Level Up Your Social Life: The Gamer's Guide To Social Success Paperback – February 11, 2016

A marvelous, honest and intimately personal guide to improving social skills. The author immediately strikes a personal, conversational tone, earnestly sharing his trials and struggles on the journey to becoming a happier and more social person.The framing device of the book is a stroke of genius. Readers are encouraged to take on "quests" to move outside their comfort zone, "daily quests" to improve upon something a little bit every day, "weekly quests" every other week to work on issues on a longer term, tongue-in-cheek "achievements" to unlock.....It's all the same psychological tools that video games use to reward gamers for achieving goals, but turning those tools towards achieving a real, distinct, palpable goal in real life.Even if you're not an avid gamer, this book can help just about anybody in setting goals, organizing themselves, and achieving results. An excellent self-help guide that's fun and easy to read, and one I heartily recommend.

I love Daniel's writing, specially when it appeals to my geeky self. I found this book really enjoyable because it's a very light read.The concepts shown aren't exactly tips or actual strategies for improving every interaction although that's what his other book is for, so I'm not complaining.This book is more of a starting point for someone trying to become a more social person, it's designed to encourage the reader to go out there and talk to people, as shown by the tons of missions and quests that the book provides.In a nutshell, it's a great book for anyone wanting to become more social that doesn't know where to start, but for the more "advanced player" of the social environment it might feel a little empty, unlike Daniel's other book.

If you are a gamer and you need to improve your social skills, this is THE book to do that. I'm only one level in (although I skimmed through the entire book) and I love it already

3.5 starsI'm not quite on the Aspergers spectrum but I've been feeling a little out of touch lately as a recent college grad in a new city.This book isn't bad, and the analogies to various games are fun. Unfortunately unless you've played the part of every game the author refers to the metaphors aren't very useful. Some of the analogies to games are only partially descriptive of social activity as well, but that's probably to be expected. For instance, saying making conversation is like pong isn't a bad starting analogy, but it breaks down quickly. "Are you enjoying the conversation?" Is an important question to ask, are you playing pong just because? I think the presentation would have been more effective if earlier in the book he talked about how friendships and conversations are meant to be enjoyed and shouldn't been seen as an obligation, a competition, or some points you need to score.The program does provide a simple step-by-step (more like quest by quest) plan to developing social skills from effectively no skills to making friendships. More could be written, but for the $5 ebook price this wasn't bad. I wouldn't pay any more than that though.Not sure if I'll return it. Again, the analogies were fun but I personally didn't feel like I learned anything new. For most though this is much better than most of the online materials out there. Probably not as helpful as a good therapist.

This book was very helpful and taught me in a way I can understand...thought video games I highly recommend it.

To be honest, I got this book for my students interested in video games, and I myself have little knowledge of video games. However, I enjoyed the over all flow of the book. I like the way it starts out simple (i.e. the first quest in which you only have to open the book each day for a week) and then gradually adds difficulty, ultimately building and shaping the reader into meeting their goals/quests. I also had a little giggle at quest 1.5 :) It gives a piece of advice that most of us should follow.

Excellent content.

As an upfront disclaimer, I was given a copy of this book for review by the author. I am a mental health professional who works with gamers and social skills. In principle, there's nothing new in this book. It is not a technically-heavy book for mental health professionals. This is written for our clients. The theme this book uses (video games) to present the material is easier for my clients to digest and internalize than many of the other techniques and books I have read and used. The additional fact that the author was so honest about his own perspective and struggles helped my clients to identify with him and cling to his words better than most other books I use. This has become one of my go-to books for helping clients to set social skill goals. I recommend it to colleagues, as well.

One of the three books I got from the author to teach a friend's child with Aspergers better social skills. It also helped me to understand her struggles with socialization

Thank you Daniel Wendler!This is just what I was looking for.Clever little book. I use it with the Life RPG app to level up my life.Little game-type missions to help you progress through social-development.I have Asperger's and this really helps focus me and provide rewards and goals and a sense of progress towards becoming better at socialising.

Easy-to-follow "quests" make it easy for anyone to pick this up and start applying it's lessons. It's the perfect tool for anyone who wants to jumpstart their social life, all while having fun - just like a "game".

Interesting idea, and very fun.