Games People Play: The Basic Handbook of Transactional Analysis.
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Book Overview
We think we're relating to other people-but actually we're all playing games. Forty years ago, Games People Play revolutionized our understanding of what really goes on during our most basic social interactions. More than five million copies later, Dr. Eric Berne's classic is as astonishing-and revealing-as it was on the day it was first published. This anniversary edition features a new introduction by Dr. James R. Allen, president of the International Transactional Analysis Association, and Kurt Vonnegut's brilliant Life magazine review from 1965. We play games all the time-sexual games, marital games, power games with our bosses, and competitive games with our friends. Detailing status contests like "Martini" (I know a better way), to lethal couples combat like "If It Weren't For You" and "Uproar," to flirtation favorites like "The Stocking Game" and "Let's You and Him Fight," Dr. Berne exposes the secret ploys and unconscious maneuvers that rule our intimate lives. Explosive when it first appeared, Games People Play is now widely recognized as the most original and influential popular psychology book of our time. It's as powerful and eye-opening as ever.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:B008YE9CTO
ISBN13:9780345410030
Release Date:August 1996
Publisher:Ballantine Books
Length:216 Pages
Weight:0.43 lbs.
Dimensions:0.6" x 5.5" x 8.3"
Customer Reviews
2 ratings
Stay one step ahead of "game players"
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 23 years ago
Being the slightly paranoid, mistrustful, and mildly misanthropic person that I am, this book, which suggests that there are hidden agendas (ulterior motives) behind many people's actions, absolutely knocked me over! I always knew that people had their little games (destructive games, attention-getting games, sympathy-seeking games, etc ...), but this book gives one the ability to put a handle on them; define them, name them, see the "moves" associated with them, describe the "payoffs" associated with them, and plan antitheses to them.After reading this book, I was able to see and identify games (and rituals and pastimes) being played by people all around me. I even identified games I was playing (read the book honestly and you might also come to that conclusion)! That's one thing I picked up from this book - games are not always conscious.Read this book and read it honestly with no preconceptions, and it will indeed benefit you. Since this book was a general overview of Transactional Analysis, I am looking forward to reading other materials on this subject.Happy reading!
A new way to look at old behavior
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
This book is Eric Berne's popularization of Transactional Analysis, the approach to understanding and treating realtionship disorders that he largely developed. Whatever its efficacy as a form of therapy, it is a fascinating way to veiw ordinary human interactions. I first read this book more than two decades ago and have gone back to reread portions of it ever since. While Berne's categorizations of pastimes and games seems somewhat skimpy (after all, behavior is infinitly richer than any theory can easily handle) the basic assumptions of Transactional Analysis provide a new way of understanding much that people do that otherwise seems either meaningless or baffeling. It is a real contribution to understanding ourselves.My life is not 'game free' but at least I recognize more of the games I play, and am less likely to mistake their arbitrary rules for life and death imperatives.Definitly worth reading for anyone who values self examination.
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