Gladstone's Games to Go: Verbal Volleys, Coin Contests, Dot Deuls, and Other Games for Boredom-Free Days

In this day and age of constant visual and aural stimulation--marketing and advertising messages, music of all sorts, cellphones, PDAs, you name it--it's SO refreshing to see that not everyone has given up hope. Jim Gladstone is obviously someone who values the grey cells, and puts his talent as a writer where his quirky interests are. Not only is this book FULL of original and updated games that often require nothing more than what many of us had on-hand in first grade: a pencil, some paper, a little extra time and a sense of playfulness (okay, and maybe a little competitiveness, too), it's also beautifully designed, durable and very portable. Buy this book and keep it in your backpack, briefcase--whatever you drag your stuff around in. Next time you're stuck on a plane, bus or even your own car and your sick of listening to the garbage on the radio or watching the fluff on TV, pull out Gladstone's Games to Go and give your brain a much-needed workout. For parents who've had enough of GameBoys and giant headphones that keep your kids as alienated from you in the car or on a plane as they are at home, Gladstone offers some fun ways to interact that won't cramp the style of even the most jaded teen or tween. And for the rest of us who just like a good, challenging game now and then (and hate it when dinner party conversation starts to wane), you're CRAZY not to have this book at arm's reach.

I decided to check out this book after reading an interview with the author at UsedWigs.com. I thought it sounded like fun for 10 bucks. Turns out that while some of the games are easy standards that I already new (Password, Ghost), the most interesting stuff here is brand new and really involving. The last board game I bought was Scattergories, which cost like $30...well, this tells you how to play that one without buying any special equipment (its obvious, but I never thought of it), so you end up getting dozens of games for less than what a single one costs when you buy the boxed version. Good deal. Smart stuff.

I bought my first copy of this book at a bookstore after browsing through it and discovering some old games like Ghost and Grandmother's House that I remembered playing with my folks as a kid. The new variations on these old games make them fresh again, and there are many other games that I'd never played before -- and which are definitely not 'just kids' stuff'; there's a game called Gravilex that's going to be a big part of my summer this year. I also appreciate the way the book shows you how to play famous board games like Boggle and Scattergories without having to buy the boxed games...It saves money and also lets you play these games anywhere, without having to carry around the box, board, dice, etc. This is a great little book to stockpile and give as gifts -- I'm going to send it to my nieces and nephews at sleepaway camp this summer (Since my chocolate chip cookies are now considered contraband!). In any case, a super little book and a really good value.

The games are fun,challenging and nostalgic.Reading the info about the games and the witty way in which they are presented is entertaining.This is not just for kids but great entertainment for adults as well.I have already engaged friends in these strategy/word games and all are delighted.A great graduation or "off to camp" or hostess gift that costs little and will create lots of good times.