Learning the Human Game

by Alan W. Watts

Alan Watts on the Human PredicamentYou can't catch a wave in a bucket and walk off with it, teaches Alan Watts, and so you cannot understand life and its mysteries as long as you persist in trying to. In Learning the Human Game, Watts starts with this Taoist insight, then takes his audience into a mind-expanding inquiry into the human condition. This four-session collection offers the best of Watts' celebrated Tao of Philosophy lecture series, recorded during live seminars and radio broadcasts spanning two decades. Here, Watts offers clear delineations of Taoist, Buddhist, and Hindu teachings about what it means to be human; insights into the hidden order behind the apparent chaos of the universe; what nature can teach us about how to live our lives; and much more. Perhaps more than anyone else this century, Alan Watts is credited with helping the modern West gain access to the spiritual traditions of the Far East. Now on Learning the Human Game, join this renowned scholar and beloved spiritual entertainer at his best, offering his listeners a rich and completely unpredictable investigation into our place in the cosmos and our great common task at once formidable and effortless.

Genres: Philosophy, Spirituality

Audio CD

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Alan Wilson Watts was a British philosopher, writer and speaker, who held both a Master's in Theology and a Doctorate of Divinity. Famous for his research on comparative religion, he was best known as an interpreter and popularizer of Asian philosophies for a Western audience. He wrote over 25 books and numerous articles on subjects such as personal identity, the true nature of reality, higher consciousness, the meaning of life, concepts and images of God and the non-material pursuit of happiness. In his books he relates his experience to scientific knowledge and to the teachings of Eastern and Western religion and philosophy.

Reviews

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Watts synthesizes elements of nature as described by Eastern and Western philosophy and culture, religion, social studies, physics, biology, music, art, etc.

Takeaways:
- There’s nothing but the here and now
- We are a part of the fabric of the universe
- We are all “god”

My criticism of Watts is that his truth doesn’t really allow for duality. It seems like he has one interpretation and he believes that to be the truth and nothing but the truth. I commend the strength of his belief system, but I feel as though something is missing. For example, he describes that music is about nothing but the music itself— how can that be so?? Yes, we can listen and that experience is what music is, but what about all the thought and energy and interpretation a listener can have for themselves?

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn’t love the format of this…but I ❤️ Watts’ philosophies so I’m not mad!!! I just need to hear more context, this book was sort of like a bunch of his random sound bites strung together.

[Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another brilliant and though-provoking set of recordings (with one crossover from his last book I listened to) from Alan Watts. I have only one complaint, and that's that my library does not have any of his other books readily available in the audio format.

Like 'Do You Do It, or Does It Do You?', Learning the Human Game sources from several different lectures (I believe all from the 1960's) and covers a variety of topics. Things like retaining a perspective that does not lose the sense wonder for life, whether existence should be taken seriously, sense and nonsense, and forms and the formless. What Watts covers in a brief lecture can be pondered for hours, days, even longer. These are all books that I look forward to returning to in the years to come.

Where there are rocks.. watch out. Watch out! Because the rocks are going to come alive.

..existence is musical in nature. That is to say that it is not serious. It is a play of all kinds of patterns.

Because what is happening in all of these investigations is through us and through our eyes and sense the universe is looking at itself.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this guy's voice, but having a really tough time thinking of what to say about it. Watts knows a lot about etymology, religion, spirituality, history, music, art... just a well-rounded individual who uses his knowledge to explain the nature of existence, and Zen. Mindfulness comes to mind, and who and what you are. Enlightening for sure.

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good overview of some of Alan Watts' teachings. Each segment can be taken on its own, which made this a quick and enjoyable listen. I would recommend this to people who have already listened to Alan and just can't get enough.

[Paul Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I miss Alan!

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/10

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is short, and it feels even shorter because it’s so engaging. There’s plenty of humor, and there are a lot of great perspectives to learn from. Will definitely listen to this again.

[Papyrusofnani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really a book, more a collection if audio recordings of Alan Watts (in case you expected a book). Great listen, philosophy. Great ideas.

[David Poltorak · Rating 4 out of 5]

[listened to on audiobook, 2.5 hours]

More snippets from Watt’s lectures, slightly disconnected but still insightful

[Sonic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alan Watts is a fine Philosopher who introduced to many (myself included) eastern (philosophical) perspectives. And while I enjoyed listening to his voice and excerpts from many talks I would not recommend this slap-dash production. Hearing the same intro and outro at the beginning and end of every side of this 3 cassette book adds up to us hearing some of this stuff 5 times too many!

But that wasn't the only redundant redundancy,...
The first cassette had all these excerpts that had been taken from longer recordings that were on cassettes 2 and 3. ???

The content however, was good.