For most kids, a typical learning experience from grades one through twelve relies heavily on absorbing  and memorizing, then reciting facts learned. A small number of kids thrive in that environment, but aside from the straight A students, a large number of kids have varying degrees of difficulty with this type of learning. Experts have postulated various reasons for this from outside forces such as income level, neighborhood, family environment, to innate talent or lack thereof.

Why Chess Matters attacks this problem head on using chess as sophisticated learning tool. Citing evidence from psychology, learning theory and personal experience, Mr. Ashley shows how chess can create better learners, stronger families and children with improved self-confidence. Background does not matter, nor does innate talent.

Contrary to popular beliefs, you do not need to be smart to play chess, but chess does help you get “smarter,” but not in the traditional sense. What learning chess correctly does is improve what psychologists call “non-cognitive skills.” These are skills and attitudes that help learning occur, and they themselves can be learned. Examples include grit, determination, patience, self-confidence, problem solving and a host of other qualities that help kids happily succeed.

Additionally, through the process of learning how to teach chess to their children, parents can learn better parenting skills and improved relationships with their children. Parents don’t need to be good at chess or even know about it. Why Chess Matters takes care of that through an extensive explanation of what chess is all about.

Chess has a history like no other game. It literally spans all cultural, national and political boundaries. During the height of the cold war, there was no disagreement between the U.S.S.R. and the U.S.A about chess. It was a great game. Chess developed from the realm of kings and was a metaphor for war. The game started in India some 2500 years ago, traveled across Asia and into all parts of Europe, then sailed to the new world, where it kept expanding to the game we have today. Why Chess Matters is an easy-to-read book about chess and self-improvement. It has just enough detail to learn to play the game for fun. But additionally, it is a book about how to teach chess with new skills in mind that help both the teacher and the student or the parent and the child. There are also chapters on the history of chess and how it evolved, a chapter on careers, as well as a chapter on Jr. Golf and chess. What we have found in recent years is that a large part of our educational experience for both children and adults lack training in the most basic of life skills needed for a successful and happy life. Skills like patience, grit, self-confidence, and a host of others. Significantly, coinciding with the skills that chess develops in an individual, are the same qualities and skills that form the foundation of the relatively new field of Positive Psychology, founded by Dr. Martin Seligman in the late 1990's. These skills, called, "non-cognitive skills," have been studied written about extensively in Positive Psychology. Just one of these qualities is patience. For a parent watching their former fidgety kid sitting still, concentrating on winning a chess game, over a board and opposite a real human, and not a computer or TV screen, is nothing short of miraculous! The book explores this and other beneficial qualities. To sum up, the teaching and learning experience, using the elements found in Why Chess Matters, is the best way to introduce people to the ancient game.

Mr. Ashley started playing chess at age 8 on the streets in his hometown of Cohoes, NY. He spent his career in home fashion bedding and bath and is responsible for many innovations in the field.

In mid-career, he founded The Sausalito Chess Academy in Marin County, California. Upon retirement, he founded another chess school, The Venetian Bay Chess Academy in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Mr. Ashley has a B.A. in Psychology and an MBA from Cal. State University Northridge, and Cal. State University San Francisco.

He currently resides in New Smyrna Beach Florida where he is actively involved in chess for junior golfers.