Customer Reviews: Read 19 more reviews...
 Timeless Classic November 15, 2008
This book is an absolute gem and as relevant today as the day it was written. It is essential reading for anyone involved in human relationships at any level. That is to say all of us apart from the few true hermits. Even to those with no knowledge of psychology, the examples make fascinating reading. You will recognise people you know. You may even recognise yourself.
For the psychologists, amateur and professional, Berne achieves what most present day psychologists still find impossible. He combines Freud's personality structure with the stimulus/response psychology of Pavlov, Skinner and Watson. This is a stroke of pure genius. Even most psychologists fail to see the book in this light.
One reviewer suggests the book lacks structure which astonishes me since Berne offers 3 options for time structuring: -
Individual structuring (fantasy and activity)
Social structuring (operations, procedures, rituals, pastimes, games and intimacy)
Material structuring (commonly called work though technically an activity)
These cover personal understanding (the unitary view), socio-cultural awareness (the group view) and material world (the universal view). These are derived from Kant's categories od unity (one), plurality (some) and totality (all). We each use these categories to make sense of our environment. How much more structure can a person need? In fact, other than one, some and all, what else could there be?
Whilst the game descriptions will be of most interest to non-psychologists, the first few chapters provide the bones that are essential for a deeper understanding. They are hard work, even for psychologists, but well worth the effort.
 Very Interesting but not that well written May 10, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is a great book. If you're interested in human behaviour and psychology this is a great book for you to read. The downside to the book is that he trys to use words used in psychology in the book to make it sound better. But it actually does the opposite - makes it sound worse. If you think you can get past all the words that he uses then buy it, if you don't think you can then don't.
But to round up the book is very interesting and has great concepts. I highly recommend it if you think you can get past all the words.
 Excellent concepts, poorly written April 7, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
The concepts behind this book are excellent, and easy to relate to, however the book is written very poorly. It uses too many technical terms and unless you've studied psychology, it's very hard to follow.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, IF you can get past the complex sentences and the extensive usage of technical terminology, otherwise NO if you want an easy to understand bedtime read!
Enlightening easy read, on the beginning of a complex subject. February 15, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Enlightening easy read, on the beginning of a complex subject. Shines a light on all those social niceties and pointless interactions. The roles played by each person in their daily script. Combines the psychological insights with the added bonus of incidental humor.
Whilst reading through this on the train, I could identify what games were going on around me, most amusing.
A practical guide to self and others December 27, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Watch out! You'll see your relatives in this book - or perhaps it's just mine. I'll leave myself out of it. It's a bit like 'The Dog Whisperer' except for people - we see behaviour in a new light. It's not science, exactly, but an intelligent and coherent interpretation of human motivations.
This is a guide to human behaviour which is accessible to the non-specialist and can be used to improve oneself and one's understanding of others. The games we play (Dawkins would classify these as a type of meme, I think) are potentially destructive of human relationships and happiness. Seeing the games in others, and hopefully in oneself, it should be possible to avoid at least some of the pitfalls of human relationships. I'd introduce it as a subject at secondary school and in parenting classes.
Later writers following in Berne's footsteps have gone on to dicuss the idea of 'life scripts' which emerges from Berne's approach.
|
