Book Description

Reality Check is a guidebook for leveraging competitive gaming strategy, using chess as a model, in order to meaningfully obtain goals within established institutional and corporate landscapes. Drawing on her experiences as a woman in a male-dominated field, immigrant, and lessons learned on her path to a corporate litigator, Alisa Melekhina, Esq. (internationally-ranked chess master) offers an intimate insight into the thought process of a chess master, and converts that thought process into a framework for success. Without the typical dumbing down of self-help books, Reality Check introduces a sophisticated, philosophical discussion of high-level existential questions, paired with concrete, strategic advice. The over-arching theme of Reality Check is awareness of our role in a given community or "world." The chapters focus on strategies for selecting a fulfilling community, and thriving in it by eliminating mental impediments as they appear in different stages of our lives -childhood influences, the junction at which we choose a career, and decision-making -in order to optimize our present goals. The book provides validation for alternative views, while at the same time offering concrete advice on how to succeed within a chosen path. Reality Check is intended for both chess-playing and non-chess-playing audiences. The chess diagrams are used as visual aids to support the discussed principles, and the underlying chess concepts are explained in simple terms. An appendix of select annotated chess games, demonstrating key strategies in action, is available for experienced players. Readers of all skill levels will benefit from the keen psychological insight into competitive play woven throughout the book. Reviews "I didn't know what to expect when I first opened this remarkable book. I soon found out that I had entered the realm of an innovative thinker. While playing off the elements of chess in a way anyone could understand, Alisa Melekhina limns higher principles applying to business, science, art, and life itself. I read it one time to explore, a second time to understand, and a third time to learn and think some more. It's that kind of book." -Bruce Pandolfini, World-Renowned Chess Teacher and Author, author of Every Move Must Have a Purpose: Strategies from Chess for Business and Life "Drawing on her unique perspective as someone who has achieved an objective level of "mastery" in more than one field, Alisa Melekhina has produced an important ‎expose of the absurdity of many of the "moves" that we make and the cultural/societal and cognitive biases that all people − "players" − are subject to. Chess players and non-chess players alike will benefit from her thought-provoking insights ‎and be able to raise their playing level in the ultimate game − life itself − if they really reflect upon her thoughts and change their strategy accordingly." -Martin C. Glass, Corporate Partner at Jenner & Block LLP "Alisa's debut book serves as much more than a guide on how to solve efficiently and effectively problems across the various spectra of business, life, and, of course, chess; for me, it served as a reminder of the interconnected nature of earnest pursuits. I honestly can't remember the last time I read a book so densely interspersed with nuggets of timeless wisdom. A must-read for those on the journey of success-oriented life!" -Schuster Tanger, Managing Member of Lucus Advisors LLC "Alisa's insight into what it takes to succeed at an early age will be interesting to educators, parents as well as ambitious kids themselves. Her precocious and simultaneous success in chess, academics and entrepreneurship should be especially inspiring to young people and women." -WGM Jennifer Shahade, 2-time U.S. Women's Chess Champion, top female poker player, author of Chess Bitch