What do you think?
Rate this book
The Mind Game
When you think of game theory, do you think of chalk-dusty economists droning endlessly about the permutations of optimal outcomes and short-term payoffs? Perhaps not. But even if you do, Hector MacDonald's first novel will make this esoteric field exotic, dangerous, and downright sexy.
Ben Ashurst is a student at Oxford. He leads a fairly placid life, befriending shy girls, playing "keep up with the Joneses" with his crowd of wealthy (and nasty) friends, and trying to impress his tutor, the brilliant and controversial behavioral scientist James Fieldhead. A single day, however, is enough to turn his calm existence upside down. When he meets the beautiful and enigmatic Cara, and when Fieldhead requests Ben's participation in a ground-breaking research experiment, Ben will find himself thrust into a life where every measure of normality is rent asunder.
Fieldhead, working in conjunction with a nameless but powerful corporation, has developed a way to measure emotions by tracking the brain's physiological responses to stimuli. At his request, Ben submits to having a tiny sensor attached to his skull, and, filled with a guinea pig's pride, is sent off to Kenya with Cara for three weeks of recreation and stimulation. But vacation turns to terror when a case of mistaken identity lands Ben in a Kenyan jail, where the stimulation is anything but positive. Struggling to keep his mental balance, Ben begins wondering whether someone is manipulating the experiment and to what purpose. His search for answers will lead him into the highest corporate boardrooms and into the depths of treachery and betrayal.
The novel fairly quivers with energy: reading it is like holding a manic Chihuahua. MacDonald has places to go and things to do and plots to uncover and emotions to stir. And in fact his narrative is generally capable of sustaining this energy. If, on occasion, his grand drama seems to be a tempest in a teapot, well, that's a small (and temporary) price to pay for a highly entertaining read. --Kelly Flynn
448 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
15 people are currently reading
253 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
January 17, 2024
Ο Μπεν, ένας φοιτητής, συμμετέχει σε ένα πείραμα για τον έλεγχο των συναισθημάτων. Το πείραμα διεξάγεται σε ένα ειδυλλιακό μέρος και έχει οργανωθεί από τον Τζέιμς, τον καθηγητή του Μπεν στο πανεπιστήμιο. Τι γίνεται όμως όταν το πείραμα εξελίσσεται σε εφιάλτη; Ποια η στάση του Μπεν και όλων των εμπλεκομένων;
Στο βιβλίο αυτό ο Μακντόναλντ αντλεί στοιχεία από τους τομείς της ψυχολογίας, της νευροεπιστήμης και της θεωρίας παιγνίων. Το βιβλίο περιγράφει επιστημονικές ανακαλύψεις και την εμπορική εκμετάλλευσή τους .
Χωρίζεται σε δύο μέρη: το πρώτο μέρος περιγράφει το πείραμα, και το δεύτερο ασχολείται με τις συνέπειές του και την αποκάλυψη της αλήθειας.
Θεωρώ ότι ενώ το πρώτο μέρος είναι ιδιαίτερα ενδιαφέρον, το δεύτερο είναι αρκετά μπερδεμένο με συνεχείς αλλαγές. Η αλήθεια αποκαλύπτεται σταδιακά και τελικά ο αναγνώστης μαθαίνει τα γεγονότα μαζί με τον πρωταγωνιστή.
Στο βιβλίο αυτό ο Μακντόναλντ αντλεί στοιχεία από τους τομείς της ψυχολογίας, της νευροεπιστήμης και της θεωρίας παιγνίων. Το βιβλίο περιγράφει επιστημονικές ανακαλύψεις και την εμπορική εκμετάλλευσή τους .
Χωρίζεται σε δύο μέρη: το πρώτο μέρος περιγράφει το πείραμα, και το δεύτερο ασχολείται με τις συνέπειές του και την αποκάλυψη της αλήθειας.
Θεωρώ ότι ενώ το πρώτο μέρος είναι ιδιαίτερα ενδιαφέρον, το δεύτερο είναι αρκετά μπερδεμένο με συνεχείς αλλαγές. Η αλήθεια αποκαλύπτεται σταδιακά και τελικά ο αναγνώστης μαθαίνει τα γεγονότα μαζί με τον πρωταγωνιστή.
December 23, 2018
The Mind Game is likely to appeal to fans of the classic novel by John Fowles, The Magus. Since then, there have been a whole series of books and films dealing with a similar premise: an individual is in a situation where he can't determine what's real while sinister external forces manipulate reality. Examples of this include The Matrix series, Pleasantville, The Game (a movie starring Michael Douglas) and The Stunt Man (directed by Richard Rush and my favorite movie in this category). However, it is clearly The Magus that most influences The Mind Game. Both novels take place (at least partly) in warm beach climates. In both novels, a young and rather naive Englishman is thrown into a world of deceit, romance, and danger.
In The Mind Game, the protagonist, Ben, is manipulated by his tutor, a renowned but controversial researcher named Fielding who's conducting scientific experiments on emotions. He persuades Ben and his new girlfriend Carisa to travel to Kenya on a paid vacation. The huge catch is that Ben has to wear a high-tech device that measures his every emotion. This trip turns out to be anything but a relaxing beach holiday, with Ben experiencing everything from romantic betrayal to serious encounters with the law (I don't want to give too much away).
The main theme of the novel is who is pulling the strings and who, if anyone, can Ben trust? The novel opens with a game of Truth or Dare, which sets the stage. Fielding discusses Game Theory with Ben as well, which turns out to be another ongoing theme. Game Theory, of course, takes a very conflict-driven look at life where you see yourself as pitted against other "players."
The novel raises interesting questions about scientific research. It remains ambiguous until close to the end what exactly the nature of the scientific research is or if the whole thing really is about science at all. Either way, it opens up the question of what is and isn't justified in service to science.
It's also interesting to read, in 2018, a tech-oriented novel written around 2000. This was the early days of the Internet and just before the Dot.com crash. This was before Google, smartphones, and social media. So we have people looking up information online but we have to keep remembering they can't just Google it. Even the premise of a gadget that can read emotions no longer seems nearly as futuristic as it did a mere 18 years ago.
The Mind Game is by no means the literary masterpiece that The Magus is. It reads more like a Hollywood film and adds all kinds of scientific and technological topics to the mix. The Mind Game is written in a fast-paced style that's popular today, full of twists and turns. As I read it, I could easily visualize it as a film, though, as far as I know, none has been created yet. To me, that's not really a compliment. Many popular authors are clearly thinking of a movie deal as they write their novels, which keeps things moving fast but on a rather superficial level.
While The Mind Game is always engaging, it doesn't have a great deal of emotional impact (sort of ironically, considering the subject) because the characters are mostly types who fill certain fairly predictable roles. Ben is the nice guy in over his head. Carisa is the femme fatale whose loyalty is always in question. Fielding is the master manipulator.
As in most twisty novels and films, the plot doesn't necessarily hold up to scrutiny if you really think about it. However, it's interesting and thought-provoking as it unfolds. The scientific and philosophical questions raise it above the level of mindless action.
With the references to the Dot.com revolution and people doing their pre-Google searches online, The Mind Game is a bit dated. At the same time, it's not quite deep enough to be a true period piece. Still, it's a worthy addition to the fascinating individual-caught-in-a-vast-web genre.
In The Mind Game, the protagonist, Ben, is manipulated by his tutor, a renowned but controversial researcher named Fielding who's conducting scientific experiments on emotions. He persuades Ben and his new girlfriend Carisa to travel to Kenya on a paid vacation. The huge catch is that Ben has to wear a high-tech device that measures his every emotion. This trip turns out to be anything but a relaxing beach holiday, with Ben experiencing everything from romantic betrayal to serious encounters with the law (I don't want to give too much away).
The main theme of the novel is who is pulling the strings and who, if anyone, can Ben trust? The novel opens with a game of Truth or Dare, which sets the stage. Fielding discusses Game Theory with Ben as well, which turns out to be another ongoing theme. Game Theory, of course, takes a very conflict-driven look at life where you see yourself as pitted against other "players."
The novel raises interesting questions about scientific research. It remains ambiguous until close to the end what exactly the nature of the scientific research is or if the whole thing really is about science at all. Either way, it opens up the question of what is and isn't justified in service to science.
It's also interesting to read, in 2018, a tech-oriented novel written around 2000. This was the early days of the Internet and just before the Dot.com crash. This was before Google, smartphones, and social media. So we have people looking up information online but we have to keep remembering they can't just Google it. Even the premise of a gadget that can read emotions no longer seems nearly as futuristic as it did a mere 18 years ago.
The Mind Game is by no means the literary masterpiece that The Magus is. It reads more like a Hollywood film and adds all kinds of scientific and technological topics to the mix. The Mind Game is written in a fast-paced style that's popular today, full of twists and turns. As I read it, I could easily visualize it as a film, though, as far as I know, none has been created yet. To me, that's not really a compliment. Many popular authors are clearly thinking of a movie deal as they write their novels, which keeps things moving fast but on a rather superficial level.
While The Mind Game is always engaging, it doesn't have a great deal of emotional impact (sort of ironically, considering the subject) because the characters are mostly types who fill certain fairly predictable roles. Ben is the nice guy in over his head. Carisa is the femme fatale whose loyalty is always in question. Fielding is the master manipulator.
As in most twisty novels and films, the plot doesn't necessarily hold up to scrutiny if you really think about it. However, it's interesting and thought-provoking as it unfolds. The scientific and philosophical questions raise it above the level of mindless action.
With the references to the Dot.com revolution and people doing their pre-Google searches online, The Mind Game is a bit dated. At the same time, it's not quite deep enough to be a true period piece. Still, it's a worthy addition to the fascinating individual-caught-in-a-vast-web genre.
November 26, 2010
I kind of liked and disliked this novel at the same time, because the plot was strong, twisting and turning and pulling you through to see how things would work out, but the characterisation weak and verging on the immature (although perhaps I shouldn’t have read the author was twenty eight years old.) When I finished it, I felt there were plenty of loose ends to tie up, plot cul-de-sacs and sweeping closing explanations trying to cover a multitude of these sins. The massive proposition that papered over many of the cracks was that men will do just about anything, and believe just about anything, as long as it’s told to them by a stunning bird who’s promising you a shag later on. He was spot on accurate with that!
April 13, 2010
The main character is really lead along the garden path in this book. I won't spoil the plot, but I will say that I figured out most of what was going to happen 50 pages in. It didn't stop me from finishing or liking the book, it just didn't give me that edge-of-the-seat feeling, either.
The villain is certainly a jerk, but not the type of villain you can sink your teeth into. I guess what I'm saying is that the characters weren't very fully drawn. And there were a couple of places in the plot where the main character went against all common sense in a way that wasn't justified by his previous actions.
The villain is certainly a jerk, but not the type of villain you can sink your teeth into. I guess what I'm saying is that the characters weren't very fully drawn. And there were a couple of places in the plot where the main character went against all common sense in a way that wasn't justified by his previous actions.
December 15, 2010
A real page-turner about an Oxford student interested in game theory who takes part in medical research in Kenya. It soon becomes clear that the whole story is a psychological 'game', but which parts are real, and which are not? There are lots of ups and downs that sometimes stretch believability, but it was such a compulsive thriller that I was quite willing to forgive the author for that. I'd definitely read more by Hector MacDonald. I'd recommend it if you liked The Beach and I'd also say there were shades of Michael Crichton.
August 30, 2012
Rigtig god start, og bogen fænger med det samme. Blottet er spændende, men desværre synes jeg den bliver ret urealistisk efterhånden man læser videre. Det er som om forfatteren har fået at vide at han skal bygge en spænding op, som på en eller anden måde ikke holder i virkeligheden. En fortælling må gerne være kreativ mv., men jeg synes det virker underligt når hele fortællingen foregår i den akademiske verden og prøver at få en debat i gang. Jeg tror ikke på at nogen forsker vil tage så drastiske metoder i brug, og derfor bliver den debat, som jeg synes forfatteren lægger op til, udelukket.
March 17, 2016
It's been years since I read this but I remember being completely fooled at the end. The story drew me right in. Maybe it was my age being similar to the main character that helped put myself in his shoes.
The guy who gave me the book told me to go back and read the first page after I finish. I'd recommend the same thing to everyone else.
The guy who gave me the book told me to go back and read the first page after I finish. I'd recommend the same thing to everyone else.
July 20, 2023
Inesperado y diferente. Perfecto para cuando no sabes qué leer y nada te convence.
November 22, 2020
A university student volunteers in an experiment to have his emotions assessed and measured, but underestimates the post traumatic stress he would suffer afterwards, as well as the extensive layers of secrecy placed on the whole project by his tutor and sponsors.
Based around the fascinating subjects of emotion and game theory, the book starts off strong, but many parts read too much like watching a movie. After the main experiment, layers of deception starts to be revealed, mostly replaced by more deception and plot twists, so much so that I felt a bit frustrated and paranoid at all the characters even to the end. I can see that the author wanted introduce different talking points of the implications of emotion control on society and how people may react, but this may have been better delivered with a different story structure and some deeper character developments.
Based around the fascinating subjects of emotion and game theory, the book starts off strong, but many parts read too much like watching a movie. After the main experiment, layers of deception starts to be revealed, mostly replaced by more deception and plot twists, so much so that I felt a bit frustrated and paranoid at all the characters even to the end. I can see that the author wanted introduce different talking points of the implications of emotion control on society and how people may react, but this may have been better delivered with a different story structure and some deeper character developments.
July 28, 2022
The book starts nicely. The character building lacks some sort of clarity to it.
As the story progresses, it gets more and more interesting. The part which happened in Kenya was the best i suppose.
The second part doesn't keep up with the first part. Towards the end, it sinks deep in ordinary stuff and failed to bring any surprise or kick.
Even though there are twists in the book, the truth those twists just remains 'twists'.
Tip : you can skip this. No regrets.
As the story progresses, it gets more and more interesting. The part which happened in Kenya was the best i suppose.
The second part doesn't keep up with the first part. Towards the end, it sinks deep in ordinary stuff and failed to bring any surprise or kick.
Even though there are twists in the book, the truth those twists just remains 'twists'.
Tip : you can skip this. No regrets.
October 24, 2016
An amazing debut novel, took me by surprise both with its quality and twists. I spoke to the author a couple of years after reading this and he was so close to getting a film deal. Massive shame he didn't get that over the line, it would have been amazing.
July 1, 2019
Another from my keep and read again shelf
November 10, 2024
A rivetting book, interesting, if slightly frightening idea. Reminded me partly of Michael Crichton's works.
January 11, 2025
Hier was echt geen doorkomen aan. Niet mijn soort boek.
April 26, 2025
DNF. Too weird and disturbing in spite of being interested in the Kenya stories.
October 1, 2025
Une antiquité qui traînait dans ma PAL. J’ai essayé sans conviction et n’ai absolument pas accroché. Personnages non crédibles, intrigue bateau, et style trop haché. Pas grand intérêt.
January 7, 2026
First read when published 24 years ago. Pleasure to reread
this Excellent thriller.
this Excellent thriller.
August 26, 2016
Book opens with a game: "True or False." Much of the rest of the book is a "real-life" extension of that game via a neurology research project on the investigation of emotions and neural impulses.
Not much happens initially; some lovey-dovey stuff then it becomes more intricate.
A manipulative book with unlikable, self-absorbed, manipulating, inconsiderate characters.
What is the perception of reality vs truth? How do cultural mores, expectations, and privilege vary? If you can detect the neural patterns which are related to particular emotions can you know what people feel and can you cause certain neural patterns to generate others' emotions? What is the extent that capitalism causes people to do anything for money and leads people to want to force/deceive/persuade others to do stuff for money?
Not much happens initially; some lovey-dovey stuff then it becomes more intricate.
A manipulative book with unlikable, self-absorbed, manipulating, inconsiderate characters.
What is the perception of reality vs truth? How do cultural mores, expectations, and privilege vary? If you can detect the neural patterns which are related to particular emotions can you know what people feel and can you cause certain neural patterns to generate others' emotions? What is the extent that capitalism causes people to do anything for money and leads people to want to force/deceive/persuade others to do stuff for money?
September 9, 2014
Otra vez he vuelto a tener suerte al leer un libro poco conocido y de un autor poco conocido en España, y además no he podido encontrar ninguna reseña en español por ninguna parte. Es bueno y entretenido, aunque un poco lento por momentos, que se compensa por los inesperados giros que van apareciendo. Por momentos me ha llegado a recordar un poco a la peli "The Game" de Michael Douglas, por lo bien orquestado del plan. Aunque el final me ha parecido un poco mundano, aunque a la vez puede lanzar una pequeña reflexión, por todas esas nuevas tecnologías que nos llegan a diario y nos obliga un poco a ese "aislamiento voluntario" que mucha gente padece y que elige libremente.
August 11, 2010
I have to agree with many of the other reviews; it was a bit predictable in places and I had a little bit higher hopes for the protagonist. However, the author does a good job of writing the main character as though you could easily insert yourself into his position, which was an interesting perspective while reading. I think it could have delved a bit deeper into game theory, but it was a fun read and I finished it at a good clip.
June 20, 2014
This was rather a slow start, a bit too much scientific stuff for me at the start. However it did speed up later and was quite exciting. An Oxford student interested in game theory is persuaded to take part in medical research in Kenya dealing with measuring emotions. There are many twists and turns and sometimes events seems downright dangerous until it becomes impossible to know truth from reality until the very end. A reasonably good tale to while away a summer's afternoon.
May 18, 2010
Pretty good book. It was a psychological thriller with some romance thrown in. I thought the story was really unique though not totally unpredictable. I brought it on a beach vacation, and it was a fun read.
May 6, 2011
this was gripping. Like the narrator I didn't know what to believe, how to determine what was real and disingenuous. Shifting from England to Kenya to San Francisco, MacDonald keeps the plot plausible and terrifying. I read it in a single day.
December 22, 2016
Great book for psychology-nerds I thought it was interesting and thought-provoking. The ending was kind of flat in my opinion and not as spectaculair as I was anticipating because they build up to it very well.
January 10, 2017
Superb
Absolutely fantastic. Incredible ploy, constantly twisting and surprising. The information about the mind and gaming was fascinating. The characters were subtle and interesting.
Absolutely fantastic. Incredible ploy, constantly twisting and surprising. The information about the mind and gaming was fascinating. The characters were subtle and interesting.
February 24, 2008
One of the best books I have read in the last year as well as the Hummingbird Saint, makes you really think and very paranoid
June 5, 2008
This book was chosen for Book Club by Stacy in November 2005. This was a very unusual book and a wild ride! We haven't read anything like it in Book Club.
July 9, 2008
Very different, nicely unsettling and truly a good "mind game"
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews