by Eric Berne

isbn: 0345410033
subject: Nonfiction, General Science, Psychology
finished: 6/17/1998

The thesis of this book is that people take on roles or act out scripts for ulterior psychological motives. That is, they play games, most of the time without being aware of it. At more than 30 years old I'm sure these ideas are out of fashion with the psychology and psychiatry crowds. However, with some exceptions they still seem relevant -- as I read this book I kept recognizing behavior patterns that I've seen in others and, uncomfortably, myself. While I disagree with some of Berne's analyses and ideas, this is for the most part a fascinating book that gave me insight into things I didn't understand before.