I'll not go out of my way to get the book. I have quite a few on Fischer already.
(I am currently going through the Soltis book on Carlsen - I'll blog my review end of March.)
Karpov v Fischer
(leaving aside Fischer mental illness that made him give up and what might have
happened with him walking. Stay with chess and what we know.)
The feeling amongst all the other 1000's (no exaggeration) of posts I've
seen on the Karpov - Fischer result is a slight tip to Fischer wins in 1975 and Karpov 1978.
The general comments in favour of Fischer are:
The off the board antics of Fischer and his OTB stamina would have got to Karpov.
Karpov's suspect stamina was highlighted by him losing three games out of four
in the tail end of the 1978 match along with all the chaos of the 1978 match.
(and of course the Moscow Marathon).
Come 1978 he would have had the 1975 experience and by then he was the great
player he became. (we will never know if Fischer could have gotten stronger
although not playing he was looking at games - even finding missed wins v
Karpov in 1974 see: https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1067850 )
My one reservation is our man Geller, he would have been Karpov's second and
Karpov would have listened to him (he was Spassky's second in '72 and Boris
refused to look at Bobby playing anything but 1.e4.) see
Blog Post 251
For a 1972 pre-match cover of 'Chess Life and Review' anticipating just this.
Geller (and Tal) would have cooked up a few surprises.
But Bobby too would have had a few as well. (Also Kavalek who helped him out
in the latter half of the 1972 match. He was opening expert.)
I've also debated elsewhere that if we are ignore Fischer's issues than we
must ignore the Karpov stamina matter. So two fit players. Still Fischer 1975
he was a great chess player. (we must never forget that.) and Karpov himself
says every chess player owes him a great deal for raising the level of the
conditions, the media interest and of course the money.
(In 1969 the Petrosian - Spassky purse was $3,000 - in 1972 it was $138,000
which was the main reason Spassky did not walk away after the 2nd game default.
If he walked he would have got his appearance fee, nothing more.)
Karpov 1978, in 1975 not quite there yet, but close, very close.
But alas... (alongside no Morphy v Staunton or Alekhine -Capablanca return match)
Not a Fischer fanboy, in fact I like Karpov more. Met him once, spent a couple
of hours with him, just him and me at the Edinburgh Chess Club. Great day.