You can tell a book is really good if you have that feeling that you wish you’d written it yourself. But, I think Nicole Wong has produced a far, far better book that I could ever have done.
It is an absolutely brilliant introduction to the family of games known under the name of Mahjong. I’m now recommending it to everyone I know, and have bought a few copies to share around (but not quite on the level of Wong’s anecdote of a Japanese father buying Riichi manuals for prospective sons-in-law…)
Nicole grounds the book in her own experiences playing with her family, giving the whole a warmth that few other books achieve, both in the sections directly relating to family rules and when she starts to cover the history and other approaches the game. The text is definitely in the “less is more” style, conveying the important ideas clearly and succinctly without getting bogged down in detail. I really appreciate the clarity.
The book looks fantastic as well, with many great photos of mahjong sets and a few choice family shots (like the “beginners’ table”!). The diagrams are all clear and excellently produced. The inside back cover is an inspired idea too – very useful!
Coverage of other popular rule sets is decent, giving enough info to see how they fit into the wider picture and how they affect the flavour of the game. Material on scoring can be a bit boring, but Wong explains the classical method very well and at a decent pace. There’s a reasonable introduction to key strategic ideas as well. I loved the section on trash talking (like an elder). I need to work on my skills there.
Overall, the book is a good reminder that Mahjong is more than just a game. And it’s an excellent starting point to explore all that the game has to offer. I do sometimes slip into ultra-competitive mode for playing Japanese Riichi style, but this book has given me plenty to think about for other ways to play. I can’t think of any book which does it anywhere near as well.
If you’re in the Newcastle or Durham area in the UK, or maybe slightly further afield, and want to try Mahjong or play a bit more in person, please look at https://free-variable.org/flyer-2026-2/ and get in contact.
free-variable.org 