Customer Reviews

Theory & Practice of Gamesmanship

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Stephen Potter's series of semi-tongue-in-cheek works (Gamesmanship, Lifemanship, One-Upsmanship) are among the funniest and most accurate books of their type ever written. They have been justifiably in print for over 50 years, and deserve to be discovered by yet another generation. These are not 'how to' books, although they purport to be dispatches from the 'Lifemanship Institute'. Rather, they are exquisitely dry and droll riffs on the games people play in interpersonal [non-romantic] relationships, set in early- to mid-twentieth century England. If you like things such as Parkinson's Law, or The Peter Principle, or even the works of Evelyn Waugh, you will get a real kick out of these. Try the current omnibus reprint edition which includes all three works. It's the kind of thing that either (a) you will be quoting for the rest of your life, or (b) you just won't understand why anyone would find it even the least it amusing. I'm obviously in the former camp.

'Gamesmanship' is the first and (in my opinion) best of the inimitable '_manship' series that Stephen Potter wrote in the early 1950's. Other works include 'Lifemanship', 'One-Upmanship', and 'Supermanship'. What makes this so funny is the absolute deadpan style. The text is buttressed with ample illustrations, diagrams, charts, and a thorough index.

I shall never forget the great gambits, ploys, hampers, such as Nice Chapmanship, Jack Rivers Opening, Simpson's Statue, Snooker-player's Drivel, the author's 'Potter's Opening', to name only a few.

I came across this at some rummage sale, and once I started reading it I was instantly hooked on Potter's dustbowl-dry wit and bought all his other books. Each is outstanding, but this is still the best. For the uninitiated, this has nothing to do with playing games; it has everything to do with attitude, games people play with and against one another in life, and poking fun at our egos and self importance...and the egos and self-importance of others. There's no explaining Potter's humor - you either love it, or you don't get it at all. I love it. Even the 'diagrams' are absolute screams. Only Wodehouse was as funny or funnier than Potter.

Potter has performed an invaluable service for those of us who must rely on cunning and guile whenever faced with more talented competitors. By taking advantage of the good nature and naivete of an opponent, the skillful "gamesman" often triumphs (or at least saves face) despite a relatively poor performance on the field of play. I laughed so much it hurt.

I agree with the majority of reviewers here, but I think you have to be an intelligent reader to appreciate it. For example, on page 20, in golf the author discourages distracting activities while opponents are playing, but you could disturb opponents, especially musically competent ones, while you yourself are playing, "by constantly whistling a phrase with one note - always the same note - wrong." In the footnote he actually writes the musical notation of a suggested phrase, the horn motiv from Wagner's Ring, with the second note changed from an A to a D# with a glissando (sliding up to the high note). I laughed out load before I even tried to play the phrase on the guitar. I realize that some won't see the humor here, but what incredible depth in the descriptions of these tactics!

This book instantly turned me into a Potter fiend, and I subsequently tracked down first editions of all four -manship books. This is dry, deadpan British humour at its absolute finest - I've never seen an American writer come close, except for Mark Twain.

I have read the Spanish version of this classical book by Stephan Potter. It is a must, really! After reading it, you'll never see a game the way you used to. Whether you are going to put into practice Mr. Potter's suggestions or not, after reading the book you'll certainly have a different, more comprehensive view of the world of games... you'll be introduced into the world of gamesmanship.

The book is about exactly what the title says it is about. Truly funny, and I expect accurate enough, except that (ahem) I'm not unscrupulous enough to check. A nice appendix to this book can be found at the end of Potter's "Lifemanship", which is also worth getting.

The British or should I say the English have a biting and laconic wit. This book is a primer for the method of carving up the opposition without being overtly rude. The reader will appreciate the sardonic and subtle manner of the art of the riposte.

This tome offers a complete introduction to the theory and practice of gamesmanship. Though some of the ploys are outdated, if properly executed, these gambits will most certainly put the gamesman in the one-up position. The coverage of countergamesmanship, while sparse, is essential reading for gamesman at any level.