The Dice Man
by Luke Rhinehart
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Book Reviews of The Dice Man
Book Review: Back in print! This weird book will set your mind spinning!
Summary: 5 Stars
I feel about "Dice Man" a bit like I feel about Ayn Rand's novels: Both begin in our real world and proceed to carry us towards an alternate (superior?) life structure envisioned by the author. I can't see either vision as a complete blueprint for re-forming my life, and yet the ideas are extremely thought-provoking and powerfully expressed. I'm glad I read "Dice Man"; it's unique. It's also very enjoyable, if you have a taste for dark and absurd humor.Interestingly, the story is told from the first person point of view of a New York psychologist named Luke Rhinehart. That's the name of the actual author of the book (a pen name). There is also a sequel, "Search for the Dice Man", although that is only in print in England. You can get it from Amazon's United Kingdom store, www.amazon.co.uk.
Book Review: Making the Rhinehart Erhard Connection
Summary: 1 Stars
Weird logic? A cult following? An anti-psychiatry bias? Can it be, oh my, I'll betcha. Perhaps they are in close communication yet. Or spiritual twins, maybe, with the Aryan Germanic "nom de guerre" being the thing that jumped out at me. One wonders if Werner Erhard, who bragged he hadn't read a book in years, has perused Mr. Rhinehart's work. Was he pleased, entertained, or did he have the usual narcissistic reaction of rage at the gall of someone "copying" his ideas? Making the connection isn't really that much of a leap, just a look at the list of other books written by the author. His obeisance to his original inspiration should indicate a cautionary disclaimer; No matter how bad it looks on the surface, its sub rosa content is exponentially worse. If you liked est, this will probably make perfect sense to you.Book Review: Open your mind
Summary: 4 Stars
Looking deep inside yourself, you might be surprised to find a romantic, murderer, trainspotter and adulterer all rolled into one. Don't believe me? "The Dice Man" argues that these characteristics should be available simply at the roll of a dice. And if you are not sure what you are going to do after reading this review, why not leave it to chance. Roll a (1), make a cup of tea; (2) watch TV; (3) have a kip; (4) go for a walk; (5) do some work; (6) shoot your pet dog.
Anyone who has a urge towards spontanaety and keeping an open mind on life should certainly read this book.
One gripe, though, is that the book seemed to drag a bit. But heh, when you have to finish only when the die tells you to, I guess there's no choice.
Book Review: A satire of psychiatry or a midlife crisis fantasy?
Summary: 5 Stars
The short answer is both.I've just re-read this book after agap of 25 years. I was in my early twenties the first time I read itand consequently followed dice options on a two month journey to France...Reading it again I'm struck by the parody of psychiatric values (inducing schizophrenia in chickens for instance - if it hasn't been done for real, I'm sure someone will try)and the late 60's take on experimentalism and anti-authoritarianism...the book was pushing against the boundries of its time (pre 70's feminism of course)and who said radical is politically correct. Not Luke Rhinehart I guess. More fun then scientology and probably less wierd too.
Oh, the dice says goodbye! END
Book Review: Live the dice life and be happier
Summary: 5 Stars
The Dice Man is an amazing book, and in a way a parable, that makes some profound points about the nature and cause of boredom in life, and then offers a solution: THE DICE. Luke, inspired by reading about Zen philosophy, tells us that "self-image" and "self-consciousness" are what holds us back from richer more interesting and experiential lives, so he invents what at first seems like a child's game as a tool to break his self-image... he starts with some innocent games, but then plays the dice game religiously and starts basing all his decisions on the dice game. This an excellent book that can have a profound affect on how you view life and live it.