Games Mother Never Taught You

It's written for women, but any men that weren't jocks or military need to read this too.

I used to wonder why I got in trouble at work -- now I know and don't do it anymore. I'm getting well paid for my work, get along with my co-workers and management, and my career is on track.

I recommend this book to everyone I know, the few who actually read it get the same results I got.

It's a little dated, but don't let that stop you. The corporate culture (at least in the United States) hasn't changed much this century and it's not likely to change anytime soon. Some of the details she presents may be different, the general principles are still completely current.

Also, she's a fun writer and it's a good read.


Description of corporate world and advice on career planning   February 17, 1999
11 out of 11 found this review helpful

Interesting book which describes the corporate world from a women's perspective and gives advice on career planning and advancement. As a man, I find the book overstates the nature men and of `male' business - not all men are sports jocks. However, the book does contain plenty of good, ruthless, honest advice.


This book changes careers!   November 3, 1998
10 out of 10 found this review helpful

When I bought this book a stranger came up to me and said "That book is fantastic and will change your life". It is an essential text for women who want to succeed. As I read it for the first time the scales fell from my eyes. I felt embarrassed that I had missed so much about workplace dynamics, acceptable behaviour, ways of presenting oneself and relating to coleagues that suddenly seemed so glaringly obvious. The book's message: all organisations are based on the hierarchical command structure of the military, and work groups are based on sports teams. Therefore, women with little or no experience of the military/team sports will be constantly swimming against the tide and speaking the wrong language UNLESS THEY READ THIS BOOK! I have bought half a dozen copies of this book and given them to women friends. It is always easy to spot those who need it. I expect it is possible to be a successful career woman without reading this book, but why make life more difficult than necessary? From a successful career woman.


Helps women understand business world from men's view.   February 6, 1999
Linda Polacek (HR Consultant: hrb@abhr.com) (Columbia, Maryland)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

This book was assigned reading in college back in the 70's. Lots of women's lib perspective in it. Over the years, it's been a great reference book to understand just what is going on in business, and why some things are so important to men, and why it's important for women to understand and acknowledge it. For women who do or do not want to be involved in the politics in the workplace, the material is relevant and helpful. Knowing what is going on around you and why has an effect on what happens to you. This book is also a great resource for men entering the workforce.

Recommend that it be used as a resource and not a one-time read, since much of the information in it becomes increasingly applicable as people progress in their careers.


I'm passing this on to my women friends   June 13, 2003
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

Someone gave me this when I was just starting out in my career, years ago. I donated this copy to the Women's collection in my employer's library, and reread my old, dog-eared copy. The advice and insights are just as fresh and relevant as they were years ago. This should be given to every young woman just entering corporate America - it would be good to add to ethics studies in both business and science (my field). I still make use of the advice and strategies.It would be nice to see an new edition come out ...