A Book of Surrealist Games

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Starting Point
Review: Being an admirer and wanna-be creator of DaDa, I found this book amusing. The games were interesting and bizarre, there were lots of pictures, and a lot of artists were included. They are fun to read about and see the examples even if you have no intention of really trying them. "The Exquisite Corpse" and "Directions for Use" were 2 of the better ones, and they have examples by the original surrealists. The only problem I had with the book was that some of the directions were a little vague. For instance, the picture on page 71 is a double image, but it could have given some clue about how to actually find it - it became frustrating. The games are so unusual compared to what we normally think of as games that more detailed directions are essential. For instance, there are not obvious "winners" and "losers" in them, they are played for the sake of toying with reality and using imagination to create the unexpected. It's a fun book that's small enough to take with you all the time.

Rating:
Summary: neat lil' book.
Review: Being an admirer and wanna-be creator of DaDa, I found this book amusing. The games were interesting and bizarre, there were lots of pictures, and a lot of artists were included. They are fun to read about and see the examples even if you have no intention of really trying them. "The Exquisite Corpse" and "Directions for Use" were 2 of the better ones, and they have examples by the original surrealists. The only problem I had with the book was that some of the directions were a little vague. For instance, the picture on page 71 is a double image, but it could have given some clue about how to actually find it - it became frustrating. The games are so unusual compared to what we normally think of as games that more detailed directions are essential. For instance, there are not obvious "winners" and "losers" in them, they are played for the sake of toying with reality and using imagination to create the unexpected. It's a fun book that's small enough to take with you all the time.

Rating:
Summary: E-mail me if you love this book!
Review: This book is my idea of fun! It's full of games for people who love to be creative, collaborative, extemporaneous! I'd like to know you if you are into these games. Judy ([e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: Uh, yea, right, well I guess it was okay.
Review: We learned half of these games in high school creative writing class.

I read the whole thing while going to the bathroom one evening. It's really short. Ah, so I skimmed some parts. ;)

It is very interesting to see some of the examples. You can read Breton's example of free writing (or whatever they called it; the book is not near me at the moment), and other interesting ideas from familiar surrealists.

If you are having "writer's block" then this book might have some interesting ways of breaking it. It's probably a good reference for writers, artists, etc.

Where the hell is Dali in here though? Oh yeah Breton didn't like him. :\

Rating:
Summary: Uh, yea, right, well I guess it was okay.
Review: We learned half of these games in high school creative writing class.

I read the whole thing while going to the bathroom one evening. It's really short. Ah, so I skimmed some parts. ;)

It is very interesting to see some of the examples. You can read Breton's example of free writing (or whatever they called it; the book is not near me at the moment), and other interesting ideas from familiar surrealists.

If you are having "writer's block" then this book might have some interesting ways of breaking it. It's probably a good reference for writers, artists, etc.

Where the hell is Dali in here though? Oh yeah Breton didn't like him. :\

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Starting Point
Review: Whether your goal is surrealist literature, surrealist art, or just entertainment, this book is a great buy. Lots of games (some literary, some artistic), information about the surrealist movement itself and some of the key players, and a good bibliography for future reading.