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 get a different, more comprehensive view of the world of games... you'll be introduced into the world of gamesmanship.

'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.

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.

This is a great easy-to-read overview for anyone who is beginning to work in pottery. It covers all of the main areas of clay - from the wheel to slab with wonderful photos and clear language. Great projects are suggested with complete instructions. It's well worth the price!

What a GREAT book! For the accomplished to the beginning potter, this book is so very informative. With great new ideas, twists on some old ideas and the wonderful step-by-step projects, you'll find this book in your hands again and again. FABULOUS color pictures and written in down-to-earth english. An essential to any potter!

I am a starter for pottery and I find this book really COMPLETE and PRACTICAL! It covers everything: from handbuilding, throwing to glazing, firing... It also has beautiful colored picture of samples. I believe it is very useful and I don't need another book on pottery for a couple of years.

This is an absoulutely brilliant work and makes fascinating reading for any Civil War Buff, collector or digger. Very well written articles that belie any misaprehensions that this may be too technical a subject. I couldn't put it down. It exemplifies the belief that "every artifact has a story to tell." Highly recommended.

This is an excellent book for the anyone interested both archaeology and history. Many people do not know what a great deal of information can be gleaned from an archaeological analysis of historic sites. The authors look at several archaeological studies done on the Civil War, especially the battle of Antietam, and shed some new light on military strategies, the ebb and flow of battlefields, and the daily lives of soldiers and citizens. A must-read for any Civil War buff and anyone interested in seeing how archaeology can affect the historical record.

These are the four funniest books I have ever read. And yet, the basic concepts and strategies set forth are exactly what's needed to reign supreme in all situations social and competitive. Many times over the years I have employed some variaton of a Potter "opening" or gambit, often with better results than I had even hoped. Just as many times, I've realized (too late), that I have missed a golden opportunity, or worse, have been "one-upped" myself.

British humor, very, very British. If you *don't* like losing, develop the skills needed so that you always win. In any social situation a definite hierarchy develops. Potter's work can be considered a manual for anyone seeking to become the top dog. This volume contains four books previously published separately: Gamesmanship, Lifemanship, One-upmanship, and Supermanship. Potter's own work in the field of becoming one-up on one's fellow man is supplemented by the researches of others in various fields: the carmanship of Godfrey Plaste; the art of not rock-climbing of G. Odoreida; the clubmanship of Hugo Coating; and the many contributions of Gattling-Fenn. Recommended reading for anyone wishing to make Machiavelli gasp in admiration . . .

I don't think that Stephen Potter's particularly brilliant style of humour has ever been matched. Lifemanship is the best of the three "manship" books, which all take one-upping to masterful level. Potter has defined the art of taking mundane occurences and examining them so closely as to render them completely absurd while still managing to display the human truth and insight inherrant in his observations.

So you've chanced accross this little review. I have just re-read this book, and it has me roaring with laughter. Basically it is about how to be a complete jerk, told in an english - stiff - upper - lip style. It's a funny book because by the time you read it, you feel you almost know the author, who laughs smugly behind every line - Just brilliant

As a high school youth this book was my introduction to subtlety. And as a kid in Pittsburgh I had much to learn on this subject. One would hope that in today crass atmosphere such ploys are still advantageous but I doubt it. In fact I'll wager that there is not one person in a thousand who can identify this book as the source of the popularity of the word "ploy" although the word is widely used. Read it, it's fun.

Potter caqptures the essence of British humor. He wrote circa 1950 and was a master at capitalizing on observations for the purposes of gaining an edge in the most humorous of cicumstances. The British understatement and preoccupation for the unimportant things in life is the starting point for Potter to describe how life should be lived. From how to decorate ones office, how to walk in a museum, how to properly answer the telephone, to what to wear for golf has been reduced to a science so that the other person will ultimately feel uncomfortable and off balance. If one can possibly think British, then this book may be one of the funniest books ever written.

This book presents a selection of Potter's incredible photographic imagery, ranging from breathtakingly lovely images of surreal beauties to twisted images of a warped subconcious. He combinees humanity with animals, nature with machines, and fear with fasination in seamless visuals. It is incredible that he does not use computers in producing his work. The commentary that accompanies the works gives you insight into his creative process and the foreward by Stephan King is fasinating in its own right. I recieved this book as a gift and was blown away by it.

Last year Humphrey Carpenter published his official biography of Dennis Potter. Roughly 500 pages long Carpenter's book was a disappointing mixture of synopsis of Potters' plays, edited quotes from interviews Potter made to other journalists and interviews with people who have known Potter. Carpenter decides early on that the key fact to Potters' life was his sexual abuse, and the rest of his life is viewed from this angle. His remarks on Cold Lazarus are only concerned with a few, strange sexual remarks.

I mention this because it makes such a contrast to Gilvert's book. At times it is clumsy, wooden overwritten and a bit unfocused, and yes, a lot of it doesn't hold together but it is distinguished by a genuine, though healthily critical approach to his life.Gilbert understands Poters' importance as both a literary figure and a creative figure and writes passionately about both. Potter was a brilliant, difficult man and although he has not yet got the brilliant, difficult review he deserves, Gilbert's goes a long way to understanding the man and his extraordinary writing.

As a new potter, I don't really know what I need to know but this book, ... seems to be loaded with clear, concise information. The pictures especially are very detailed, even including some cutaway views to give another perspective on how it's done. I'm looking forward to trying several of the projects detailed in the book. At least than half the price of other highly-rated books, this one is worth a look.

This captivating tale of a good-hearted hedgehog introduces children to many precious animals. When tiny Anabelle is nominated Official Dog Chaser of Riverbank, several citizens give her their harsh advice. Eventually, Anabelle realizes the best way to rid their homes of the menacing labrador is to make your enemy into your friend.

I am so impressed with this tale! It just was republished in March. The author skillfully increases your child's vocabulary by introducing challenging words and then providing the definition through a clever animal.

Your child will learn a valuable lesson on how to deal with others of all personalities. It will encourage them to look beyond first impressions and get to know one another more thoughtfully.