Les Mcgehee Plays Well With Others

by Les Mcgehee, Owen Egerton, Ric Williams (Editor)

Les McGehee s Plays Well With Others, A Grown-Up Handbook of Improvisation and Play is a breezy how-to book by an improvising pioneer that is part autobiography and part field guide to the life and habits of successful improvisers. It offers rare insights gained through over 20 years of improvisational experience in how to incorporate humor and positive affirmation of in-the-moment opportunities guaranteed to enhance both your business and personal life. With techniques McGehee uses in MBA and government programs, Plays Well With Others provides the basics for the layman and clear advanced tricks of the trade for the professional improviser. Cleverly divided into sections that can be read independently, the reader can delve deep or graze into the fields of play Les so clearly describes. It contains autobiographical passages illustrating how the improvisational life works, an annotated list of classic improv games for business and entertainment, diary entries of extensive improv tours, statistical references on the successful implementation of improvisational techniques in business, and recommendations on how to further your improv education locally, nationally, and internationally.

181 pages, Paperback

First published November 22, 2006

Reviews

[Tami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Work tends to be, for lack of a better adjective, work. We steel ourselves to be serious and productive. We plan, schedule, and work towards deadlines like our life depends upon it. Fun, creativity, and imagination seem like something children do, we had to grow up.

Or do we? Plays Well With Others lets us know that improvisation and play are healthy activities for adults too. In fact, happy adults are far more creative, productive, and cooperative. It makes perfect sense and this book shows us how to start with all sorts of activities and games.

After reading this book, I would love to go to one of Les McGehee's improvisation workshops. I think the concept is exactly what most businesses and individuals within those companies need to regain our passion. I like the exercises provided in the book, they were easy enough to follow but I think an in-person workshop would be even more beneficial for those individuals who might naturally hold back a little. I'm sure that the author's passion could get anyone to let go and just play for a while.

[Nathanael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Les gave me this book. If you've seen him in person the book makes sense, and its almost enjoyable. The way he applies improvisation to life is helpful. When we have fun and embrace challenges in a spirit of play, we do much better than the compulsive-take-things-seriously people.

But if you haven't met Les, I'd imagine the book would come across as a little pushy and unclear. He needs to add an introduction: "Meet Les, who's insane, fun, irreverent, and a genius." After you read that, you'll understand his tone and content much more easily. Consider yourself helped, everyone.

[Luis Louro Oliveira · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can really tell that the author loves and lives the theme

[Lesmcgehee]

Just reread my own book! I'm about to publish a new book. What a memoryfest it is to read Plays Well With Others through (I pull games and exercises from it frequently, but hadn't re-read the stories much other than when I performed them). I love some of these stories so much, and I love my new stories too. F.U.N.