THE BEST OF THE ACTIVE REVIEWING GUIDE by Roger Greenaway

The Icebreakers Pocketbook
Alan Evans, Paul Tizzard

Review: At last - a clear guide to communication without the gimmick. This book has become an invaluable guide in our training department, where we were having to take a "one size fits all" approach to dealing with individuals with diverse needs due to the cost of sending our team on expensive networking and communications training - none of which covered the broad range of issues we needed. Tizzard's style is refreshingly staighforward and non-jargonistic, without being patronising. The layout lent itself well to my flick and find method of researching (hurrah) and has obviously been written by a seasoned practitioner as well as intelligent theoretician. (from a reviewer at Amazon.co.uk) Review: No quicker way of bringing a spark to your training sessions. When designing your training sessions one of the keys to success is hooking in your delegates straight away. This pocketbook may be small, but is crammed with excellent ideas on how to grab the group and set the scene. Unlike other icebreaker books I've seen, the authors of this one have gone one step further and grouped them under common course headings. So under "Communication" there are 10 activities for you to choose from! (from another reviewer at Amazon.co.uk)

The Big Book of Icebreakers:
50 Quick, Fun Activities for Energizing Meetings and Workshops
Edie West

Synopsis: This collection of 50 icebreakers is specifically organized around common business situations and is designed to help leaders start every session, meeting, speech or workshop with a burst of energy and fun. It includes icebreakers for the following categories: complete strangers; introducing a topic; groups over 20; outdoor settings; self-disclosure; team building; and more. Learn more about The Big Book of Icebreakers at Amazon.co.uk

The Big Book of Motivation Games:
Quick, Fun Ways to Get People Energized
Robert Epstein, Jessica Rogers

Synopsis: A collection of over 40 motivational games and exercises designed for use in any organization. The games are based on a "competencies" approach to teaching motivational skills, the principle behind them being "skill, not will". They can be used to motivate the individual or the whole team. Topics include: games to overcome procrastination; games for when your energy is low; games to help you achieve personal or team goals; games for inspiring peak performance; games for salespeople; games to motivate chronic underperforming employees; and games to help you overcome anxiety and the fear of failure. (amazon.co.uk) See more details at Amazon.co.uk See these critical reviews at amazon.com

Big Book of Business Games:
Icebreakers, Creativity Exercises and Meeting Energizers
John Newstrom, Edward Scannell

Synopsis: For this book, the authors have selected the best games from the "Games Trainers Play" series and adapted them for any business professional. There are 75 games and activities to choose from, each designed to be fast and fun and to stimulate discussion. (amazon.co.uk) Contents: Climate Setting, Icebreakers, and Session Openers. Presentation Boosters. Motivating Your Group. Creativity and Problem-Solving. Surfacing Hidden Problems in Your Group. Team Building Exercises. Managing Change: Dealing with Resistance and Getting Buy-in. Communication, Listening and Feedback Activities.

Review: An indispensible tool for modern business. ... This little lifesaver will have the creative juices flowing in no time. From established teams to one-off focus groups, you can guarantee to get quality outputs faster and more effectively. Conveniently indexed you can quickly match an activity with your circumstances. All activities have clear and concise instructions ... (from a review at Amazon.co.uk)

One reviewer at Amazon.com disputes the 'all ages and stages' in the title and believes it is more suited to children than to adults.

201 Icebreakers
Edie West

Synopsis: Designed specifically for trainers, speakers and group facilitators, this book features activities - games, quizzes, energizers and brain-teasers - to "break the ice" at the beginning of any meeting, or to recharge participants on the brink of boredom. The activities require little or no preparation and most can be completed in less than five minutes. Also included are props and hand-outs that can be photocopied for the entire group. (Amazon.com)

Great Session Openers, Closers, and Energizers:
Quick Activities for Warming Up Your Audience and Ending on a High Note
Marlene Caroselli

Product Description: Here's everything a speaker or trainer needs to keep the audience awake, alert, and involved. This fun-filled collection of can't-miss activities contains the openers, closers, and energizers you can use to kick off each session with a bang, bring the audience back quickly should its attention wander, and end each session on a high note. Save hours of preparation time with these ready-made, easy-to-use activities that enable you to reinforce the key points in your presentation, spark active involvement from all the participants, and create an environment in which real listening can take place. (Amazon.com)

Synopsis: True brain-friendly learning is not about gimmicks. It is far more than just putting on classical music or playing games. It's a movement rather than just a method, a movement to recover the real joy of learning and bring sizzle and substance to your training sessions. This resource provides a blueprint for a new generation of Accelerated Learning methods and, at its heart, are five key principles: Keep it real Facilitate the flow Honour uniqueness Make it rich and multi-sensory State is everything There is a clear explanation of the theory behind Brain-Friendly Learning from the inside out; the concepts and learning models you'll need to underpin your approach, along with a journey through the most complex structure in the universe - your amazing brain. You'll discover a concise guide to Brain-Friendly training design along with tools that you can pick and adapt to help you create new training events or make-over existing ones. (Amazon.co.uk)

Used as a tool for teachers to start the day off right, this is a book of brief, meaningful and enjoyable activities to cure the morning blahs, add excitement during homeroom and end the day on a positive note. It includes 52 themes, (one for each week), each with an introduction, five quick activities, an inspiring quotation related to the theme, discussion questions, an affirmation and resources. (Ingram at Amazon.com)

Synopsis: This book contains all teachers need for a snappy, interactive start to each lesson. Each starter activity consists of a simple effective activity involving minimal preparation, with answers and suggestions for differentiation. This book allows teachers to: target objectives that can be broken down into short, simple steps; introduce framework objectives in a clear and engaging manner; and cover framework requirements for each year group at Key Stage 3. This book can be used alongside the QCA Scheme of Work. The starters are all stand-alone and allow at-a-glance assessment by means of whole-class, interactive activities that take 10-15 minutes. (Amazon.co.uk)

Synopsis This book contains all teachers need for a snappy, interactive start to each lesson. Each starter activity consists of a simple effective activity involving minimal preparation, with answers and suggestions for differentiation. This book allows teachers to: target objectives that can be broken down into short, simple steps; introduce framework objectives in a clear and engaging manner; and cover framework requirements for each year group at Key Stage 3. This book can be used alongside the QCA Scheme of Work. The starters are all stand-alone and allow at-a-glance assessment by means of whole-class, interactive activities that take 10-15 minutes. (Amazon.co.uk)

Move It
(Accelerated Learning Series)
Alistair Smith

Synopsis: A book of practical physical movements to aid learning. The proposition is that physical movement can offer reprieve, it can link to learning, it can improve motor control and it can be fun and memorable in itself. There is an increasing body of knowledge that links physical movement and learning. What the best teachers and the wisest parents have believed for years is affirmed in this book of physical activities. The book contains over 100 activities, all fully illustrated with clear instructions on how to develop them. Children and older learners alike should benefit from practising them! Alistair Smith has been described as the UK's leading trainer in modern learning methods. (Amazon.co.uk)

Synopsis Includes 900 situations for improvisation which use character conflict, contrasts, obstacles in solo improvisation, physical positions for one or two actors, props, the environment, and lines of dialogue. (Amazon.co.uk) Review at amazon.com: The author, himself an acting teacher and play director, believes that the key to great acting lies in the successful mastery of the art of improvisation, which brings the intensity and spontaneity that marks a truly memorable performance. He encourages actors to work without scripts during some rehearsals and offers 900 improvisational situations designed to stimulate development of character conflicts and the use of obstacles, the environment, and simple props. This title complements but does not duplicate the material covered in Andy Goldberg's Improv Comedy ( LJ 3/15/92). It should serve as an excellent teaching tool in drama classes. Recommended. - Howard E. Miller, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Missouri Lib., St. Louis Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. Readers' reviews at amazon.com are very mixed (from one star to five star)

The Brains Behind It:
New Knowledge About the Brain and Learning
Alistair Smith

Book Description: If you want to know more about the brain and learning this is the book you need. With separate sections on the development cycle of the learning brain from conception to old age, the book sets out separate fact from fallacy, findings from fads. Clear guidance is given as to what helps and what hinders learning. Highly readable, illustrated throughout and well researched, the book will appeal to parents, educators and policy-makers. The Brain's Behind It promises to become the definitive book on the brain and learning. Alistair Smith has been described as the UK's leading trainer in modern learning methods. (Amazon.co.uk)

CONVERSATION STARTERS

Review: What a fabulous way to really get to know people! Just got back from Carnival singles cruise. There were ten people seated for dinner and know one knew each other. Someone brought the book and started asking questions from the book. Before dinner was over we all knew personal, intimate things about each other. (from a review at Amazon.co.uk)

Synopsis: This revised and updated edition offers easy time-tested ways to improve anybody's ability to communicate in business and social situations, either in person or in cyberspace. (Amazon.co.uk)

From the Back Cover: What Do You Say After You Say Hello? explains what makes the winners win, the losers lose, and the in-betweens so boring... In it, Dr Eric Berne reveals how everyone's life follows a predetermined script - a script they compose for themselves during early childhood. The script may be a sad one, it... (Read more at Amazon.co.uk)

Synopsis: Defines a strategic planning method based on game theory. a method that goes beyond the old rules of competition and cooperation to combine the advantages of both toward a highprofit means of leveraging business relationships. (Amazon.co.uk)

Synopsis: Describes the rules for a variety of cooperative games and briefly describes the origins of some of the games.

A classic from 1976 that has inspired many imitations and developments. More than 60 games in which 2 to 200 players can participate. All require elements of trust and cooperation. Second hand copies available. See this review at Amazon.com

A classic from 1981 that has also inspired many imitations and developments. Describes the rules of unusual games that emphasize challenge rather than competition. Second hand copies available. See this review at Amazon.com

Author Dale Le Fevre is a leading authority on New Games. In many of his workshops, traditionally adversarial groups have come together to play and have fun: Arabs and Israelis in the Middle East; Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland; mixed races in South Africa; and Serbs, Croats, and Muslims in Croatia and Serbia. In Best New Games, Le Fevre presents the most popular New Games (including many recently found games) from more than 25 years of presenting. This complete resource makes creating play sessions effortless. You’ll find an easy-to-use Gamefinder that helps you quickly select the ideal game for your particular situation, plus tips to give you confidence and increase your effectiveness in leading the games. The author’s stories of firsthand experiences demonstrate the impact that New Games can have in building cooperation, teamwork, and common understanding. See more reviews at Amazon.co.uk

Review: The haircuts may not be timeless, but the games are. The book is well designed with well thought out connections between one activity and the next. It's a real ''page-turner'' - not what you'd expect in a book that is really just a collection of games. You will find these games repackaged in more modern looking books. I prefer the original treatment - and the current used book price makes this irrestible! (reviewed by Roger Greenaway) See review at Amazon.com

(1984, reprinted 2003) See reviews at amazon.com

Book Description: Parachute Games is full of fun, low-cost, high-interest activities that use a minimum of equipment and can involve a maximum of participants of all ages and ability levels. Parachutes are attractive—almost magnetic—objects for children. Used in games and activities, parachutes can help improve your participants’ level of fitness as well as their social skills. With 60 parachute games and 120 accompanying photos, it’s a fresh source of ideas for elementary and middle school physical educators, recreation specialists, and classroom teachers.

Excerpt: Parachute games do not require an opponent. They are a branch of cooperative games. They are about sharing territory together and enjoying an activity which is only possible in a group. You can make this point by challenging any individual to activate a parachute from the ground single-handed! A group can do things an individual cannot. Cooperative games aim to empower all. The possibility of democratic participation is enhanced by the circle-shape of a parachute which requires players to stand in a circle facing each other. Both the circle and the nature of the activities encourage maximum awareness of the desires and needs of each member of the group. A parachute offers wonderful opportunities for inventive movement - there are moments when parachute games have the magical qualities of drama or dance.

Synopsis: This is a handbook of over 150 cooperative games and activities for enhancing conflict resolution and communication skills and building self-esteem. All activities have been tested and are graded according to appropriate age level (1+ to adult), size of group, indoor or outdoor location, and activity level, and include notes on materials needed, special hints and variations for group leaders. (amazon.co.uk) Book Description: Designed to foster team cooperation rather than competitive opposition, these games are an excellent reference for teachers, families, or any group of people, young or old; they can even be used by adults at the company picnic! They still do sack races, right? Why not instead try the "Emotional Relay Race," "Strike the Pose," or "Rope Raising," in which people seated in a circle must coordinate their efforts to all be able to stand. Try something different, so the kids, or the department staff, won't be able to practice ahead of time! The games are indexed according to age level, amount of activity, group size, and location. (amazon.com)

Synopsis: Everyone Wins, a Parent Choice Award-winner, has been on New Society Publishers' best-seller list over 10 years. Now, the authors of the original cooperative games book have developed a sequel designed to enhance harmonious human relationships. Win-Win Games for All Ages is all about people getting to know one another better and deepening relationships. This exciting resource offers ways to hear values, demonstrate skills, and express oneself in safety -- critical social skills that will last a lifetime. Included are 40 all-new games and activities such as: Fashion Victim; Do You Believe in Lies; and Monster Mash. Thirteen Initiatives like 'Outer Space Decision Exercise' and 'Nuclear Waste' focus on group problem solving activities. Three Holistic Learning Adventures explore trust-building in week-long experiences. Risk is a central factor in learning to open oneself and trusting others -- each type of engagement in Win-Win Games for All Ages requires increasing risk. For facilitators who wish to deepen a group's dynamics and cooperation, each activity is followed by a debriefing section to help participants discuss and understand the risks that have taken together and as individuals. Most of the activities are designed for groups of children, but many can be adapted for adults as well as for all ages playing together. This value-based game sourcebook is perfect for educators, parents, and anyone who works with children! (amazon.co.uk)

On the front cover: "A must for any professional who works with groups in any kind of setting." (Jack Canfield, author of Chicken Soup for the Soul) Look inside the book at amazon.com to see the table of contents, author details and samples pages.

Product Description: Designed to help teachers and group leaders create dynamic and supportive play environments, this book features completely different games than the first one. These improvisational, noncompetitive games encourage involvement and cooperation — the participants gain as much as they contribute. By expressing themselves physically and emotionally and by exploring a range of possibilities, players gain self-confidence and a greater awareness of the feelings and experiences of others. 39 black-and-white illustrations are included. (Amazon.com)

“Bernie is the only person I know who not only knows about play, but knows how to teach it. May his efforts prosper, for they help us all.” Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

"Games are not life. They are, if anything, bigger than life." (Bernie DeKoven) Reviewed by Roger Greenaway: This book is worth more than any other 'games' book I have come across. By getting a more fundamental grasp of what matters most about playing games you 'win' in at least two ways: You will find it easier to create (or co-create) original games. You will be able to generate fun for all by playing games 'well'. It is not about winning and losing. It is about high quality experiences for all - through 'healthy competition'. Bernie DeKoven was the co-director of the New Games Foundation. He wrote the original Well-Played Game in 1978 and brought out this revised edition in 2002. The book (and the author) have helped to revolutionise physical education world-wide. His message has become increasingly relevant. It is an intelligent read without being heavy. He interweaves examples and discussion in an engaging and persuasive way. "When we are playing well, we are at our best. We are fully engaged, totally present, and yet, at the same time, we are only playing." "What connects games with reality is that they are lifelike. What separates them is that they are not for real. What unites them with the totality of experience is not just their metaphorical quality but the manner in which they are played." If you are looking for lots of games, find another book. If you want to enjoy or facilitate well-played games, you have just found the answer. (Roger Greenaway) Bernie's latest book is Junkyard Sports reviewed below. Bernies's latest inventive musings are at: DeepFUN website. And see more 'New Games' books below

Bernie DeKoven has been reinventing sports for more than 30 years, has designed curriculums with more than 1,000 children’s games, and has developed the training program for the New Games Foundation. The concept of New Games has had a worldwide effect on physical education and recreation. Along the way he designed and led an event for 250,000 people for the Philadelphia Bicentennial celebration, where he introduced Really Big Pick-Up Sticks (16 feet long) and Big, Big Box Blocks. DeKoven, who has an MA in theater from Villanova University, has invented almost every kind of game—educational, entertainment, digital, physical, social, mental—for companies such as Mattel Toys and the Children’s Television Workshop. He is a lifetime member of the Association for the Study of Play.To contact DeKoven about workshops (which are guaranteed to be instructive, creative, and above all, fun), email DeKoven at bernie@dekoven.com.

Review by Roger Greenaway: All sports started out as fun. Then they got organised. And during their transformation into sports with rules, competitions, prizes and professionals, much of the fun disappeared. For those familiar with the 'Cooperative Sports' or 'New Games' movements this is not a new message. What is new is the idea of getting participants to design new games that they can then enjoy playing and adapting as they go. The idea of adapting popular sports provides a handy short cut - and appeals to the subversive in us all. Because Junkyard Sports encourages players' own creativity, the process described in the opening pages could lead to hundreds of new games. Just in case they don't, you will find that most of the book is dedicated to describing ready-made and ready-to-play games - 77 games in all. These are called 'demonstration' games. This active initiation into Junkyard Sports inspires participants to create and try out their own games. The game titles give you the flavour: Ad Hoc Golf Soccer, Everybody Has a Ball Hockey, Goodminton, Hide-and-Seek Hockey, Musical Basketless Basketball, Spoon Football, Wheelchair Doubles Basketball... Roger Greenaway's review of Junkyard Sports is continued on this page at amazon.co.uk Also see Bernie deKoven's Well-Played Game