I was a fan of David Mamet before, and now I am an even bigger fan.

Although this book requires a few pages to draw you in, once you are engaged, you are truly hooked. David Mamet doesn't simply offer his thoughts on the theater; he delves into the very essence of drama.

Why do we have drama? What is its purpose? What is the purpose of art?

And he provides rather good answers to all these questions, although in doing so, he inevitably raises a few more.

This book is not intended for those seeking to learn how to write like Mamet or to gain any in-depth understanding of his plays or movies. Instead, it is for those who desire to pose the more profound questions - what is drama? What is art? Why do we have these things?

It challenges the reader to think deeply about the fundamental nature of these creative forms and their significance in our lives.

After a while, the new is no longer new, and we require drama. It's how we perceive the world.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author, filmmaker, and playwright David Mamet holds a highly esteemed position in the worlds of both cinema and theater. His work as a screenwriter includes notable titles like Glengarry Glen Ross, House of Games, Wag the Dog, and The Spanish Prisoner, which have won the profound respect of audiences and flattering praises from critics. In his little book Three Uses of a Knife, the American writer presents his own theories about the dramatic art, its function, and purpose. He doesn't miss the opportunity to severely criticize today's level of entertainment provided by the mass media, especially attacking television, which he views as the facilitator of the widespread intellectual hibernation dominating the younger generations. Mamet's musings and arguments are presented in a direct, almost brusque, manner. He manages to encapsulate his thoughts on the nature of drama in a booklet of under 100 pages, expressing himself in a highly succinct and concise way. He adopts a threefold division of his content. In each of the three parts - "The Wind-Chill Factor", "Second-act Problems", and "3 Uses of the Knife" - the author focuses on specific aspects of the dramatic phenomenon. These all come together in the third and final chapter, where the reader has the whole picture in front of them and can safely claim to have thoroughly understood Mamet's line of thinking.

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4.5 stars.

Mamet truly fascinates me. His profound understanding of drama's role in people's lives and his unique perspective on its purpose are simply captivating. There is an abundance of valuable insights regarding the dramatic form and structure. Mamet presents his views on what constitutes a good or bad drama, which is both thought-provoking and enlightening. His writing style, along with his personality, has a stimulating effect on the brain. By the time you finish reading this book, you will find that you have gained something new and valuable that you didn't possess before.

It should be noted that the structure of the book might not align with your initial expectations. Instead of being a comprehensive and structured piece of writing that covers drama from A to Z, it is a collection of disparate essays. These essays are more of a stream of consciousness, which was not what I had hoped for when I picked up this book. However, despite this, the content within still manages to engage and inspire.

Mamet does not mince words in this phenomenally concise handbook to understand the theatre and art in general.

His writing style is direct and to the point, which makes it easy for readers to grasp his ideas.

However, I could have done without some of the political sections.

While they may have been relevant to the overall theme, they seemed a bit out of place in a book about theatre and art.

That being said, it could easily be argued that they were essential to the point Mamet was trying to make.

Perhaps he was using political examples to illustrate the broader concepts of power, control, and manipulation that are inherent in both theatre and art.

Overall, this handbook is a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding the inner workings of the theatre and art world.

It may not be perfect, but it does offer some unique insights and perspectives that are well worth considering.