Impromptu Man: J.L. Moreno and the Origins of Psychodrama, Encounter Culture, and the Social Network

An insightful and powerful exploration of the life and contributions of my father J.L.Moreno to Psychodrama, the Encounter movement and Social Network Theory. Regina Moreno

I am so impressed by Jonathans' ability to research his book. It provides the readers, in any group therapy environment, to employ the innovative work of JL Moreno . Jonathans' spontaneity and creativiity reflects the contents of this important historica book

Prompt service. Book arrived as described.

Relevant as essential knowledge for contemporary helping professionals.

I have little knowledge of Psychodrama or of much psychology to honest. The most knowledge I have on the subject comes from a Psychology course in high school where we barely touched the topic at hand. Even less was I aware of J.L. Moreno, because as the book says he isn't mentioned in text books. I'm glad to have read this book it gives greater insight on my culture and how J.L. helped shape it, even if he is never truly accredited.Impromptu Man starts off with the famous Clint Eastwood incident with mitt Romney, when Obama was missing from the conversation in the empty chair. From their the book stems off into other ways that the authors father has helped to shape culture as we know it. From comedian acts too acts of therapy. It also touches on people that J.L. touched with his research or by other means, such as being a homework buddy.I think that the story of J.L. is uniquely told being that the author is the son of the man at hand. The son who by the way, was not alive at the height of his fathers fame. He came along later on, so for the most part it the book is written with detachment. But I do suspect the author at least a little bit may have embellished or idolized his father, in the novel. But if this did occur it isn’t glaringly obvious. Nor did it stunt the novel.This novel is a good example of the saying, "History is written by the winners." It shows the many experiments with people that J.L. started and are continued or at least a strain of what it originally was. Yet, he is not in a text book that I've ever been acquainted with, nor in social media the way some of the authors from that period are. *Cough* Freud *Cough*

It is not often that a book inspires me to be study Vienna and its rich intellectual life in the early 1900s, puts in context so many of the psychological movements of the 20th century that I witnessed, participated in or just absorbed into my worldview, plus provides an excellent case study on how ideas evolves. Jonathan D. Moreno manages to do all of this things in his new book "Impromptu Man: J.L. Moreno and the Origins of Psychodrama, Encounter Culture, and the Social Network." As you may have guessed from the title, J. L. is Jonathan's father and while the insights of the son writing about his eccentric and brilliant father adds a charming element, this book is less memoir than a broad examination of the historical, political, and technological developments of the 20th century with links to today. While footnoted and meticulously researched, the book is highly readable and will find a wide audience. Book clubs, especially, should take note. My only wish is that I could find a psychodrama group to participate in, as I am now a fan of J.L. and his pioneering theory that psychological ills can be successfully acted out on stage.

Outstanding work spanning a century of brilliance in applying the therapeutic power of role-playing for self-exploration. J.L. Moreno's discoveries through psychodrama changed theatre, sociology, psychology, and culture, and laid the foundation for social media and online social networks.It's a fun read about a fascinating time that takes us from J.L. studying under (and disagreeing with) Sigmund Freud to one of the most timely students of his work, Tina Fey (and may be the only book to have them both as important characters.)If there is one criticism for this richly detailed book about a man who spans a century of turbulent ideas, it's that it does not fully explore the ramifications of psychodrama in today's online world and role-playing video games. Perhaps in a future edition?Great quote, from the young J.L. to Freud: "You analyze their dreams. I give them the courage to dream again. You analyze them and tear them apart. I let them act out their conflicting roles and help them to put the parts together again."

An engaging and enlightening history that provides a deeper understanding of how the insights and actions of J. L. Moreno played a crucial role in weaving the social fabric of today's world.

Really useful book on a very important, under-recognised figure in the histories of both theatre and therapy. At times the tone is slightly too anecdotal for my taste, and I don't understand why the book leads with stuff about hippy-dippy 1960s encounter culture, which JL Moreno may have influenced but which wasn't representative of his own work and which seems rather tired from a 21st Century vantage point. That chapter and others seem more reflective of the author's own autobiographical position, as JL Moreno's son -- which is fine, but there's a sense sometimes of him not having quite resolved whether this is a personal memoir by Jonathan Moreno or a study of JL Moreno's life and work. I'm being a bit harsh here, probably, because it really is a useful and important book. But I have high standards, I guess!

excellent lively account of JL Moreno's life by his son.He is able both to praise and be critical of this great innovator in psychotherapy through psychodrama and sociology.

A great read not just psychodrama and psychology practitioners. It is gives an insight of the topsy and turvy social world of USA in the 1930's to 1980's intellectual and philosophical debates. As usual academia does comes across as rather highbrow, arrogant and conservative elite at times. Beside showing J.L. Moreno was difficult, creative man this narrative shows that petty jealousy, ego, and world views dictate what gets presented as the history of our world.Jonathan writes well and his research and insight is very good. The writer doesn't pull any punches but also presents a balanced view. He does show that JL Moreno's creative genius had a profound influence but more importantly for the psychodramatists he is not and never was a GOD.

Ótimo conteúdo.

Thanks Jonathan,My wife and I spent a month with your dad and Zerka in Beacon.