Deep Play

Rating:
Summary: Pablum posing as profundity.
Review: A theory: Former poet Diane Ackerman types up a bunch of fuzzy-feely new-age aphorisms. She then puts these snippets in a shoebox, shakes the box, and gives the aphorisms some format and theme as she removes them from the shoebox. So it goes. "Deep Play" reads like an extended personals ad for Ms. Ackerman. Perhaps her next book will be "Deep Critique", in which she takes the American Heritage Dictionary definition of "criticism" and, using reviews-critiques of her own books of course, runs with it. Voila! Another best-seller.

Rating:
Summary: Love this woman
Review: Ackerman is like that great friend of yours that is always throwing interesting facts your way to inspire you. She is so smart and at the same time she is playful and fun. After reading any of her works, I always find myself looking at the world a little closer.
Enjoy this book- it should be on the shelf of every creative artist.

Rating:
Summary: playful work of evolution
Review: Ackerman suggests humanity evolves as a result of "deep play," and her eponymous term for meditative, creative activity is described here both in cultural history and personal memoir. The writer explores a range of interests, from the role of the bicycle in the emancipation of nineteenth century women to the etymology of "play" itself-an earlier, near-opposite meaning of the word was much like "pledge." At its best, this is a guide toward her "exalted zone of transcendence over time."

Rating:
Summary: Instead of buying this Book, go Play...
Review: After seeing the average of the reviews coming in at 3 stars, I felt a moral responsibility to lower it further. This Book is worse than no help; it merely masquerades as a guide to "play". Don't take my word for it: check the Backnotes before buying it and see if you don't agree. In addition to "Flow" by Csikszemtmihalyi, as another Reviewer pointed out, other books exist that are much better at helping you conduct a self-examination to discover what gives you joy. These include the books by Barbara Sher ("Wishcraft" is very good), Laurence Boldt's "How to Find the Work You Love", the old standby, "What Color is Your Parachute" by Richard Bolles, and a real sleeper of a book, "Getting Past OK: A Straightforward Guide to Having a Fantastic Life" by Richard Brodie.

Rating:
Summary: Ackerman does it again!
Review: Although Ackerman's Natural History of Love is by far my favorite book, this latest work comes in at a close second. It is a beautiful, moving exploration/explanation of our need for "deep play." Trust me -- four sentences into it, you will reach for your highlighter/pen to mark certain passages/phrases and take notes in the margins. Loved it.

Rating:
Summary: Ackerman does it again!
Review: Although Ackerman's Natural History of Love is by far my favorite book, this latest work comes in at a close second. It is a beautiful, moving exploration/explanation of our need for "deep play." Trust me -- four sentences into it, you will reach for your highlighter/pen to mark certain passages/phrases and take notes in the margins. Loved it.

Rating:
Summary: huh?
Review: And how is this book any different from "Flow" by Csikzentmihalyi?

Rating:
Summary: For Creative Women Everywhere
Review: As a creative woman and professional writer, this is one of the best books I have read on creativity. It is about learning to find time for play-- something we are strongly discouraged to do as we grow up and become adults. Diane Ackerman teaches us to see that we do play, and encourages us to nurture that play. Play is a time of learning, and a time of relaxing and letting go. It is revitalizing, and allows us to refresh and find new insights, which ultimately leads us to become creative. Ackerman guides us through her personal experiences with examples that enlighten, delight and are enjoyable to read.

Rating:
Summary: Deeply Moving
Review: Diane Ackerman brings forth yet another stunning lyrical prose that is sure to delight. This book is in itself a 'Deep Play' for not only the author but the reader as well, a book that is meant for enjoyment and relaxation. Ackerman is indeed a stylist in her own right.

Rating:
Summary: A scintillating meditation on the rewards of letting go
Review: Diane Ackerman has done it again, bringing together a staggering array of sources and melding them into a provocative and poetic meditation on creative play. A must read for anyone who seeks a more nuanced understanding of the creative process.