The Dice Man (1971)

I read this in 1980 after a workmate recommended it to me. Now, I can't remember the main character or the plot ( but I didn't really like either) other than the idea of throwing a dice to make decisions. It was that freedom that I remember gaining from the book that is particularly invaluable to someone who is indecisive. ( )

Who knew that going crazy could be so damn boring? I'm sure this concept could have been played out better in maybe half the page count. Like a big long masturbatory guitar solo in the form of a novel. ( )

Bored but successful New York psychologist Dr Lucius Rhinehart decides to embrace a new way of life by letting the throw of dice decide all his day-to-day and long-term life decisions. This is the story of a man's willful self-destruction and supposed rebirth as The Diceman.As the dice take control of his actions, desires and apparent personality his life unwinds into an increasingly sporadic and chaotic existence with the dice choosing between some fairly hair-raising and dangerous options.However as Dr R dissolves into ever more random behaviour, the cult of Dice-Living evolves into a Nation-wide religion as bored business people, counter-culturists and faded stars of stage and screen are drawn into the latest mind-expanding craze.I found this book probably dragged on a bit long, though it was written lightly and humourously mostly in first person. Overall I found it enjoyable, and an intersting and thought-provoking exploration of ignoring society's norms without any safeguard, and the ramifications of thereof.This book has a lot of sex in it, which is not erotic, more comic and by the end, almost reaching American Psycho levels of debauchery (though nowhere near the violence thankfully), though of course where the dice direct Dr R to have sex, it is often with someone who is not anticipating it, and again this can be a bit of a moral toe-curler to put it mildly.The Dice-driven Dr Rhineharts' encounters with strait-laced American Middle Class of an older era is really what makes the book funny.I would broadly recommend this book, it's funny and thought provoking, but does see The Diceman ignore morals consistantly......unless the dice will him to observe them. ( )

מעשה בפסיכיאטר שמחליט לנהל את חייו על פי הטלת קובי​ה. ספר שקראתי ואהבתי בשנות השבעים וחשבתי שאני היחי​די בעולם ששמע עליו. מסתבר כמובן שבארה"ב הוא היה לה​יט גדול ואף נכתבו לו המשכים. ( )

An interesting concept, but I find it too reliant on the humor, and the humor itself too smug and arch for my taste. I need to stop even trying to read any satire. ( )