PART 2: PLEASURE READING
Hello again!
In the first part of my report on the book for pleasure reading, I told you what it is about. I guess it’s high time I told you about the author of the book. His name is Eric Berne.
Eric Berne was a Canadian psychiatrist, the creator of transactional analysis (which is a psychological model that serves to describe and analyze human behavior and individually and as a part of a group. This method allows people to understand themselves and the way they interact with other people).
He was the son of David Hillel Bernstein, a general practitioner, and Sarah Gordon Bernstein, a professional writer and editor. Eric was close to his father and spoke fondly of how he accompanied his father on rounds to visit patients. His father died when he was 11. Eric’s mother encouraged her son to follow in his father’s footsteps and to study medicine.
Berne received his baccalaureate degree in 1931, and Doctor of Medicine degree in 1935. Berne came to the United States in 1935 when he began an internship in a hospital in New Jersey. In 1939, Berne became an American citizen and shortened his name to Eric Berne.
From 1940–43 he was employed as a psychiatrist in a sanitarium in Connecticut and in 1943, during World War II, Berne joined the United States Army Medical Corps and served as a psychiatrist. He rose from the rank of Lieutenant, to Captain, and then to Major. Eric Berne wrote the book «Games People Play» in 1961.
The years from 1964 to 1970 were restless ones for Berne. His personal life became chaotic and he concentrated on his writing. Berne died of a heart attack in Carmel on July 15, 1970.
As I said in the first part this book is a psychological book about the games people play (sometimes) not even apprehending. This book is not one of those which teach people how to behave in this or that situation, as I understand, this book is more about the inner conflict of a particular person.
In the first part I gave an example of a «If It Weren’t For You» game where there is a «victim» of a tyrant, whom she/he invented for her/himself, only to complain to others about how she/he deprives her/him of freedom of action. And what is the basis of this attitude to yourself? Probably, this inner conflict the «victim» doesn’t know about, she/he doesn’t really distinguish the conflict with her/himself and that’s why she/he keeps being a «punching bag». (not literary, of course)
I guess this is the main message of the whole book. That’s how I understand all those little games in a person’s life.
I highly recommend you to read this book. It might help you to pay more attention to everything going around and with you. It helps me to notice people’s (my parents, my friends and close people) attitude to life, to other people. After reading this book you kind of see more then there is (for other people).
Few people are eager to understand themselves and their problems.
But I would say that Erik Berne with his book can make them come to their senses and seriously deal with their psychological/mental health. But this is very important!
Take care of yourself!
VeraG
