Games People Play: The basic handbook of transactional analysis. 
asked by daddyadd on November 16, 2006 5:10 AM
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.
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.
Reviews
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Berne's book was a timely, valuable resource when it first came out and has remained so over the years. He was a trailblazer in the field of interpersonal interactions and his concepts as explained in this book are insightful, and most importantly practical and useful. I have read and reread the book, or parts of it many times since it was first published, and have gained something new from each reading. However, I do not find it an easy book to read. Berne, to me, is not a very stimulating writer. Overall, I would, and have, recommended the book many times because of the valuable information for anyone who wants to understand interpersonal relationships more completely, but always with the caveat that it may not easily hold the reader's interest.
Bob Pavelsky,Ph.D.
Bob Pavelsky,Ph.D.
reviewed by alexis on November 27, 2006 8:39 PM
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I remember buying this book when it hit the market, and now I'm buying it for others in my family to read. I'm sixty now so I've had plenty of time to see lots of games and manipulation, some of which I got pretty good at myself. No blame or shame involved. Most families pass down their learned ways of coping to the next generation so this stuff has always been going on. As I age I am very much less interested in other's games or even my own. Victims, tears, blame, "you caused my problems" I just leave to their owners. Life is too full of fun to be manipulated or guilt-tripped by anyone, and I do believe in total responsibility for my life and what happens in it. Read this and forgive yourself for your games and unplug from other's attempts to control you by any means they can. This book is one of my favorites! Recommended reading for those in the pangs of guilt from anyone, even parents or children.
reviewed by speaker on November 29, 2006 4:45 AM
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If you are looking for a self-help book, you may be disappointed. I tried to read this book several times over the period of the last six years in attempt to resolve conflicts in my relationships, and could not struggle too far until now, when I have some background knowledge of relationships and look not for problem-solving recipies, but for more general understanding.
I like the systematic and clear way in which the author presented the material. I also can't read this book without being ashamed of my own manipulative ways that it uncovers. On the other hand, I draw some consolation from seeing that my enemies are mostly people with lots of mental problems, which call more for helping them rather than taking revenge.
I have to point out that the book is a bit sketchy and somewhat heavy on psychoanalitic terms, which I do not always understand. This, however, only underlines the importance of this book, which has become so popular, even though, perhaps, was originally designed for quite a specialized audience.
I like the systematic and clear way in which the author presented the material. I also can't read this book without being ashamed of my own manipulative ways that it uncovers. On the other hand, I draw some consolation from seeing that my enemies are mostly people with lots of mental problems, which call more for helping them rather than taking revenge.
I have to point out that the book is a bit sketchy and somewhat heavy on psychoanalitic terms, which I do not always understand. This, however, only underlines the importance of this book, which has become so popular, even though, perhaps, was originally designed for quite a specialized audience.
reviewed by james58 on November 29, 2006 6:06 AM