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Action Park: Fast Times, Wild Rides, and the Untold Story of America's Most Dangerous Amusement Park"Citizen Kane does Adventureland." The Washington Post The outlandish, hilarious, terrifying, and almost impossible to believe story of the legendary, dangerous amusement park where millions were entertained and almost as many bruises were sustained, told through the eyes of the founder's son. Often called "Accident Park," "Class Action Park," or "Traction Park," Action Park was an American icon. Entertaining more than a million people a year in the
"Citizen Kane does Adventureland." --The Washington PostThe outlandish, hilarious, terrifying, and almost impossible-to-believe story of the legendary, dangerous amusement park where millions were entertained and almost as many bruises were sustained, told through the eyes of the founder's son. Often called "Accident Park," "Class Action Park," or "Traction Park," Action Park was an American icon. Entertaining more than a million people a year in the 1980s, the New Jersey-based amusement playland placed no limits on danger or fun, a monument to the anything-goes spirit of the era that left guests in control of their own adventures--sometimes with tragic results. Though it closed its doors in 1996 after nearly twenty years, it has remained a subject of constant fascination ever since, an establishment completely anathema to our modern culture of rules and safety. Action Park is the first-ever unvarnished look at the history of this DIY Disneyland, as seen through the eyes of Andy Mulvihill, the son of the park's idiosyncratic founder, Gene Mulvihill. From his early days testing precarious rides to working his way up to chief lifeguard of the infamous Wave Pool to later helping run the whole park, Andy's story is equal parts hilarious and moving, chronicling the life and death of a uniquely American attraction, a wet and wild 1980s adolescence, and a son's struggle to understand his father's quixotic quest to become the Walt Disney of New Jersey. Packing in all of the excitement of a day at Action Park, this is destined to be one of the most unforgettable memoirs of the year.
Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin Group
Published: 06/30/2020
ISBN: 9780143134510
Pages: 352
Weight: 0.50lbs
Size: 8.00h x 5.20w x 0.80d
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4.3 ★★★★★
Based on 15 reviews
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Product Reviews
★★★★★ 5
Masterful, Hilarious, and Insightful
Format: Hardcover
The writing style reminded me at times of Michael Lewis ("The Big Short", "The New New Thing") in the way Jason Schreier captures the madness of gaming executives trying to succeed despite their bosses.
The way the book describes various antics often had me chuckling or even laughing out loud:
"As Pardo's responsibilities grew and his time became stretched between projects, he became known for what many of his subordinates called seagull management: He would swoop down, poop on ideas, and then fly away."
It's full of insight about what makes a good game, or even a good remake of a game:
"One tenet, adapted from legendary Civilization designer Sid Meier, was that one-third of the units should return from the old game, one-third should be modified versions, and one-third should be brand-new."
This book is masterful. I found it impossible to put down: one of the very best books I've ever read about a games company, or any company for that matter.
If you are in the games industry, you like reading about crazy businesses or you just like games, get it.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2026
★★★★★ 4
"Inside Blizzard: The Creativity, Crunch, and Corporate Clash in Play Nice”
Format: Hardcover
Positive:
"Play Nice" by Jason Schreier is a fun, eye-opening dive into the highs and lows of Blizzard Entertainment. Schreier does a fantastic job unpacking the tension between Blizzard's creative magic and the corporate pressures that started to shift the company’s culture, especially after its merger with Activision. It's filled with juicy insider stories that give you a sense of what it’s really like to work at a powerhouse game studio. For any gamer or industry enthusiast, it’s a fascinating look behind the curtain that also feels relatable for anyone who's had their passion collide with corporate demands.
Negative:
On the downside, the book sometimes gets a bit repetitive. Schreier really drills in on the company's struggles with work-life balance and workplace culture, which are important but can feel like they’re hitting the same notes over and over. And while the insider jargon adds authenticity, it can be a little hard to keep up if you’re not already familiar with game dev lingo. But honestly, these are minor gripes in what’s otherwise a great read about the complex, often messy reality of making games.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2024
★★★★★ 5
From Pixels to Problems! Great read!
Format: Hardcover
“Play Nice” offers an enjoyable deep dive into the tumultuous history of Blizzard Entertainment, chronicling its journey from a ragtag group of brilliant college students to its evolution under corporate ownership and its current state. Schreier provides fascinating insights into the antics of Blizzard’s early employees, showcasing their outlandish attitudes, relentless work ethic, and tight-knit camaraderie.
The book explores how Blizzard transitioned from a company renowned for producing high-quality, polished games that left competitors in the dust to one struggling to preserve its heart and soul amid mounting corporate pressures. While the corporate side and C-suite executives are often cast in a negative light, Schreier thoughtfully examines the motivations behind their decisions, offering perspectives from all levels of the company—from executives and middle management to QA testers. This balanced approach provides a refreshing take, avoiding oversimplified blame and instead considering multiple sides of the story.
And while it’s easy to villainize the suits in the boardroom, Schreier does a great job showing why some decisions were made. From executives to QA testers, he pulls back the curtain to reveal a mess of perspectives, reminding us that every bad decision has some kind of reason behind it (even if it’s still a bad decision).
The book also revisits the scandals that put some serious smudges on Blizzard’s reputation, offering new angles and fresh commentary. As someone who once lived for Blizzard games—cheering at Overwatch League matches and losing entire weekends to Diablo marathons—I can’t help but root for Blizzard to find its way back to glory. And hey, if it means waiting another decade for their next masterpiece, so be it. It’s done when it’s done.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2025
★★★★★ 5
Reads like your favorite succession episodes
Format: Hardcover
Great book—thoroughly researched and delightfully written! Highly recommend to all my gamers and friends from that era.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2025
★★★★★ 4
Great insight into an otherwise obscure world
Format: Hardcover
As someone who grew up playing blizzard's games for an unfathomable amount of hours I've always been interested into their inner workings, especially considering their downfall in recent years. This book holds a ton of information and knowledge, is well sourced, and is the work of someone with obvious deep familiarity with the industry and its particularities.
Besides the information itself, the book it written in fun and interesting prose, and it keeps the rhythm fast and entertaining, so it reads more like a novel than a journalistic article.
Overall, an entertaining piece of insight into a world that is normally quite unknown, even to long time gamers like myself.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2026