When it comes to the game, I do think that there are certain parts of it that may well be exaggerated to provide a dramatic flair to the story. Especially those instances involving Paris Hilton. However, the principles of the game are certainly sound, being that I have field tested them.
However, the rules are something that must exist only in your head. By and large you can skip many of these rules. I also find that it is much easier to sarge in English speaking European countries like Germany rather than India. The game in India needs a fair bit of tweaking given the social conditioning that exists here.
In field, I have never used DHVs, negging and yet it has worked. Exceedingly well at times. So much so that it made me give up on video games even. I barely game indoors these days.
Do keep in mind that The Game is merely one man's perspective of how a series of events unfolded. And for a good story there must be exist a strong protagonist and an antagonist.
Neverthless, I have had stranger things happen to me.
Conversely, I find that the truth is a more honest account. That's my two cents on the subject.
Brasas: For the record, it's only intelectual curiosity on my part on how much of the narrative in Strauss' books is fictionalized. Which even if it was the case to a large extent would neither increase nor decrease the literary or communication merit of the books. So don't feel obligated to evaluate such topic if you consider it inappropriate due to limited knowledge.
I think I bounced off Kafka - of which I only read Metamorphosis. It was too absurd I think, and I didn't see any of the dark humor / satire that some critics see in its grotesqueness. The thematic depth is obvious, though I'm really not sure what its intent actually is.
Thanks