201 Icebreakers: Group Mixers, Warm-Ups, Energizers, and Playful Activities [Ring-bound]

Edie West (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0070695997 | ISBN-13: 978-0070695993 | Publication Date: October 1, 1996 | Edition: 1

The largest collection of icebreakers ever published! Re-energize trainees or workshop participants on the brink of boredom. This book introduces strangers to each other in interesting, involving ways. It stimulates positive interaction and creative thinking among group members and teams. It generates interest and excitement about the subject of a meeting or the topic of a speech. It improves communication and builds trust. It boosts problem-solving skills in an atmosphere of relaxation and fun, and much more!

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The largest collection of icebreakers ever published! Re-energize trainees or workshop participants on the brink of boredom; Introduce strangers to each other in interesting, involving ways; Stimulate positive interaction and creative thinking among group members and teams; Generate interest and excitement about the subject of a meeting or the topic of a speech; Improve communication and build trust; Boost problem-solving skills in an atmosphere of relaxation and fun.... .And much more!

About the Author

McGraw-Hill authors represent the leading experts in their fields and are dedicated to improving the lives, careers, and interests of readers worldwide --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Ring-bound: 424 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (October 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0070695997
• ISBN-13: 978-0070695993
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 10.7 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,668,112 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

128 of 129 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for Residence Life staff, July 2, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: 201 Icebreakers: Group Mixers, Warm-Ups, Energizers, and Playful Activities (Ring-bound)

There are few books on icebreakers/teambuilders that I've found to be useful with college students ( I work in Student Affairs). This book, however, offered many activities that were useful not only for just 'breaking the ice' but also for applying them to the many educational workshops we do in this field. There was also a very helpful section called "Icebreakers for the Non-Icebreaker types" that was both interesting and practical. Because I work with such a diverse range of students, I struggle to find icebreakers that are not geared solely to the extroverted-types. This collection gives a number of activities that are beneficial to teambuilding while respecting the different learning/interaction styles we see in our students. Out of the 201 offered in the book, I have found at least 180 of them that I will use as integral parts of the next staff training. This book also offers activities for groups ranging from 8 participants (good for small staffs) to 400 participants (good for all-hall activities)!

103 of 107 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, June 29, 2000

By 

Michelle Harvey (Toledo, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 201 Icebreakers : Group MIxers, Warm-Ups, Energizers, and Playful Activities (Paperback)

It was disappointing to find so few ideas for a group of 100 business people who don't know each other. Most of the activities are far too personal for such a group, involving sharing personal information or touching. In addition, many of the activities have no "closure": they simply end, leaving us to wonder, what was the purpose of THAT? Many of the activities would be fine for very informal gatherings where being silly (marching in a parade, charades, making a human octopus) and getting personal are appropriate. But business people--even my lighthearted group--expect some degree of professionalism and purpose associated with such activities.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Some good ideas, but a little too much prep required for many, August 12, 2008

By 

B. Miller "Small business owner" (Ogunquit, ME) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 201 Icebreakers : Group MIxers, Warm-Ups, Energizers, and Playful Activities (Paperback)

This book had several good, usable activities. Like all books of this type, you just have to weed through a few to get to one that will work for your particular group. I really like the grid at the beginning of the book that matches activities to intended purposes. The only complaint I had was that many of the activities required quite a bit of prep work up front--particularly in the form of photocopying handouts.

By the way, if you don't want to pay the hefty price tag, get "Quick Meeting Openers for Busy Managers." It's also pretty good (and no photocopying prep work!).

Both of these books are 100 times better than "the big book of icebreakers"! That one had very few worthwhile activities.