How Real Is Real?

Rating:
Summary: A stunning insight into "Reality"
Review: "How Real Is Real?" - Some may think a book with this title and this topic is a heavy, demanding read. But let that not mislead you: While Paul Watzlawick's book is terribly interesting and thought-provoking, it also very easy to read, entertaining and amusing. And it makes you realize that "Information" is not always what it seems to be. Based on many partly weird, partly funny and thoughtful anecdotes and sample cases, Paul Watzlawick delivers a broad view on what we usually call "reality". He shows that we're often quite alone with our seemingly subjective perception of what's "real".

"How Real Is Real?" is amusing, informative and as thrilling and persuasive as a detective story. You can even try and verify many of the communicative games described in the book with your friends, your family of your colleagues. This book is not only valuable for potential Communication Scientists, but also for everyone who is interested in the way we communicate, in understanding, in truth and lies - and the effects and problems that come with them. This book is definitely a "Thumbs Up".

Rating:
Summary: A stunning insight into "Reality"
Review: "How Real Is Real?" - Some may think a book with this title and this topic is a heavy, demanding read. But let that not mislead you: While Paul Watzlawick's book is terribly interesting and thought-provoking, it also very easy to read, entertaining and amusing. And it makes you realize that "Information" is not always what it seems to be. Based on many partly weird, partly funny and thoughtful anecdotes and sample cases, Paul Watzlawick delivers a broad view on what we usually call "reality". He shows that we're often quite alone with our seemingly subjective perception of what's "real".

"How Real Is Real?" is amusing, informative and as thrilling and persuasive as a detective story. You can even try and verify many of the communicative games described in the book with your friends, your family of your colleagues. This book is not only valuable for potential Communication Scientists, but also for everyone who is interested in the way we communicate, in understanding, in truth and lies - and the effects and problems that come with them. This book is definitely a "Thumbs Up".

Rating:
Summary: Using a spoon to dig a tunnel
Review: I bought the book after having read with much appreciation both of his previous technical books: Pragmatics of Human Communication and Change but I found it to be no real match to those previous titles. Basically the author tries to extends his noteworthy analysis of communication to try and give sort of an explanation of the universe! In this effort his covering ranges from the generic, to the unaccurate, to the wholesale wrong (this latter mostly in the part about extra-terrestrial communication, perhaps given to the age of the book: a fact one is led to forget reading the other books that seem to have been written last week).

So, if you are not interested squarely in a theory of everything by a communication psychologist, I would advise against buying this title and be happy instead with the feeling given by the previous ones.

Rating:
Summary: How wet is this Book?
Review: I don't mean literally wet of course. It is possible though that the communications theory at its core could be dry even dull to one with no interest in the subject matter. That is most definitely not the case though. The anecdotal layout of Watzlawick's writing makes for an informative and fascinating read.
Through no fault of the author's some of the anecdotal stories are a little dated due to the time of publication such as when he writes about cold war situations in his disinformation sectiom. However this does not take away from the theories being discussed in these parts so do not affect the overall reality of the book haha.
If nothing else this book should inspire the reader to question exactly what is reality and muse about objectivity vs. subjectivity in communication thus affecting one's own reality and I think he succeeds admirably in getting his points across in an interesting often funny medium.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Anecdotal Primer for Communication Theory
Review: I use this text as a warm-up to communication theory, and most students enjoy it thoroughly. Watzlawick cleverly intertwines interesting anecdotes with basic tenets of human communication in such a way that the reader can't put the book down. When he or she is finished, the reader walks away with a better sense of how people perceive "reality" and thus explains the basics of how communication works between individuals. I re-read the book at least once a year and always find something novel to take with me, as well. I highly recommend it to anyone, but especially those interested in pursuing a career where communication is involved--and these days that means just about every career you can imagine.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Anecdotal Primer for Communication Theory
Review: this is a great book for a novice or anyone who wants to better understand the world around them. it is funny,entertaining,educational,and easy to understand! i thoughly enjoyed it and ordered several other books by the same author!