Many Go books promise to explain the fundamentals of Go; here is one that truly delivers on that promise. Kageyama's topics include connecting, good and bad shape, how stones should "run," the difference between territory and influence, how to utilize thick positions and walls, how to train your reading ability, and how to properly approach life-and-death problems – all those fundamental aspects that other authors often overlook. Kageyama also addresses the right learning methods, such as how to study Josekis. "What made me go from amateur to professional was truly grasping the fundamentals," writes Kageyama. The essence of seven years as an amateur and twenty-two years of competitive experience as a professional is encapsulated in this book. It is filled with advice that every Go player will find useful.