A Psychobiography of Bobby Fischer
Brilliant, agonized; original, immature; astute, emotionally volatile; virtuosic, enigmatic so goes the narrative of the life and adventures of Bobby Fischer, a man who captivated the world with both his genius and with his tormented soul. In Genius and Mystery of Bobby Fischer, Joseph Ponterotto elegantly unpacks the many contradictions that at once propelled Fischer onto the world stage and, at the same time, led to his eventual liminalization. Ponterotto traces Fischer s socio-emotional development from early life skillfully integrating the many influences that helped shape the person he became as an adult. His treatment of the tumultuous dynamics of Fischer s relationship with his mother and the psychological implications of the mystery of his paternity not only makes for fascinating reading but poignantly sheds light on what Fischer s hidden suffering was all about. While Ponterotto explores Fischer's life with the eye of a scientist, he writes with the pen of one who appreciates the complexity of human experience and who faithfully and compassionately strives to follow the truth wherever it may lead. I recommend this eminently readable work not only to Bobby Fischer fans but to all those fascinated by the paradoxes and pain that often lie behind genius. --Amelio A. D Onofrio, PhD Founding Director and Clinical Professor Psychological Services Institute Fordham UniversityThe link between genius and mental illness is often observed but rarely resolved. Chess genius Bobby Fischer s oddities give way to accomplished academician and chess lover Joseph Ponterotto s systematic application of contemporary psychology. Dr. Ponterotto shows us greater meaning in the tragic life of one of the superstars of modern chess. Had proper help been available to a young Bobby Fischer, what elegance of chess mastery might the world have experienced? What discoveries do we lose today when families and children don t get the best support and fall into the abyss of mental illness? Dr. Ponterotto has uncovered the moves and mistakes in one troubled genius to show us how we can help people play the game of life so that there are more winners, and amazingly, fewer losers. --Paul Greene, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology, Iona College, New Rochelle, N.Y. Private Practice, New York City and New Rochelle, NYThe era of the amateur psychologizing about Bobby Fischer is coming to a close. Now we heed a professional. Dr. Joseph Ponterotto has applied the scientific principles of his discipline to a personality that so long perplexed the world. The controversies will not end, but any further hypotheses will need to take Ponterotto s work as a starting point. --Anthony Saidy, MD., Intl. Chess Master