Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values

Amazon.com

Arguably one of the most profoundly important essays ever written on the nature and significance of "quality" and definitely a necessary anodyne to the consequences of a modern world pathologically obsessed with quantity. Although set as a story of a cross-country trip on a motorcycle by a father and son, it is more nearly a journey through 2,000 years of Western philosophy. For some people, this has been a truly life-changing book.

Book Description

One of the most important and influential books written in the past half-century, Robert M. Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is a powerful, moving, and penetrating examination of how we live . . . and a breathtaking meditation on how to live better. Here is the book that transformed a generation: an unforgettable narration of a summer motorcycle trip across America's Northwest, undertaken by a father and his young son. A story of love and fear -- of growth, discovery, and acceptance -- that becomes a profound personal and philosophical odyssey into life's fundamental questions, this uniquely exhilarating modern classic is both touching and transcendent, resonant with the myriad confusions of existence . . . and the small, essential triumphs that propel us forward.

Customer Reviews:

Read under the author's name. . . .......2007-09-24

I had heard of "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" by Robert Pirsig long before I read it. But when someone compared some of my emails on Postfix mail servers to this book, I had to read it. I am glad I did.

The one mistake people make with this book is thinking it has to deal with zen and motorcycle maintenance. It has little to do with either, but under the author's name, in the sub title, the truth is exposed.

Pirsig's work is not some giant philosophical leap forward. In fact, there are many earlier works that cover the same material as Pirsig's with far more detail and accuracy! But where they fail to make things digestible to a layman, Pirsig succeeds.

That is perhaps the one bad thing in "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance." He has made some mistaken quotes by simple mis-remembering, and hands them out as accurate information. But even this is not terrible when you look at the overall goal of the book, to inspire people to examine quality in their lives.

I think that this book should be required reading in every high school. There is a lot in there that people coming of age need to learn, and so rarely do. The allegorical examination of quality through the tools of Zen and Motorcycles is very wonderfully written. And with a teacher to correct the few misquotes, even the down side can be eliminated.

Now while I feel that Pirsig's viewpoint is somewhat polarized, I do not find that hinders the learning process or enjoyment involved in reading this book.

So please, read this book, even if you are interested in philosophy, zen, motorcycles, or quality. You may be surprised about the other parts of your life that it touches on.

How..... Zen........2007-09-01

This is one of those books I always thought I should read and when I finally got around to it I was blown away. I am reminded of catcher in the rye and one... cuckoos nest. This book was not what I expected. It is not about motorcycles or philosophy, it is about people. The story is skillfully woven between these elements. This is not a book you read once. This is not a book though, to escape from thinking. If that's what you need try Matthew Riley.

Quality without six sigma.......2007-08-24

I have probably purchased over 25 copies if Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance for friends, family and customers. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (ZAMM) is about finding quality through "being the job" instead of 25 pages of process documentation for a 55 second operation.

Implied in this is identifying yourself with the job and finding satisfaction in a job well done. Being the job.

Like it.......2007-07-28

I love it that I can find used books at a great price, fair shipping price, plus they show up in a timely manner in wonderful shape! Thanks!

Thought provoking!.......2007-07-26

The book is based on true accounts experienced by the author. The book doesn't really talk about Zen, but is more based on Western Philosophy. The author writes, "What follows is based on actual occurrences. Although much has been changed for rhetorical purposes, it must be regarded in its essence as fact. However, it should in no way be associated with that great body of factual information relating to orthodox Zen Buddhist practice. It's not very factual on motorcycles, either."

The book is about the author's cross-country motorcycle trip with his 8 year old son Chris, which leads to a journey of self-discovery. It is an examination of the spiritual relationship between a parent and a child, and man's search for reason. During this journey, the author teaches us about life and the human condition in a profound and thought-provoking way. It is a terrific book about philosophy and life, albeit a difficult read. After reading this book, you might reevaluate the way you live, go on a personal quest for the meaning of life, and be interested in reading more books on philosophy. In my case, the book made me want to read more about Kant and Hume, and review some of the books I read before on Plato and Aristotle.

Some of the deep philosophical questions and conundrums raised by the author are:

(a) Before Newton discovered The Law of Gravity, was there gravity? Did gravity exist before Newton or is it the thought of Gravity that suddenly manifested the Law of Gravity? Is it the thought of something that suddenly creates it?

(b) The Arabs and Indians used the `zero' before the Romans and Greeks. Why did the Greeks not invent the zero? How did their societies function for so long without the zero? Could it have continued without the discovery of `zero'? Was the `zero' always there regardless of whether it was discovered or not?

(c) All arguments, solutions, and scientific `truths' have already been invented. We simply discover the best solution.

(d) How do we define the "present" when everything we're conscious of has already happened, and is already a part of the past?

(e) Which self is the real you?

(f) What is good and what is bad? The book opens with the following quote:

"And what is good, Phaedrus,
and what is not good--
Need we ask anyone to tell us these things?"

(g) "Astronomers would be telling mankind that if he looked long enough through a telescope powerful enough, what he would see is the back of his own head."

(h) In life there is no grade, no pass or fail.

(i) "Any intellectually conceived object is always in the past and therefore unreal. Reality is always the moment of vision before the intellectualization takes place. There is no other reality."

(j) "Religion wasn't invented by man. Man was invented by religion." [No idea who invented women, hihihihihi]

(k) How can something can be exclusively "material," when our reality is exclusively spiritual

(l) We should remain open to the part of the world that is beyond appearances, beyond the so-called matter, and cannot be experienced but only imagined.

(m) How do you deal with technology and remain sane?

(n) Man searches for something that he can't quite define, identify or reach.

Plato and Aristotle, the author argues, conceived a system of thought in which beauty is severed from functionality. Functionality became less attractive to us than beauty. Plato and Aristotle, according to the author, committed a murderous act by this system of thought that is still carried out till today. "Quality" has thus been victimized.

The author went insane as a graduate student as he searched for the answer to "what is quality?", and spent considerable time at the asylum. He was subjected to shock treatments that wiped out his personality and most of his memory. He later realized that he was not really insane, but thought in a different level than most people.

Pirsig sees the problems in our world as the result of an overemphasis on beauty, when functionality is more essential. One reviewer puts it nicely, "...pure `function' has problems of its own. For example, our bodily organs carry out the function of allowing us to live, but one doesn't really desire for our skin to be translucent so we can watch these functions. In fact, we would have a revulsion to such a thing. Therefore, we have a combination of both "form" [beauty] and "function"; our organs work very well without our having to see them. This is the desirable state. This desirable state is called `Quality'."

However, `Quality' is indefinable. It comes before thought, and before actions. Any attempt at describing it is useless, because as soon as you attempt to, you are only talking about one aspect of it.

This is one of those books that you either both understand and enjoy or you don't. It is really all about timing, your past experiences and knowledge, and your reasons for reading this book in the first place. If you don't understand it put it down and wait until the time is right. Don't throw it away!

Read this book slowly if you really want to understand it. If you like to read thought provoking and intellectually challenging books, you will love it!

To close, one reviewer wrote, "Many of the negative reviews are from people who had a preconceived notion of what this book was before they read it (either from the title or from a recommendation) and were upset that it didn't meet their expectations. It seems to me that these folks have received their Zen lesson..."

Average customer rating:

expect giant rewards from this book
Think you "can't" forgive?
Right in line with my thinking....
the art of forgiving
A Masterpiece!

Art of Forgiving
Lewis B. Smedes
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 034541344X
Release Date: 1997-08-12

Amazon.com

When a heinous act is committed, sometimes one wonders if forgiveness is even possible. Lewis B. Smedes would certainly advise it. "When we forgive," he says, "we set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner we set free is us." In an easy-to-read yet astute analysis of the meaning and value of forgiveness, Smedes teaches the reader that more than anything, forgiveness is a way of healing. He takes as his model the Judeo-Christian God and outlines the many subtleties involved in forgiveness, such as distinguishing anger from hate, and noting that we only forgive those we blame (including ourselves). Forgetting may be more difficult, but at least The Art of Forgiving can help us along the path toward release and healing.

Book Description

"Lewis Smedes writes about forgiveness like no one has ever written about it before. There is no better book in the English language about this subject, which, if properly mastered, can change the face of human relationships."
--Neil Clark Warren

Author of The Triumphant Marriage and Make Anger Your Ally

If you are ready to make peace with those who have hurt or betrayed you, there can be no finer road map than this thoroughly practical book. Lewis Smedes brings true forgiveness, "Gods own gift," within the capacity of every wounded person, even in circumstances when only hate seems possible. With inspiring words, he leads you through the three stages of forgiveness and helps you understand:

Why we forgive (often the person who benefits most is the forgiver)
What we do when we forgive (perhaps not what we expect)
Whom we forgive (only those who directly wrong us)
How we forgive (we start by owning our pain)

Using many dramatic examples drawn from life, this wise author illuminates, step by step, the healing path to peace and freedom.

"Altogether a wonderfully wise and enabling book, one of Smedes's very best. The Art of Forgiving is itself a work of art. Throughout my reading I found myself exclaiming, 'That never occurred to me, but yes, that's right!' I felt as if I were being led by an extraordinarily lucid and perceptive guide on a tour through the land of forgiveness."
--Nicholas Woltersdorff
Professor of Philosophical Theology
The Divinity School, Yale University

Customer Reviews:

expect giant rewards from this book.......2007-03-03

This book will save you unnecessary agony if you are committed to a life of forgiveness and freedom from the past, which is work enough as it is. Expect giant rewards from living by Smedes' insights.

Think you "can't" forgive?.......2007-02-16

The problem likely lies in your understanding of what forgiveness is... and what it is not. One thing it is not, is saying what happened was okay, that nothing happened that shouldn't have happened, that the person who generated the painful experience isn't responsible for their choices and behaviors. Forgiveness does not involve "forgetting"... it does involve clearly seeing what happened, the impact it has had on you, and taking the opportunity to make different decisons about the impact you will permit it to continue to have in the future.

Lewis Smedes clarifies what forgiveness REALLY is. You have the right to choose to not forgive, to hold onto hatred. You have the right to continue to choose to be miserable. But if you want to be free, if want to move away from the pain once and for all, you must choose to forgive... and Lewis Smedes shows how to do that effectively. There is no magic here, other than the reality that you don't HAVE to stay stuck in anger and pain. It won't necessarily happen overnight... but it can happen if you are willing.

Right in line with my thinking...........2006-07-07

This book was given to me by a friend who knew I really enjoyed books of this nature. One line that I've always said to my friends is something this book expounds on in depth: Forgiveness isn't a gift you give to another person. It's something you do inside of yourself and for yourself. A very positive look on the subject of forgiveness, and learning to let go of revenge and embracing justice instead... I recommend it for anyone who is having issues with letting go of a wrong perceived or otherwise that they feel has been done to them.

the art of forgiving.......2005-08-09

This has to be the best book written on the subject. It makes you realize that forgivness is the only way to heal pain and hurt. You are not letting the other person off the hook, you are saying that you understand that they are only human and capable of error. The forgivness is on your part only, you do not even have to tell the person who hurt you that you forgive them, it cleanses your soul.

A Masterpiece!.......2004-04-24

For people who have been wronged and struggle with negative, consuming emotions, this title is the one to read. Smedes describes in great detail what it means to forgive, and that the benefit is not to the one forgiven, but to the one forgiving. His words here are like a long, cool drink of water to a soul parched from hatred, bitterness and animosity. There is great healing power in forgiveness, and Smedes harnesses that power in this book as few other authors have done.

Average customer rating:

The Hobo Philosopher
An absolutely essential book
Love revealed
Eh.
Graphic Sex Scenes

The Art of Loving
Erich Fromm
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial Modern Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0061129739
Release Date: 2006-11-21

Book Description

The renowned psychoanalyst Erich Fromm has helped millions of men and women achieve rich, productive lives by developing their hidden capacities for love. In this astonishly frank and candid book, he explores the ways in which this extraordinary emotion can alter the whole course of your life.

Most of us are unable to develop our capacities for love on the only level that really counts––a love that is compounded of maturity, self–knowledge, and courage. Learning to love, like other arts, demands practice and concentration. Even more than any other art it demands genuine insight and understanding. In this startling book, Fromm discusses love in all its aspects; not only romantic love, so surrounded by conceptions, but also love of parents for children, brotherly love, erotic love, self–love, and love of God.

Customer Reviews:

The Hobo Philosopher.......2007-09-17

Back in the 60s everybody was reading this guy. I met a young psychology professor the other day and I thought I'd name drop. I mentioned Erich Fromm. He never heard of him. I was shocked. But a week before that I was at a law library and the law student behind the take-out desk never heard of Clarence Darrow. You know there are young people who don't know who Bob Cousy is?
In any case, this is a very intelligent book. I still have Erich Fromm sitting on my night table. Right now I am reading the Anatomy of Human Destructiveness. The Art of Loving was one of my favorite.
I took psychology in college because I liked so many of Erich Fromm's books. Unfortunately psychology was all about rats, monkeys, dogs and Ginnie pigs. Erich Fromm was all about people. I could never figure it out.

An absolutely essential book.......2007-09-11

I first learned about 'The Art of Loving' (1956) through friends in the early 1960s. Shortly thereafter, on a trip to the U.S., I bought my first copy. Since then, I have been reading the book, and in the book, over and over again. In the late 1990s, I actually worked through it and summarized the main ideas to be sure I fully internalized them. Over the years, I gave copies of it to all of my children as they reached adulthood, as well as to many young friends. Through this book, Erich Fromm opened my eyes for an understanding of the meaning of life. As a result, I bought and read most of what Fromm wrote during the years he spent in North America, from 'Escape from Freedom' (1941) to 'To Have or to Be' (1976). From these other works, the one that most impressed me and helped me to form my own views was 'Psychoanalysis and Religion' (1950). Fromm is a humanist with uniquely deep insights into the human soul, into the world of religion (Judeo-Christian and other world religions), as well as the world of philosophy (Western and Eastern).- I just recently ordered a new copy of 'The Art of Loving' because my original one is coming to pieces.

Love revealed.......2007-08-27

Love- such an enigma- but Fromm helps us to discover what love might be in different types of relationships and, in the process, elucidates what healthy boundaries might be in our relationships. He also has interesting ideas on the effects of our consumer society on our ability to truely love.

Eh........2007-05-23

I was really disappointed with this book, especially since it was so highly recommended by friends and in general. I guess perhaps when it was written the ideas Fromm expressed were new, or at least the way he expressed them were new, but I can't believe that any minimally self-aware person hasn't thought about at least 80 to 90 percent of these ideas themselves. Fromm seems to be the typical over-educated, intellectual psychologist/philosopher, who takes a simple idea (if you don't know and love and understand yourself and the world around you, you can't love another person) and over-analyzes it, giving historical and biblical examples. Just another 90-odd pages of psychobabble.

Graphic Sex Scenes.......2007-05-21

Stunning artwork and a main character you can relate to make this Yaoi book an exciting and pleasurable read.

Your Divorce Advisor : A Lawyer and a Psychologist GuideYou Through the Legal and Emotional Landscape of Divorce

Average customer rating:

Practical divorce advice
Important book, along with...
Very Informative, but deceptively biased
Extensive Information
The DEFINITIVE Divorce Guidebook

Your Divorce Advisor : A Lawyer and a Psychologist GuideYou Through the Legal and Emotional Landscape of Divorce
Diana Mercer , and Marsha Kline Pruett
Manufacturer: Fireside
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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philosophy hope in a jar daily moisturizer

ASIN: 0684870681

Book Description

A lawyer and a psychologist offer a groundbreaking divorce strategy that protects both your finances and your family.

From your first thought of divorce through the final paperwork, Your Divorce Advisor takes you step by step toward a divorce that dissolves the marriage but not your dignity, your sense of family, or your financial security. Whether you hire a lawyer or a mediator, or do it yourself, this practical, direct, and empowering guide offers you the wise counsel you need for both the legal and the emotional processes of ending your marriage.

Your Divorce Advisor shows you how to:

Keep a healthy perspective that leads to a successful legal strategy and recognize when emotions threaten your case

Protect your assets without destroying your family

Offering:

Detailed coverage of all your legal options and guidance through every legal step, including anticipating the emotional repercussions of your decisions

More information on custody than any other divorce book, including age-appropriate custody schedules

A sample divorce agreement explained one paragraph at a time

Your Divorce Advisor helps you set yourself and your

family on a positive course toward a new life.

Download Description

This is the first book to focus on the concerns, fears, and futures of everyone involved in a divorce. With vital legal information and sound psychological advice, it takes readers chronologically through the divorce process and explains how to manage every step without losing emotional control, traumatizing young children, or jeopardizing the goal of reaching an agreement that will stand the test of time. Written by a matrimonial attorney and a clinical psychologist who specializes in family counseling, and featuring sidebars and highlighted sections for easy reference, Your Divorce Advisor covers all the legal and psychological aspects of divorce, including: -- Understanding your legal options and starting the legal process -- Preparing your family for what's ahead -- Negotiating with your spouse without hurting yourself or your children -- Preparing for a trial -- Dealing with the inevitable emotional conflicts among family members Divorce is a complex, stressful, and life-changing experience for both adults and children. Your Divorce Advisor will reduce the anger and pain 1.4 million American families face each year and set them on a path to a positive future.

Customer Reviews:

Practical divorce advice.......2007-04-17

Interesting book coming from both the perspective of the divorce lawyer and a psychologist. Some good, solid advice here. While going through a divorce you should gather as much information as possible and know how to protect yourself both emotionally and financially.

Seven Secrets to a Successful Divorce

Important book, along with..........2006-01-04

Divorce is one of the most grueling experiences anyone can go through, and this book is a great guide for easing the challenges. The book is packed with information on the legal and emotional issues that are likely to arise -- and how to deal with them. The topics span the board, from making the initial decision, to preparing for trial, to how to talk with the kids about it all.

THe authors have a section on negotiating with your spouse, and I think that that is essential. They mention the work of Harvard's Roger Fisher, who just published a new book that you don't want to miss if you're dealing with divorce. The book is 'Beyond Reason: Using Emotions as you Negotiate.' (The chapters on autonomy and appreciation struck a chord with me and offered great advice.)

Very Informative, but deceptively biased.......2005-07-03

After reading many, many studies on the subject of divorce, support and custody, and also personally being a single father for 13 years with sole custody of 3 children and also being a non-custodial parent of one younger child I feel I can comment objectively on this book.

First off, it is clearly very well written, covers almost all aspects of its subject and uniquely combines views from an emotional point of view as well as legal point of view. It also strives to be unbiased and provide clear representation of both parents. I do recommend this book but do so with one caveat (hence my rating of 3 stars rather than 5).

The book is riddled with hidden biases in favor of Mom rather than Dad and the reader should be cognizant of that. Also, it is not clear that all aspects of studies are clearly represented. i.e., both sides. The tricky thing is that both sides are mentioned but even when there is a preponderance of studies favoring one side, it seems the authors may lean towards the other side. A fairer presentation of studies supporting both sides would be really beneficial (particularly on child custody, visitation, overnights, bonding, etc.). Many of the studies are represented in summary form and as such remove a lot of important context.

A good example of a hidden bias:

"The Paradox requires that parents take into careful consideration how well their children are able to tolerate separation from their mother, the child's temperament, and the strength of the father-child bond prior to divorce, and weigh all this against the likelihood of the father staying in the child's life...." Page 203 - determining custody arrangements.

This seems like a very objective statement but upon closer examination it is clear that the authors are concerned with whether the child(ren) can tolerate separation from mom but never question whether or not the child(ren) can handle the separation from dad or what that impact might be. In addition, it questions the father-child bond but never suggestions that the mother-child bond should be evaluated as well in such a determination. The phrase ends with us weighing all of this against whether or not it is likely that dad will stay in the picture - again, what about mom. Studies are increasingly showing that even when mom has full custody of her children she can be less than a model parent for a variety of reasons.

Here's another:

"The amount of time between father and child is important because it facilitates a closer parent child relationship. But time does not automatically equal closeness. The quality of time spent and the level of involvement .... are ... more important." Also Page 203 - determining custody arrangements.

Again - sounds objective enough but actually why is this represented only in terms of dad. Isn't this statement true for moms as well? Phrased as written there is an assumption that mother time does equal closeness and that it is automatically quality otherwise why point this out only for fathers during a discussion on custody which should be gender neutral. If the term was written with parent in place of father then it would be truly objective. As written it supports the notion that moms are custodial parents and dads are visitors - and not to worry about the amount of time dads spend - but worry about the quality of time they spend. So to be fair, don't worry about the time mom spends with the children, just the quality of time she spends - thereby freeing up large amounts of time for dad and children.

These are only 2 examples but please read this book with caution, such biases are sprinkled all through out the book (perhaps because the authors are both moms) and amongst a backdrop of authority, general objectivity and mastery of the subject matter which makes them all the more dangerous.

Extensive Information.......2005-04-23

This book is filled with extensive information. With over 60% of the population getting divorced, this subject should no longer be taboo.
Barbara Donahue, Author of "The Anti-Rules, Now That
You've Got Him, How Do You Get Rid Of Him"

The DEFINITIVE Divorce Guidebook.......2005-04-04

"Your Marriage Advisor: A Lawyer and Psychologist Guide You Through the Emotional Landscape of Divorce" by Diane Mercer and Marsha Klein Pruitt is arguably the most respectable and comprehensive guidebook on Divorce out there in the market place. The co-authored divorce guide, written by a divorce mediator and a research scientist in child study, takes you on an informative and rational ride through the entire divorce process, both the legal and psychological aspects of it. Imbued with positive energy, the authors breathed a much needed breeze of fresh air in an area where bickering and revenge is rife, highlighting that "the best strategy is to take care of yourself and your family, especially your children...this is truly your mantra".

Complete with case studies and extensive discussion from the A-Z of all that you need to know on the divorce procedure/psyche, the book is well-balanced where the authors weighed the pros and cons of oft-repeated tactics, not least stressing ad nauseam that retaliation and lying to get your way as non-viable options. It is one of those rare self-help books where the humanity and sterling character of the authors shined through as readers are constantly reminded how divorce is a no-win scenario to all and how one should best move on from the unpalatable situation in one piece. This book is a gem amidst the universe of divorce guides advocating revenge, male/female bashing and dirty tricks. Equipped with knowledge from this book, readers could save their sanity and their children's, not least money on oftentimes deficient advice from attorneys who have their own agendas to meet. This book is good place to start when confronted by the "D" word and is placed right on top of the priority must-read list if you have just time for one.

Creating Emotion in Games: The Craft and Art of Emotioneering

Average customer rating:

A decent read
Mostly Useless
If anyone knows emotioneering, it's Dave "Emo" Freeman
Fake Reviews?
Good book for anyone in the craft

Creating Emotion in Games: The Craft and Art of Emotioneering
David Freeman
Manufacturer: New Riders Games
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1592730078

Book Description

David Freeman brings you the inside scoop on how to apply the Emotioneering™ techniques he's so well known for. These powerful techniques create a breadth and depth of emotion in a game, and induce a player to identify with the role he or she is playing. Mr. Freeman's techniques are so highly sought after because they're the key to mass market success in today's competitive game market. The over 300 distinct Emotioneering techniques in this book include (to name but a few): ways to give emotional depth to an NPC (non-player character), even if the NPC has just one line of dialogue; techniques to bond a player to a game's NPCs; and techniques to transform a game into an intense emotional journey. In a warm and crystal-clear style, Mr. Freeman provides examples which demonstrate exactly how to apply the techniques. He also shows how some of these techniques were utilized in, and contributed greatly to the success of such games as "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City"; "Deus Ex"; and "Thief" I & II, among others. The book is packed with striking art by some of today's top concept artists and illustrators, including an eight-page color section and a four-color, fold-out cover. When you've finished this book, you'll be equipped to apply Mr. Freeman's powerful Emotioneering techniques to artfully create emotion in the games you design, build, or produce.

Customer Reviews:

A decent read.......2006-12-12

It does tell you a lot of techniques, but it doesn't tell proper practice. Its ok for game design since the (western) industry isn't very sentimental when it comes to games. Mostly the Japanese are coming out with RPGs with a lot of sentiment. I think its good that someone is trying to help with dry gaming. I do like games like unreal, tetris, street fighter, which have little to no plot, but I don't like to be a weapon of mass destruction without a cause.

The book can be comparable to a core paper-pencil rpg book for storytellers.

As far as "emotioneering," I think its a catch phrase. And many of the dimensions used for creating characters you could get out of a white-wolf book.

Overall, the book is good at telling you how to use techniques for characters and story/plot. Its cheaper than taking a scriptwriting class or a creative writing class.

Mostly Useless.......2006-10-07

I'm surprised by the reviews from people claiming to be game industry veterans who say they've found this book to be useful. Either they're not really in the game industry (possibly PR flaks?) or they haven't learned much in their time here.

General comment on content: Between the massive amounts of interior artwork, the big body type, the big (and frequent) headers, unusually wide margins, and lots of white space, there's probably only about 75 pages of actual information in this "500-page" book. Think of it as more of a booklet.

Mr. Freeman's credits are hard for me to verify. Web searches turn up some titles he's gotten credit for contributing to, but none of them were AAA titles. And there's no way to know for sure how much he actually contributed to them. Having been both a freelancer and internal writer/designer, I know outside writers who've been completely useless to games' development, so a claim of credit doesn't mean much, IMO. I have no clue what expertise he has with movies or other media, but I'm not too hopeful after reading his book on game writing.

One big problem I have with his book is the jargon he insists on excreting everywhere. This isn't game industry jargon, movie jargon, or any sensible jargon that I know of. It's jargon he seems to have made up to try to claim writing techniques and mechanics as his own. And he really, really likes to capitalize the (sometimes excruciatingly long) names of "his" techniques. A sense of impending doom approaches when you first see the word "Emotioneering" (capitalized, of course), looms high overhead when you see such phrases as "Plot Deepening Technique" and "Dialogue Interesting Technique," and crashes down with skull-crushing force upon reading the phrase "Player Toward NPC Relationship Deepening Technique." Ouch. Lack brilliance? Try BS!

How can anyone read a sentence such as "A Character Being Genuine is an NPC Rooting Interest Technique, but not a Character Deepening Technique" without laughing? (And, yes, the capitalization and comma fault are the author's.)

The bottom line is that this book doesn't seem (to me) to have much of value to offer anyone who's been in the industry for any length of time. If you're trying to break into the industry, however, you could be deluded into thinking that you're learning something useful here. FWIW, that's the opinion of someone who's actually been in the games industry since 1984. I keep trying to read this book, hoping to get something out of it, but can't get more than 20% into it before giving up.

If anyone knows emotioneering, it's Dave "Emo" Freeman.......2006-07-27

"Creating Emotion in Games: The Craft and Art of Emotioneering" is clearly a guide every video game designer could read as long as they weren't dyslexic or something. And if they are dyslexic, maybe they could get someone to read it to them. Come to think of it, that would be a great pick-up line: "Excuse me... I know we've never met, but would you mind reading this book, 'Creating Emotion in Games: The Craft and Art of Emotioneering' to me? I seem to be dyslexic." In the midst of an everchanging world, it's nice to see that, throughout the centuries, one thing rings true: Games still can be emotional as long they are emotioneered properly with appropriate use of craft and art and creation.

Fake Reviews?.......2005-10-10

Did you notice most of the glowing, 5-star reviews are all written by people who put their job title as their name? "Video Game Designer," "Film Producer," etc. Who does that legitimately? I can't help but think the author wrote most of the glowing reviews himself, but apparently couldn't "emotioneer" enough creativity to think that normal people don't use their job description as their name.

Good book for anyone in the craft.......2005-09-07

Basically, Creating Emotion in Games is a collection of techniques that you can use in your games to help make the player become emotionally attached to the characters in the game. These aren't necessarily shortcuts, but ways of looking at characters and plot that are common in the screenwriting world, but aren't common in the world of videogames. He goes into ways of making the player care about the main character, about the side characters, about the actions they choose, about the world, etc. Nearly all of the techniques are valuable depending upon the context, and can be applied readily to games that are currently under development. They also focus on the part of game development that, sadly, most developers are unfamiliar with.

Unfortunately, like many other game development authors, he has a self-aggrandizing tone that is difficult to get past. Occasionally he'll tell you the "greatest game idea ever" and all you can think is "Wow. That doesn't sound like fun at all." The example games he gives for his techniques are completely generic video-game ideas without a lot of originality.

Overall, though, this book succeeds in opening up avenues of exploration for game designers to improve their craft. It certainly added depth to the way that I think about the games I design, and did so in spades. I can't think of any more glowing endorsement.

Emotional Design: Why We Love (or Hate) Everyday Things

Average customer rating:

An interesting view about how products can change our lives
Jakob Nielsen's Other Half
Author Ego
Subtract robots to get a great book on how emotions affect purchases
Cognitive science explains our love of good design

Emotional Design: Why We Love (or Hate) Everyday Things
Donald A. Norman
Manufacturer: Basic Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0465051367
Release Date: 2005-05-10

Book Description

Did you ever wonder why cheap wine tastes better in fancy glasses? Why sales of Macintosh computers soared when Apple introduced the colorful iMac? New research on emotion and cognition has shown that attractive things really do work better, as Donald Norman amply demonstrates in this fascinating book, which has garnered acclaim everywhere from Scientific American to The New Yorker. Emotional Design articulates the profound influence of the feelings that objects evoke, from our willingness to spend thousands of dollars on Gucci bags and Rolex watches, to the impact of emotion on the everyday objects of tomorrow.

Norman draws on a wealth of examples and the latest scientific insights to present a bold exploration of the objects in our everyday world. Emotional Design will appeal not only to designers and manufacturers but also to managers, psychologists, and general readers who love to think about their stuff.

Customer Reviews:

An interesting view about how products can change our lives.......2007-09-30

Don Norman with this books exposes a review based on how products can make us feel better, and how they can influence our daily life in different contexts of use. If you're lookin' for a tutorial about "how make an emotional product", this is not the choice. Nevertheless, you'll never find it eather. Norman only puts a name to a phenomenon that already exists, but in a entertaining way that offer to the reader a new form to understand the design of products. It is worth it to read this, absolutely recommended.

Jakob Nielsen's Other Half.......2007-09-22

This book breaks down 3 categories of things we look at when we're deciding whether or not we like things, and then proceeds to show how one can analyze everyday things in those terms. I wouldn't say it's enlightening, but it does give you categories and terms for expressing things you already knew on some level. Don Norman's writing style is warm, and personal, and the book is easy to read. I've seen his name next to Jakob Nielsen's plenty of times but had no idea who he was or what he was about, so it gives a little insight into who Don Norman is as well, and why he and Jakob make good partners.

Author Ego.......2007-09-04

This book is uninspiring and boring. The author has a huge ego and does not translate his ideas effectively. The book is a long boring read and not anything new to those in design.

Subtract robots to get a great book on how emotions affect purchases.......2007-02-15

Norman opens the book with a discussion of three teapots he owns. He doesn't use them, but he loves how each tells a story. One is impossible to use, one is a classy glassy Michael Graves design and one is unusual. Norman says when we like the look of an object; we're more willing to overlook its design flaws as opposed to using something with no flaws and an ugly design.

I believe [...] is a good example of this from a web site perspective. It isn't so much about flickr's look-and-feel, but many of the non-designers, everyday Internet users understandably find the site difficult to use. [...] gained a reputation in the world of web design and IT -- the kind of people who find their way around the more difficult to use sites -- and many flocked to it because of word of mouth.

A friend of Norman's enthusiastically showed off his recent purchase of old, heavy and shiny drawing instruments including compasses, dividers and extension arms. For the author, the instruments evoked negative memories of using the difficult and messy tools. Enough time had passed for his friend to overlook the negative experience he had with the tools. Thus, when he found them, he saw them as a collectible reminding him of the "good old days" rather than something he hated using. Had those negative experiences been more recent or memorable, would he have bought the set?

The focal point of Emotional Design is that "attractive things work better." Norman explores how emotions affect purchase decisions based on three aspects of design: the visceral (appearance), behavioral (performance) and reflective (memories and experiences).

Understanding the three parts of design helps a business make the most of their product designs and marketing efforts. After all, an ad has images and those images can stir emotions. Service-based business can turn the intangible into the tangible and apply the concepts from the book.

Norman offers intriguing examples in the book to show how objects evoke emotions. The book loses its way in the last part when the author delves in the world of robots. While it talks about the possibility of robots having emotions, it tells nothing about "products" and human behavior. Except for this part, the book was a quick and fascinating read. Those who want to understand how design influences purchases will enjoy the book. Many of its concepts apply to business situations related to selling and designing products.

Cognitive science explains our love of good design.......2007-01-06

Understanding the emotions consumers feel about the objects you sell can help your business make the most of its product designs. Expert Donald Norman explains how being attractive, fun and enjoyable makes a product better. He explains that the emotions which affect purchase decisions are based on three aspects of design: "visceral" (appearance), "behavioral" (performance) and "reflective" (memories and experiences). He provides interesting case studies to show how objects evoke emotions. Norman's central theme is that "attractive things work better." And, the book works best when he hews to that theme; the last section, where he veers into a discussion of robots, doesn't seem as pertinent or as strong. We recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand how design affects emotions, and how emotions affect purchasing decisions.

Average customer rating:

If you know absolutely nothing, well then this is something that can help.
ALL BASES COVERED!
good writing tool
Just so so
Every Writer Needs This Book

Writing for Emotional Impact
Karl Iglesias
Manufacturer: WingSpan Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1595940286

Book Description

Karl Iglesias breaks new ground by focusing on the psychology of the reader. Based on his acclaimed classes at UCLA Extension, Writing for Emotional Impact goes beyond the basics and argues that Hollywood is in the emotion-delivery business, selling emotional experiences packaged in movies and TV shows. Iglesias not only encourages you to deliver emtional impact on as many pages as possible, he shows you how, offering hundreds of dramatic techniques to take your writing to the professional level.

Customer Reviews:

If you know absolutely nothing, well then this is something that can help........2007-09-08

Writing for Emotional Impact left me wanting more. After years of watching movies I was abLe to discern what the important elements of a movie are long before reading this book. However if you know absolutely nothing about writing a screenplay then I am quite certain you will find this book a valuable resource.

ALL BASES COVERED!.......2007-09-02

If logistics prevent you from taking a class with Karl Iglesais, then this book is the next best thing.

Writing For Emotional Impact is the best book on craft, and process I have read to date. It is concise, and thorough. It explains the importance of emotional impact on the reader/viewer in a way that makes sense.

Correct, and incorrect approachs to writing are compared and contrasted; reasons given are documented by examples from films. I have insights relating to character, dialogue, and the dynamics of a scene that I didn't have before. Finally, my dilemma about when to use on-the-nose, and when to use subtext has been clarified. This alone was worth the purchase price.

Whether you read it from cover-to-cover, or read chapters related to your specific need as a writer, the answers you seek are there. It's a great book!

good writing tool.......2007-08-10

For my point of view, quite useful when you need to rewrite a project, because it reviews all the tricks of the other books but with emotion in mind. So, this book can allow you to test your script, turn it upside down and maybe finally find new solutions. Pretty useful so.

Just so so.......2007-08-04

The book promises to improve your writing, which of course they all do. There were a few tidbits of useful information here, and a professional writer may benefit from the early chapters of the book. I found muich of the rest of the book to be tedious and boring.

I think the book should be much shorter than it is. There's too much repetition after the first third. This is not uncommobn. If an auithor doesn't have enough material to complete a book then he should simply wait until he does, THEN write his book.

Save The Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need

Every Writer Needs This Book.......2007-06-10

Every writer needs this book, beginner or advanced, this book gives more information and education than any other 3 books combined.
It helped my writing.

Write Great Fiction: Characters, Emotion & Viewpoint : (Techniques and exercises for crafting dynamic characters and effective viewpoints) (Write Great Fiction)

Average customer rating:

Elegant explanations and examples
As great as the first book! Get this one too!
Loads of information and very easy read . . .
Another great book in a must have series of books
excellent

Write Great Fiction: Characters, Emotion & Viewpoint : (Techniques and exercises for crafting dynamic characters and effective viewpoints) (Write Great Fiction)
Nancy Kress
Manufacturer: Writers Digest Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1582973164

Book Description

The indispensable Write Great Fiction series continues with an in-depth look at three of the most important tools in the writer's craft: character, emotion and viewpoint. With the tips and techniques in this book, readers will learn how to:

-Create compelling characters that readers believe in -Write scenes that deliver an unforgettable emotional impact -Distinguish among the many different kinds of viewpoint, and choose the one which is right for their story

Each chapter is filled with examples drawn from the work of successful writers and action-and- results exercises that help readers take their lessons to the keyboard.

Customer Reviews:

Elegant explanations and examples.......2007-09-27

This guide was an easy read since the subject was broken into easy pieces for digestion. I was especially pleased with the literary examples of many classic and contemporary authors, which made obvious the understanding of principles explained in each chapter. This book substantially lifted my confidence in fiction writing technique.

As great as the first book! Get this one too!.......2007-08-25

This is just as great as the first book, Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell. If you liked the first one- you will love this! It really helps you to find your characters and its interesting to read.

Unlike Plot and Structure, Character Emotions and Viewpoint does have a few swear words in their examples. I dont like those, but if you want to understand this topic its worth it!

Loads of information and very easy read . . ........2007-07-26

This book is loaded with great information for all those aspiring authors who need a hand with developing memorable characters. It's very helpful and an extremely easy read.

Another great book in a must have series of books.......2007-03-30

I picked up what I thought would be a rehashing of old material covered in other books on the same subject, but The Great Fiction series of books continues to impress and surprise.

So many books on creating characters speak to their physical description, wants, motives and give the character a background. This book goes a step further and tells you how to do those things and hits the key point of showing emotion.

In addition, chapter Eight titled "Talking About Emotion -- Dialogue and Thoughts" was worth the price of the book alone.

Other great topics were "Showing Change in Your Characters" and "Frustration -- The Most Useful Emotion in Fiction."

Like the other books in the series, Appendix A recaps the author's critical points. Thus for the impatient reader, jump to this appendix and read what the book is about. For those of us who enjoy the journey of the reading the previous 200+ pages, the appendix is a nice summary.

Overall, this felt like the first book that brought all the concepts of characterization into one place and provided me with an easy to follow roadmap to creating, deepening and SHOWING my characters off in my story.

My recommended characterization plan:
1) Read this book as a guide on how to breath life into your characters and what you are trying to accomplish with your characters. (Characters are not there by accident!)

2) Pick up The Marshall Plan of Novel Writing by Evan Marshal or First Draft in 30 Days by Karen Weisner. Both of these books take many of the concepts listed in this book and put them into templates and forms you can fill out to plot your novel

3) Write. Write. Write.

Don't do what I did and spend the last ten years reading more on writing than actually writing. Get that first 1 million words written asap!!
While you are doing it, read this book, which has found a permanent place on my book shelf as a handy reference and reminder of what makes a successful cast of characters.

excellent.......2007-02-28

A book to read and re-read with extensive advice for making your characters merit their inclusion. I found each topic to be concisely dealt with and particularly liked the final chapters on writer's block and editing.

Average customer rating:

The Complexity of the human condition.
Specific and helpful
Like Nasty Cough Syrup
Short but good
Great reference!

Creating Character Emotions
Ann Hood
Manufacturer: Story Press Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1884910335

Customer Reviews:

The Complexity of the human condition........2007-08-01

I'm disappointed in most of the other reviews of this book and the low rankings other readers gave it. Maybe they just don't get it. Maybe they have trouble seeing how complex we humans are. Most men, like myself, tend to be reluctant to show emotion in public. We tend to hide all but anger so we don't give away our weaknesses. I taught English grammar and literature for thirty years and although Ann Hood does not spend a lot of time on any one emotion, she manages to convey just how complex we humans are by quickly glossing over the thirty-six emotions she shows us in her book. I appreciate the way she organized her little book on creating character emotions. I wish I had read it soon after it came out in print. I would have added some of what she wrote into my lessons on characterization. Although I haven't read some of the other books out there about creating emotions, like the one by Orson Scott Card, which I plan to read next, I can not discount the fact that she has provided me with some valuable seeds for thought. As a teacher, I've learned that there are many ways to teach one thing and one method will not reach everyone. I have three books on this subject and Hood's is the first one I've read and I like her approach. I recommend this book to anyone who seriously wants to improve his or her writing and do not stop with just this one book. Read others so that you will really learn how to write. I'm also a writer. My wife has written national and international bestsellers. One book my wife wrote was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. I've edited my wife's work, and nothing woke me to the complexity of developing the characters I write about in my stories like this book did. I hope the other books I will read after this one add more to my growing knowledge. Reading this book was like opening a door and walking into a well-lit room. I get it. I finally get it. Maybe I'm just dense and it took someone like Ann Hood to wake me up so I understand what emotion is all about.

Specific and helpful.......2006-02-19

Imagine my surprise when I recognized my own writing mistakes in the examples of bad writing. This immediately helped me take my writing to the next level. I have many cherished writing books, and this one holds up well in comparison. It is helpful because it's specific and focused. I couldn't wait to get to the computer and apply the things I learned in this book. I'm happy to add it to my bookcase.

Like Nasty Cough Syrup.......2005-12-11

The last few books I bought and read on writing from Amazon.com were excellent and I started this with high hopes. Unfortunately, I started skimming about three-fourths of the way through and ended up skipping the last couple chapters.

This book has a fault I have noticed with others. When they quote another work, it always falls flat. The quotes are taken out of context, we are missing all the author had to say about the character in the previous hundred pages or so. What this means, is the "good" examples she gives us seem, well, so so. Of course the bad examples stand on their own and are bad, something anyone would do with little thought.

Rather than so many chapters on each individual emotion, I would rather see more extensive general work. I would like to see many, many examples of good emotions written by the author herself, and not a quote from a book, but a paragraph written that stands on its own. Hood tries to set up the "good" examples, but it can only be done imperfectly.

Bad emotion writing are cliches (mad has a hatter, hungry as a horse, etc.) and miss identifying the emotion, anger instead of fear.

Good emotion writing accuratly and freshly describes the emotions the character feels.

In conclusion, like cough syrup, you have to take this, but could it just taste better? Worth reading, perhaps, but put it down in your priority list.

PS My short list of must reads:

The First Five Pages, Noah Lukeman
Writing the Breakout Novel, Donald Mass
45 Master CHaracters, Victoria Lynn Schmidt
Dialogue, Gloria Kempton
Description & Setting, Ron Rozelle
Scene & Structure, Jack M. Bickham
You Can Write a Novel, James V. Smith Jr.

PPS My short list of stinkers that slipped through:

Creating Character Emotions, Ann Hood
Writing Dialogue, Tom Chiarella
Theme & Strategy, Ronald B. Tobias

Short but good.......2005-08-21

This book makes a good attempt at explaining how to convey the emotions of ones characters. As an Augsberger, however, I need a little more assistence than this lent.

Great reference!.......2005-04-05

A masterful piece of work! Beautifully organized. Short, to the point, brilliantly concise. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly! Far more effective and memorable than the well-known Clint Eastwood movie. Without blurring the line in any way, Ann Hood tells it like it is. A return to apprenticeship is called for where needed, and a good ready-reference is provided where not. She makes clear that ignoring these extremes could spell a quick trip to oblivion, shorthand for which is the bluntness of her message. Red flags, whistles, and horns of warning abound. If you are about to launch a writing effort saturated with raw emotion, you'd better pay heed. ##### This mastersroke of precise problem depiction should be a much dog-eared addition to every writer's library.

Drawing from the Heart: A Seven-Week Program to Heal Emotional Pain and Loss Through Expressive Art

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Drawing from the Heart: A Seven-Week Program to Heal Emotional Pain and Loss Through Expressive Art
Barbara Ganim
Manufacturer: Quest Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0835608328

Book Description

Ganim's book provides a powerful and enjoyable tool for releasing stress, setting personal boundaries, practicing gratitude, increasing compassion, and growing from painful experiences so that they become the source of our wisdom and strength.

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