Played Chess, by Robert Dugoni. Being a Vietnam Combat Vet, it is one of the very best books I have read or listened to. I was a 19 year old Scout for an Armored Cavalry Unit in 1969. I did not see quite as much brutal warfare as William did in this book, but I did see more loss of life than one ever hope to see. And, I fall into that type of Combat Vet that does not care to rehash what I lived through in Vietnam. I will now search for other books by Robert Dugoni and hope they are as good.

Author has gift to tie history and for connections

I love this author as reader- not so much with other books. But he gets it, his audience and also the cadence and focus of his work.

Robert has a gift for these relationships- this book and also Sam Hell, which is extraordinary.

I completely recommend this book and you will not regret the credit or your precious time.

Wow 👏

That was tremendous! A book about how we have no clue what small things may impact another person's life. The ripple effect with 2 strangers working together for a short amount of time sharing stories about Vietnam and how these stories are life changing. Excellent writing and great narration... grab a box of kleenex!!!

great book

I really enjoyed this book. I highly recommend. The story was well done as was the narrative.

Loved it

Couldn't stop listening once I started and hated for it to end! Great insight of a time that many never understood!