This delightful collection allows everyone to enjoy firsthand the provocative methods used by the artists and poets of the Surrealist school to break through conventional thought and behavior to a deeper truth. Invented and played by such artists as André Breton, Rene Magritte, and Max Ernst, these gems still produce results ranging from the hilarious to the mysterious and profound.
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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Surrealism is far more than some dead art movement: it is also a collection of tools for perceiving and representing the world in ways that transcend normative perspectives. This delightful little book is packed with word and image games that surrealists developed to create their written and graphical art. If you have any spark of creativity, you are strongly encouraged to get this book to help loosen the holds of quotidian existence on your craft. And it makes a great book of activities for parties that you want to rise above petite bourgeois posturing. Highly Recommended.
Review
"Of great value to teachers, comedy writers and other problem-solvers, this is an illustrated compendium of ways to be inventive, humorous or absurd through irresponsibility or 'planned incongruity.'"— Ballast Quarterly Review
"This extraordinary collection of word games, visual tricks and intellectual assaults on the conventional is a treasure trove of the artistic and socio-linguistic conundrums which the Surrealists—Andre Breton, Tristan Tzara and their associates—cultivated from the 1920s onwards. Its compiler, Alastair Brotchie, is to be congratulated for salvaging such fascinating if recondite material from the various obscure journals in which it first appeared."— The Spectator
"This extraordinary collection of word games, visual tricks and intellectual assaults on the conventional is a treasure trove of the artistic and socio-linguistic conundrums which the Surrealists—Andre Breton, Tristan Tzara and their associates—cultivated from the 1920s onwards. Its compiler, Alastair Brotchie, is to be congratulated for salvaging such fascinating if recondite material from the various obscure journals in which it first appeared."— The Spectator
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
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.
21 of 24 people found the following review helpful
By Char
Format:Paperback
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.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Here's a slyly deceptive little volume, a perfect introduction to the Surrealist mindset. Why "deceptive," though? Because while all the games are fascinating & sometimes startling fun, the ideas they embody just might take hold of you ... which is all to the good, of course!
If you want to know more about Surrealism, but just want to dip your toes into those mysterious waters at first, this is as good a starting place as any you'll find. The ideas of surprising juxtapositions, unexpected connections, and the sense of freedom & revelation through absurdity & chance, are all demonstrated here. And if you enjoy this first taste, then you'll almost certainly want more ...
Recommended as both an unusual diversion & a window into another world!
If you want to know more about Surrealism, but just want to dip your toes into those mysterious waters at first, this is as good a starting place as any you'll find. The ideas of surprising juxtapositions, unexpected connections, and the sense of freedom & revelation through absurdity & chance, are all demonstrated here. And if you enjoy this first taste, then you'll almost certainly want more ...
Recommended as both an unusual diversion & a window into another world!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Want to know Surrealism? Start here!
I have to give the book high marks, not for the purpose I bought it for (fun party games) but for how much I learned about the Surrealist movement through reading it. Read more
Published 2 months ago by S. Girard
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fun book of thought-provoking games
I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in sparking ideas for writing, or just having a fun time with friends. Read more
Published 2 months ago by M. C. Akers
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not as expected
The content of this book is more or less what I expected, and was relatively interesting for a single read. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Todd South
5.0 out of 5 stars
And They All Wanted Pieces of the Mouse Deer's Eyes
Tie tie tie tie tie tie tie tie tie tired of boring writing? Purchase "A BOOK OF SURREALIST GAMES" and watch as your pathetic perception of the written word withers and dies at... Read more
Published on March 9, 2011 by Ptolemy Schwarzenegger III
5.0 out of 5 stars
Intelligent Games
Great games for creative people. Wonderful ideas for more sophisticated parties. Good stuff!
Published on May 18, 2009 by E. Corier
5.0 out of 5 stars
Decalcomania
A great reference addition to the art library. Not just the games that the surrealist played, but their answers and responses as well. True gem for any surrealist enthustiast.
Published on May 7, 2009 by DEO
4.0 out of 5 stars
Enough to inspure Brian Eno
This was supposedly the inspiration behind Eno's card decks, and is a very useful tool in its own right. Read more
Published on September 16, 2008 by M. Broadstreet
1.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointment
I expected something less sloppily put together on surrealist games, a fascinating and rich topic. This little book contains a few classic surrealist little gems, but it is a... Read more
Published on August 19, 2006 by Laurent Sauerwein
5.0 out of 5 stars
E-mail me if you love this book!
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. Read more
Published on March 13, 1999
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