What do you think?
Rate this book
Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul
Read Stuart Brown's posts on the Penguin Blog.
From a leading expert, a groundbreaking book on the science of play, and its essential role in fueling our intelligence and happiness throughout our lives.
We’ve all seen the happiness in the face of a child while playing in the school yard. Or the blissful abandon of a golden retriever racing with glee across a lawn. This is the joy of play. By definition, play is purposeless and all-consuming. And, most important, it’s fun.
As we become adults, taking time to play feels like a guilty pleasure—a distraction from “real” work and life. But as Dr. Stuart Brown illustrates, play is anything but trivial. It is a biological drive as integral to our health as sleep or nutrition. In fact, our ability to play throughout life is the single most important factor in determining our success and happiness.
Dr. Brown has spent his career studying animal behavior and conducting more than six thousand “play histories” of humans from all walks of life—from serial murderers to Nobel Prize winners. Backed by the latest research, Play explains why play is essential to our social skills, adaptability, intelligence, creativity, ability to problem solve, and more. Play is hardwired into our brains—it is the mechanism by which we become resilient, smart, and adaptable people.
Beyond play’s role in our personal fulfillment, its benefits have profound implications for child development and the way we parent, education and social policy, business innovation, productivity, and even the future of our society. From new research suggesting the direct role of three-dimensional-object play in shaping our brains to animal studies showing the startling effects of the lack of play, Brown provides a sweeping look at the latest breakthroughs in our understanding of the importance of this behavior. A fascinating blend of cutting-edge neuroscience, biology, psychology, social science, and inspiring human stories of the transformative power of play, this book proves why play just might be the most important work we can ever do.
From a leading expert, a groundbreaking book on the science of play, and its essential role in fueling our intelligence and happiness throughout our lives.
We’ve all seen the happiness in the face of a child while playing in the school yard. Or the blissful abandon of a golden retriever racing with glee across a lawn. This is the joy of play. By definition, play is purposeless and all-consuming. And, most important, it’s fun.
As we become adults, taking time to play feels like a guilty pleasure—a distraction from “real” work and life. But as Dr. Stuart Brown illustrates, play is anything but trivial. It is a biological drive as integral to our health as sleep or nutrition. In fact, our ability to play throughout life is the single most important factor in determining our success and happiness.
Dr. Brown has spent his career studying animal behavior and conducting more than six thousand “play histories” of humans from all walks of life—from serial murderers to Nobel Prize winners. Backed by the latest research, Play explains why play is essential to our social skills, adaptability, intelligence, creativity, ability to problem solve, and more. Play is hardwired into our brains—it is the mechanism by which we become resilient, smart, and adaptable people.
Beyond play’s role in our personal fulfillment, its benefits have profound implications for child development and the way we parent, education and social policy, business innovation, productivity, and even the future of our society. From new research suggesting the direct role of three-dimensional-object play in shaping our brains to animal studies showing the startling effects of the lack of play, Brown provides a sweeping look at the latest breakthroughs in our understanding of the importance of this behavior. A fascinating blend of cutting-edge neuroscience, biology, psychology, social science, and inspiring human stories of the transformative power of play, this book proves why play just might be the most important work we can ever do.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published March 5, 2009
772 people are currently reading
12.7k people want to read
About the author
Stuart M. Brown Jr.
28 books38 followersStuart Brown, M.D. is a medical doctor, psychiatrist, clinical researcher, and the founder of the National Institute for Play. He speaks regularly to Fortune 500 companies and groups across the country on the significance of play in our lives. The producer of a three-part PBS series, The Promise of Play, he has also appeared on NPR and was featured in a front-page story in The New York Times Magazine. He lives in Carmel Valley, California.
Dr. Stuart Brown is a medical professional trained in general and internal medicine, psychiatry, and clinical research. His studies on the importance of play began with research on homicidal young males and felony drunk drivers, where he found a common lack of play during childhood. Throughout his career, he held various positions at prestigious institutions, including Baylor College of Medicine, Harvard's McLean Hospital, Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, and UCSD School of Medicine.
Dr. Brown documented thousands of personal play profiles, demonstrating the negative consequences of a play-deprived life and the presence of ongoing play in successful individuals. In 1989, he left clinical medicine to study animal play, collaborating with the National Geographic Society and Jane Goodall. This research led him to understand the importance of play for human well-being and survival.
Dr. Brown founded the National Institute for Play to promote play's integral role in human development. He has written, lectured, and produced documentaries on the topic, and authored the book Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul.
Dr. Stuart Brown is a medical professional trained in general and internal medicine, psychiatry, and clinical research. His studies on the importance of play began with research on homicidal young males and felony drunk drivers, where he found a common lack of play during childhood. Throughout his career, he held various positions at prestigious institutions, including Baylor College of Medicine, Harvard's McLean Hospital, Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, and UCSD School of Medicine.
Dr. Brown documented thousands of personal play profiles, demonstrating the negative consequences of a play-deprived life and the presence of ongoing play in successful individuals. In 1989, he left clinical medicine to study animal play, collaborating with the National Geographic Society and Jane Goodall. This research led him to understand the importance of play for human well-being and survival.
Dr. Brown founded the National Institute for Play to promote play's integral role in human development. He has written, lectured, and produced documentaries on the topic, and authored the book Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 471 reviews
December 26, 2013
The brief synopsis:
(1) Everything good about being human comes from play.
(2) If you stop playing you will hate your life, get divorced and probably become a serial killer.
O rly?
The book is an exhaustive list of claims. They are unsubstantiated. No footnotes, no journal citations. Just a whole bunch of I've been studying play for decades and I am certain it will make you enjoy your job, fornicate with your spouse more often and be more creative.
The language is laced with enough technicality to give the appearance of rigorous scientific work, but that only manages to make it less enjoyable to read without providing any support for his claims. Frankly, I want to agree with him on most things (there's something intuitive about being more playful as a mechanism to bring joy and exploration back into ones life), but if you're going to bill play as the primary quality driving human evolution, a bit of data would be lovely. One stray mention of an EEG scan, one of an fMRI study. Other than that, nothing. No reams of data on the statistical correlations of playfulness and happiness. No references to neuroscience labs measuring dopamine release during play activities. I wanted to see something to make me believe this is more than a pile of observations from a guy who really likes watching doggies and babies have fun.
(1) Everything good about being human comes from play.
(2) If you stop playing you will hate your life, get divorced and probably become a serial killer.
O rly?
The book is an exhaustive list of claims. They are unsubstantiated. No footnotes, no journal citations. Just a whole bunch of I've been studying play for decades and I am certain it will make you enjoy your job, fornicate with your spouse more often and be more creative.
The language is laced with enough technicality to give the appearance of rigorous scientific work, but that only manages to make it less enjoyable to read without providing any support for his claims. Frankly, I want to agree with him on most things (there's something intuitive about being more playful as a mechanism to bring joy and exploration back into ones life), but if you're going to bill play as the primary quality driving human evolution, a bit of data would be lovely. One stray mention of an EEG scan, one of an fMRI study. Other than that, nothing. No reams of data on the statistical correlations of playfulness and happiness. No references to neuroscience labs measuring dopamine release during play activities. I wanted to see something to make me believe this is more than a pile of observations from a guy who really likes watching doggies and babies have fun.
August 5, 2009
There were days at the middle school where I teach when I just wanted to fold paper with my students to see them interact with me and each other. These are inner-city toughies who really don't respond to much that passes for standard curriculum. They are angry and antsy and difficult and disrespectful. To watch them transform scraps of paper into sublime objects of beauty. To watch them as they reached outside their usual way of thinking to do something very different.
Most days, I just wanted to play. But how to justify this? I am expected to help kids read and write and do well on standardized tests. The kids very often hate me for my troubles. I don't blame them. The dank workbooks of generations gone by are of no relevance to them. Or me.
At the end of the school year, I taught my kids origami as a break from the norm. They relaxed and loved it and were delighted with themselves that they could turn scrap paper into beautiful things. They helped each other by explaining--by taking the story--the instructions--and putting it in their own words to help a peer. And they were playing.
This experience brought me to Brown's book. He talks about the importance of play in problem solving, social interaction, and, to use a broad brush, surviving this world in a healthy way.
Letting go and relaxing through play free the mind to reach beyond itself and thus find answers. Serendipity.
Brown's book is full of examples of serendipity in action in the science lab, the corporate conference room, the home sweet home. Play unlocks the mind, lets it sample possibilities, lets it seek and find a new level of possibilities. Play makes dreams come true.
Brown makes the statement that we start dying when we stop playing. He's right. His book makes the truth of the statement abundantly clear.
Most days, I just wanted to play. But how to justify this? I am expected to help kids read and write and do well on standardized tests. The kids very often hate me for my troubles. I don't blame them. The dank workbooks of generations gone by are of no relevance to them. Or me.
At the end of the school year, I taught my kids origami as a break from the norm. They relaxed and loved it and were delighted with themselves that they could turn scrap paper into beautiful things. They helped each other by explaining--by taking the story--the instructions--and putting it in their own words to help a peer. And they were playing.
This experience brought me to Brown's book. He talks about the importance of play in problem solving, social interaction, and, to use a broad brush, surviving this world in a healthy way.
Letting go and relaxing through play free the mind to reach beyond itself and thus find answers. Serendipity.
Brown's book is full of examples of serendipity in action in the science lab, the corporate conference room, the home sweet home. Play unlocks the mind, lets it sample possibilities, lets it seek and find a new level of possibilities. Play makes dreams come true.
Brown makes the statement that we start dying when we stop playing. He's right. His book makes the truth of the statement abundantly clear.
January 25, 2010
This book was recommended to me by a friend who just had a baby boy last year. He told me that it was great for new parents because it teaches how play is so important to young children. However, the book was also engaging to him because it talks about how play is so important for adults as well.
He was right on the money.
This book won't win any awards for writing style, but the ideas present you with a fresh look at the everyday world. The author boils it down pretty simply: make sure to do the things you truly love as often as you can. This may seem obvious, but often as we get older we get so tied up with the little things and with our work that we tend to forget to play. Very importantly, he does not write in a completely anecdotal way. He backs up a number of his claims with recent studies that show how play and joy affect our physical and mental states. In other words, this guy isn't just being uber-nostalgic.
His definition of play is very subjective, but he does outline a few important points for everyone to follow. Make sure you do something that made you happy when you were younger. Make sure it takes you "outside of time." In other words, get lost in it. Also, try to move around. Play can be as simple as reading a book, but true play involves really getting your mind and body to flow together.
There were parts of the book that I found a little sappy, but overall I think this book is a welcome reminder to do the simple things that make you happy.
And a thanks to Andy for recommending this.
He was right on the money.
This book won't win any awards for writing style, but the ideas present you with a fresh look at the everyday world. The author boils it down pretty simply: make sure to do the things you truly love as often as you can. This may seem obvious, but often as we get older we get so tied up with the little things and with our work that we tend to forget to play. Very importantly, he does not write in a completely anecdotal way. He backs up a number of his claims with recent studies that show how play and joy affect our physical and mental states. In other words, this guy isn't just being uber-nostalgic.
His definition of play is very subjective, but he does outline a few important points for everyone to follow. Make sure you do something that made you happy when you were younger. Make sure it takes you "outside of time." In other words, get lost in it. Also, try to move around. Play can be as simple as reading a book, but true play involves really getting your mind and body to flow together.
There were parts of the book that I found a little sappy, but overall I think this book is a welcome reminder to do the simple things that make you happy.
And a thanks to Andy for recommending this.
January 1, 2010
'Play' starts out strong, connecting animal play to that of humans and our inherited need for play. '...[T:]here is a strong positive link,' he tells us, 'between brain size and playfulness for mammals in general.' Brown quotes Robert Fagen, preeminent animal behaviorist, to get at the cause for that need: 'Play allows "pretend" rehearsal for the challenges and ambiguities of life, a rehearsal when life and death are not at stake.' And Brown's book is full of such insightful quotes, as well as his own pithy remarks. I've added his 'When we stop playing, we start dying' to my favorite quotes on Goodreads. But it turns into an easy read that starts getting a little too easy. Already pretty 'lite' with just a bit over 200 pages, it still seems bloated, with lots of fluffy filler, and smacks a little of a self-help manual. 'Play' did make me feel good about getting play into my work life, and work into my play life a la James Michener: 'The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which.'
November 7, 2009
If I could give half star reviews , this would've gotten 3 1/2 stars instead of four. I enjoyed the concepts being discussed, and agree with the overall premise - that play is an essential and underappreciated part of life.
It just would've been nice to have more specifics about the studies he mentions, or at the very least, some footnotes so I could have a look at them in more detail.
It just would've been nice to have more specifics about the studies he mentions, or at the very least, some footnotes so I could have a look at them in more detail.
May 20, 2014
Confucius says: All work and no play results in cranky jerks. Okay, this isn’t true but we can all attest to the importance of ‘fun’. Playtime (and this includes hobbies, arts, etc) is hardwired in our brains and helps us improve life and build strong relationships. No one knows this better than Stuart Brown, MD who explores this field in, “Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul”.
The first pages of “Play” suitably have some glue to attract the reader but sadly, this dissipates quickly. “Play” begins by exploring the properties of play as it is not something which can simply be defined by a Webster’s definition. Brown goes on to explain how crucial play is for survival, growth, and relationships. However, the lesson is then over.
Brown’s execution is weak and there is an absence of a true thesis; as he is virtually only telling the reader that play is important (no more and no less). Like a poorly-written research paper, Brown has no thorough arguments, no notations, and dummies down the information. As a fan of neuroscience and pop-psych books, I generally am blown away by information on the pages of such books but “Play” doesn’t teach much. Yes, there are some interesting facts but these are spread out and are instead blanketed with filler and repetitious data.
Extending on this, “Play” reads like an abstract article with a bare bone skeleton begging for some meat. Just as Brown grazes an interesting topic, he leaves it or mentions an experiment but without being detailed or explaining its impact on the topic or on his hypothesis. Again, the reader doesn’t gain much on the subject other than what he/she does within the first few pages.
“Play” also lacks a cohesive consistency. Brown’s writing is scattered and contains several instances of opinionated, non-scientific speculations. This wouldn’t necessarily be an issue if he argued his viewpoints or even thoroughly explained them; but Brown does not. “Play” is simply very empty in many ways.
Brown’s work does not improve as the pages turn, with the text focusing on personal case studies and “I think” and I feel” phrases pepper the pages. “Play” has no scientific foundation and continues to read like the transcript of a motivational speech targeting parents versus anything of substance. It is a stretch to even call “Play” a pop-psych book. The only highlight of “Play” is the chapter devoted to how playtime affects love, romance, and relationships. Sadly, this borderline ‘strong’ chapter is abrupt and cuts off too quickly.
Brown concludes his work with a how-to tip guide exploring how play can be incorporated back into everyday life. This is basically a summary of what was already noted throughout “Play and therefore the ending is not memorable.
Too add to the already-mentioned lack of scientific merit, Brown fails to include any notes, sources, or bibliography. Meanwhile, the text is sprinkled with black and white photos which are very generic and do not supplement the text (and are therefore, meaningless).
“Play” is a prime example of a passionate author failing to write an argumentative and provoking piece. “Play” is not compelling and doesn’t leave the reader with any insight gained. It is a fast read so at least it is over quickly. Unfortunately, I do not recommend “Play” as it is a let-down.
The first pages of “Play” suitably have some glue to attract the reader but sadly, this dissipates quickly. “Play” begins by exploring the properties of play as it is not something which can simply be defined by a Webster’s definition. Brown goes on to explain how crucial play is for survival, growth, and relationships. However, the lesson is then over.
Brown’s execution is weak and there is an absence of a true thesis; as he is virtually only telling the reader that play is important (no more and no less). Like a poorly-written research paper, Brown has no thorough arguments, no notations, and dummies down the information. As a fan of neuroscience and pop-psych books, I generally am blown away by information on the pages of such books but “Play” doesn’t teach much. Yes, there are some interesting facts but these are spread out and are instead blanketed with filler and repetitious data.
Extending on this, “Play” reads like an abstract article with a bare bone skeleton begging for some meat. Just as Brown grazes an interesting topic, he leaves it or mentions an experiment but without being detailed or explaining its impact on the topic or on his hypothesis. Again, the reader doesn’t gain much on the subject other than what he/she does within the first few pages.
“Play” also lacks a cohesive consistency. Brown’s writing is scattered and contains several instances of opinionated, non-scientific speculations. This wouldn’t necessarily be an issue if he argued his viewpoints or even thoroughly explained them; but Brown does not. “Play” is simply very empty in many ways.
Brown’s work does not improve as the pages turn, with the text focusing on personal case studies and “I think” and I feel” phrases pepper the pages. “Play” has no scientific foundation and continues to read like the transcript of a motivational speech targeting parents versus anything of substance. It is a stretch to even call “Play” a pop-psych book. The only highlight of “Play” is the chapter devoted to how playtime affects love, romance, and relationships. Sadly, this borderline ‘strong’ chapter is abrupt and cuts off too quickly.
Brown concludes his work with a how-to tip guide exploring how play can be incorporated back into everyday life. This is basically a summary of what was already noted throughout “Play and therefore the ending is not memorable.
Too add to the already-mentioned lack of scientific merit, Brown fails to include any notes, sources, or bibliography. Meanwhile, the text is sprinkled with black and white photos which are very generic and do not supplement the text (and are therefore, meaningless).
“Play” is a prime example of a passionate author failing to write an argumentative and provoking piece. “Play” is not compelling and doesn’t leave the reader with any insight gained. It is a fast read so at least it is over quickly. Unfortunately, I do not recommend “Play” as it is a let-down.
Read
February 2, 2022A fun and interesting read with good practical advice for implementing healthy play. Like much writing about psychology, there are many points stated in absolute terms that are slightly reductive at times. The anecdotes seem to focus heavily on white middle class americans and corporate america in particular. I would be very interested to see how this book is updated over time. For instance, the research on the impact of exercise on depression glosses over the fact that it's not viable for many severely depressed patients and the high attrition rate is mentioned only parenthetical, but it's limitations have been pointed out by subsequent studies that aren't discussed. Citations would help, but likely challenge some of the solidity of the claims the book makes. It does do a nice job of covering what play isn't. I think it is more of a life philosophy than a review of research.
September 14, 2023
10/10 recommend. So good and such a good reminder that all people should have things they enjoy doing (play) in all stages of life.
August 23, 2017
Добротная научно-популярная книга. Насколько смог увлекательно автор рассказал об увлекательном :)) . Феномен игры охвачен, так сказать, и в ширину (от этологии и зоопсихологии до применения игротехник для развития бизнеса), и в глубину (игра в онто- и в филогенезе).
Автор много лет изучает игру и работает как игро-практик в бизнесе и как психолог-игротерапевт. Своими достижениями он считает то, что нашёл нейрофизиологические параллели между состоянием игры и состоянием сна (в обеих состояниях происходит конструктивная переработка разрозненных и негативных стимулов, и реинтеграция сознания). Также он в своих исследованиях доказал, что причиной жестокости и противоправных поступков у преступников также можно считать "игровую депривацию" в детстве. Первое (про сон) по моему мнению любопытно; а вот про решающую роль игры в социализации - тоже мне открытие :)) - Д.Б.Эльконин ещё в 1970-е писал.
В книге есть моменты, которые мне понравились, например про 8 типов "игровых личностей". Но есть и много спорных моментов. Например, автор вводит своё определение игры через семь ключевых свойств игры (которые отличают её от не-игры): очевидная бесцельность (ею занимаются ради нее самой); добровольность; неотъемлемая привлекательность; свобода от времени; ослабление самосознания; потенциал для импровизации; желание продолжать. Когда какие-нибудь гопники обижают самого слабого в классе ребенка, то это нельзя назвать игрой (хотя со стороны может быть на неё похоже), потому что вряд ли тот, кого обижают, участвует в этом добровольно и вряд ли у него есть желание продолжать.
Но с другой стороны критерии "добровольность" и "ослабление самосознания" противоречат друг другу. Антропологи знают про феномен ритуальных игр, которые предполагают трансовое/гипнотическое состояние участников. Если говорить об "игре" как она понимается в транзактном анализе (о котором автор книги почему-то не упоминает), то так игра носит компульсивный характер. Т.е. в этих двух случаях игра как бы добровольна (никто никого не заставляет в ней участвовать), но "добровольность" эта очень сомнительна (в силу сниженного уровня сознания, автоматизированных схем поведения и т.п.).
Вообще, мне кажется, что автор рассматривает игру в рамках какой-то очень примитивной биологически-поведенческой парадигмы :(. А как же общество?! Характер социальных отношений в основе своей игровой (читаем теорию ролей, Ирвинга Гофмана, к примеру)). И очень даже может быть, что игровые структуры уже давно впечатаны в Матрицу, и мы их просто повторяем в процессе социализации (а пафос автора про связи игры со свободой воли, творчеством и т.п. слишком преувеличен?).
Мне вот лично нравится рассматривать игру в парадигме виртуалистики - как особую деятельность в особых ситуациях, создающую наделенную особыми свойствами реальность. Часть этих свойств пересекается с теми свойствами игры, о которых пишет автор, но это не всё! ;) Короче, тема игры автором недораскрыта (с моей точки зрения)...
Из полезняшек - в конце книги автор всё-таки даёт 7 рекомендаций о том, как вернуть игру в свою жизнь взрослому человеку. Вот они вкратце:
1. Осознайте (вспомните) своя игровую историю? Какая вы игровая личность?
2. Откройтесь игре (каждый день находите поводы/способы поиграть, хотя бы немного)
3. Культивируйте "сознание новичка" - пробуйте что-нибудь новое в игре, делайте несерьёзные попытки что-то освоить, изменить.
4. Игра - это то, что приносит удовольствие. Но подготовка к игре, и некоторые промежуточные этапы в игровой деятельности могут быть не очень приятными. Важно не сдаваться и сохранять целостное видение ситуации.
5. Истоки любой игры - в физической активности
6. Страх и игра несовместимы. Чтобы начать играть - создайте / найдите / выберите подходящие безопасные условия; создайте доверие; ищите единомышленников.
7. Чтобы игра продолжалась, будьте с теми, кто её поддерживает и содействует игре.
Как видите, эти рекомендации довольно общего плана...
Резюме: книга довольно средненькая (но это для меня, т.к. вопросами игровой психологии и психотерапии, а также игротехниками в бизнесе я интересуюсь уже много лет), но как некий обзорный текст про то "что такое игра вообще" для начинающих вполне сойдёт.
Автор много лет изучает игру и работает как игро-практик в бизнесе и как психолог-игротерапевт. Своими достижениями он считает то, что нашёл нейрофизиологические параллели между состоянием игры и состоянием сна (в обеих состояниях происходит конструктивная переработка разрозненных и негативных стимулов, и реинтеграция сознания). Также он в своих исследованиях доказал, что причиной жестокости и противоправных поступков у преступников также можно считать "игровую депривацию" в детстве. Первое (про сон) по моему мнению любопытно; а вот про решающую роль игры в социализации - тоже мне открытие :)) - Д.Б.Эльконин ещё в 1970-е писал.
В книге есть моменты, которые мне понравились, например про 8 типов "игровых личностей". Но есть и много спорных моментов. Например, автор вводит своё определение игры через семь ключевых свойств игры (которые отличают её от не-игры): очевидная бесцельность (ею занимаются ради нее самой); добровольность; неотъемлемая привлекательность; свобода от времени; ослабление самосознания; потенциал для импровизации; желание продолжать. Когда какие-нибудь гопники обижают самого слабого в классе ребенка, то это нельзя назвать игрой (хотя со стороны может быть на неё похоже), потому что вряд ли тот, кого обижают, участвует в этом добровольно и вряд ли у него есть желание продолжать.
Но с другой стороны критерии "добровольность" и "ослабление самосознания" противоречат друг другу. Антропологи знают про феномен ритуальных игр, которые предполагают трансовое/гипнотическое состояние участников. Если говорить об "игре" как она понимается в транзактном анализе (о котором автор книги почему-то не упоминает), то так игра носит компульсивный характер. Т.е. в этих двух случаях игра как бы добровольна (никто никого не заставляет в ней участвовать), но "добровольность" эта очень сомнительна (в силу сниженного уровня сознания, автоматизированных схем поведения и т.п.).
Вообще, мне кажется, что автор рассматривает игру в рамках какой-то очень примитивной биологически-поведенческой парадигмы :(. А как же общество?! Характер социальных отношений в основе своей игровой (читаем теорию ролей, Ирвинга Гофмана, к примеру)). И очень даже может быть, что игровые структуры уже давно впечатаны в Матрицу, и мы их просто повторяем в процессе социализации (а пафос автора про связи игры со свободой воли, творчеством и т.п. слишком преувеличен?).
Мне вот лично нравится рассматривать игру в парадигме виртуалистики - как особую деятельность в особых ситуациях, создающую наделенную особыми свойствами реальность. Часть этих свойств пересекается с теми свойствами игры, о которых пишет автор, но это не всё! ;) Короче, тема игры автором недораскрыта (с моей точки зрения)...
Из полезняшек - в конце книги автор всё-таки даёт 7 рекомендаций о том, как вернуть игру в свою жизнь взрослому человеку. Вот они вкратце:
1. Осознайте (вспомните) своя игровую историю? Какая вы игровая личность?
2. Откройтесь игре (каждый день находите поводы/способы поиграть, хотя бы немного)
3. Культивируйте "сознание новичка" - пробуйте что-нибудь новое в игре, делайте несерьёзные попытки что-то освоить, изменить.
4. Игра - это то, что приносит удовольствие. Но подготовка к игре, и некоторые промежуточные этапы в игровой деятельности могут быть не очень приятными. Важно не сдаваться и сохранять целостное видение ситуации.
5. Истоки любой игры - в физической активности
6. Страх и игра несовместимы. Чтобы начать играть - создайте / найдите / выберите подходящие безопасные условия; создайте доверие; ищите единомышленников.
7. Чтобы игра продолжалась, будьте с теми, кто её поддерживает и содействует игре.
Как видите, эти рекомендации довольно общего плана...
Резюме: книга довольно средненькая (но это для меня, т.к. вопросами игровой психологии и психотерапии, а также игротехниками в бизнесе я интересуюсь уже много лет), но как некий обзорный текст про то "что такое игра вообще" для начинающих вполне сойдёт.
June 22, 2013
It's ok. Go ahead and play in the mud. This is a very readable book that gleans largely from medical research but also uses lots of stories and anecdotes. I especially like his JPL account that highlights the link between childhood manual play and adult capacity for problem-solving. I would have liked to see some sort of citations or at least a bibliography at the end.
July 9, 2019
I read this for work whilst in the midst of writing a client presentation about toys and... that’s right... play. Didn’t get much out of it. So if I didn’t under those circumstances, who will? Maybe I just already knew the information he was sharing given my line of work in the toy industry, and people outside the profession will find more to learn here.
March 12, 2021
I love my work (writing), but I've become a workaholic. This book has reminded me of the value of playing. I think this will be a life-changer for me. I hope so!
December 23, 2019
Найкращі цитати з книги:
"Игра — это состояние сознания, благодаря которому мы становимся более умными и приспособленными."
"Специалисты по нейрофизиологии, биологии развития, психологии, социальным наукам и другим областям знания сегодня отмечают, что игра — сложный и важный биологический процесс."
Игры для мозга и тренировки памяти (промо)
"Из всех видов животных люди — самые активные игроки. Мы созданы, чтобы играть, и созданы игрой."
"Мы созданы, чтобы реализовать себя и пережить творческий рост посредством игры."
"СВОЙСТВА ИГРЫ:
1) Очевидная бесцельность (ею занимаются ради нее самой)
2) Добровольность
3) Неотъемлемая привлекательность
4) Свобода от времени
5) Ослабление самосознания
6) Потенциал для импровизации
7) Желание продолжать"
"...большинство людей во время игры проходят через шесть стадий. ПРЕДВКУШЕНИЕ — ожидание, желание узнать, что будет, небольшое беспокойство, возможно, из-за некоторой неуверенности или риска. УДИВЛЕНИЕ , неожиданность, открытие, новое ощущение или идея, новая точка зрения. Отсюда идет… УДОВОЛЬСТВИЕ — приятное ощущение, которое мы испытываем, например, когда в заключительной фразе хорошего анекдота дело принимает неожиданный оборот. ПОНИМАНИЕ — приобретение нового знания, синтез конкретных отдельных понятий, овладение идеями, которые до этого казались чуждыми, и из этого рождается… СИЛА — мастерство, сложившееся в результате конструктивного опыта и понимания, а также уверенность. УРАВНОВЕШЕННОСТЬ , изящество, довольство, собранность и баланс в жизни."
"игра — это огромная сила природы. В конечном счете во многом благодаря ей мы существуем как чувствующие и мыслящие создания."
"В мире, который полон неоднозначности и постоянно ставит неожиданные задачи, игра готовит этих медведей к жизни на эволюционирующей планете."
"Игра позволяет устроить имитацию настоящих сложных задач и неоднозначных моментов и отрепетировать их без риска для жизни"
"Игра позволяет животным изучить окружающую среду и правила поведения с друзьями и врагами. Игровое взаимодействие дает возможность отрепетировать нормальную ситуацию в социальных группах, где придется вступать в контакты."
"Животные, которые много играют, быстро учатся ориентироваться в мире и адаптироваться к нему. Короче говоря, они умнее."
"Увидев, почему многие животные, повзрослев, перестают играть, а люди — нет, мы сможем лучше понять роль игры во взрослой жизни."
"Люди — самые большие игроки из всех животных. Мы растянули программу детского развития как минимум до пятнадцати лет."
"Игра — состояние ума, а не занятие."
"Прекратив играть, мы начинаем умирать."
"отсутствие игры в жизни молодых животных может задержать созревание их мозга или помешать ему."
"Способность к обучению усиливается игрой, и многие учителя об этом знают — вот почему в классе ролевую игру или симуляцию часто используют, чтобы обучить трудному или скучному на первый взгляд предмету."
"Игра — не враг обучения, а его партнер."
"игра улучшает сохранение знаний."
"противоположность игры — не работа. Противоположность игры — депрессия."
"Игра — это лучший инструмент природы для создания новых нейронных сетей и разрешения когнитивных трудностей. Способность создавать новые модели, находить необычное в рутинном, загораться любопытством, подмечать детали — всему этому способствует состояние игры."
"Но может ли быть полезной игра на самой работе? Я бы сказал, что она необходима."
"Мать изобретений — игра."
"мозговой штурм почти в два раза повышает производительность рабочих групп."
"игра — самый важный элемент любви."
"Искусство — индикатор эмоционального интеллекта, но еще оно производит эмоциональный интеллект."
"рука и мозг эволюционировали вместе и сильно зависят друг от друга." !
"Когда мы двигаемся, мы живем."
"Игра — это состояние сознания, благодаря которому мы становимся более умными и приспособленными."
"Специалисты по нейрофизиологии, биологии развития, психологии, социальным наукам и другим областям знания сегодня отмечают, что игра — сложный и важный биологический процесс."
Игры для мозга и тренировки памяти (промо)
"Из всех видов животных люди — самые активные игроки. Мы созданы, чтобы играть, и созданы игрой."
"Мы созданы, чтобы реализовать себя и пережить творческий рост посредством игры."
"СВОЙСТВА ИГРЫ:
1) Очевидная бесцельность (ею занимаются ради нее самой)
2) Добровольность
3) Неотъемлемая привлекательность
4) Свобода от времени
5) Ослабление самосознания
6) Потенциал для импровизации
7) Желание продолжать"
"...большинство людей во время игры проходят через шесть стадий. ПРЕДВКУШЕНИЕ — ожидание, желание узнать, что будет, небольшое беспокойство, возможно, из-за некоторой неуверенности или риска. УДИВЛЕНИЕ , неожиданность, открытие, новое ощущение или идея, новая точка зрения. Отсюда идет… УДОВОЛЬСТВИЕ — приятное ощущение, которое мы испытываем, например, когда в заключительной фразе хорошего анекдота дело принимает неожиданный оборот. ПОНИМАНИЕ — приобретение нового знания, синтез конкретных отдельных понятий, овладение идеями, которые до этого казались чуждыми, и из этого рождается… СИЛА — мастерство, сложившееся в результате конструктивного опыта и понимания, а также уверенность. УРАВНОВЕШЕННОСТЬ , изящество, довольство, собранность и баланс в жизни."
"игра — это огромная сила природы. В конечном счете во многом благодаря ей мы существуем как чувствующие и мыслящие создания."
"В мире, который полон неоднозначности и постоянно ставит неожиданные задачи, игра готовит этих медведей к жизни на эволюционирующей планете."
"Игра позволяет устроить имитацию настоящих сложных задач и неоднозначных моментов и отрепетировать их без риска для жизни"
"Игра позволяет животным изучить окружающую среду и правила поведения с друзьями и врагами. Игровое взаимодействие дает возможность отрепетировать нормальную ситуацию в социальных группах, где придется вступать в контакты."
"Животные, которые много играют, быстро учатся ориентироваться в мире и адаптироваться к нему. Короче говоря, они умнее."
"Увидев, почему многие животные, повзрослев, перестают играть, а люди — нет, мы сможем лучше понять роль игры во взрослой жизни."
"Люди — самые большие игроки из всех животных. Мы растянули программу детского развития как минимум до пятнадцати лет."
"Игра — состояние ума, а не занятие."
"Прекратив играть, мы начинаем умирать."
"отсутствие игры в жизни молодых животных может задержать созревание их мозга или помешать ему."
"Способность к обучению усиливается игрой, и многие учителя об этом знают — вот почему в классе ролевую игру или симуляцию часто используют, чтобы обучить трудному или скучному на первый взгляд предмету."
"Игра — не враг обучения, а его партнер."
"игра улучшает сохранение знаний."
"противоположность игры — не работа. Противоположность игры — депрессия."
"Игра — это лучший инструмент природы для создания новых нейронных сетей и разрешения когнитивных трудностей. Способность создавать новые модели, находить необычное в рутинном, загораться любопытством, подмечать детали — всему этому способствует состояние игры."
"Но может ли быть полезной игра на самой работе? Я бы сказал, что она необходима."
"Мать изобретений — игра."
"мозговой штурм почти в два раза повышает производительность рабочих групп."
"игра — самый важный элемент любви."
"Искусство — индикатор эмоционального интеллекта, но еще оно производит эмоциональный интеллект."
"рука и мозг эволюционировали вместе и сильно зависят друг от друга." !
"Когда мы двигаемся, мы живем."
February 12, 2025
i really enjoyed this book, i read it for my developmental psych class on the importance of play. a lot of the concepts in here we discuss in my entrepreneurship classes so i have thought about most of this before, but it was still interesting to read and i wrote down many notes. my only complaints was its repetitiveness and it had a lot of animal references in the beginning that i didn’t resonate with
November 26, 2022
Finished during my 24 hr. readathon during Thanksgiving break.
This book was good, but it had a lot of repetitious sections to give it a proper length. I will definitely be adding some of the things to my life. I feel like it could have also been a really great article than a longer book.
This book was good, but it had a lot of repetitious sections to give it a proper length. I will definitely be adding some of the things to my life. I feel like it could have also been a really great article than a longer book.
June 28, 2024
This should be required reading for all humans, and especially anyone who ever plans to be in charge of other humans in any capacity (manager, parent, teacher, etc.)
June 4, 2018
I was not aware of a National Institute of Play, but it sounds like a good idea. This book came out in 2008 and didn't hit any best-seller lists, but the author is an expert in the power of play and he makes many good points.
From an evolutionary standpoint, there doesn't seem to be any good reason for play to exist. It doesn't make you stronger, bring in food, or help with reproduction, so there seems to be little biological advantage for those species that engage in play while avoiding the survival activities that most of nature is about. But exist it does, not only in humans but in many animals up and down the evolutionary chain.
In the author's research, he has determined that play is a crucial exercise in helping our brains grow, discover, and try out new things. Without it no progress is ever made. "In playing, we create imaginative new cognitive combinations. And in creating those novel combinations, we find out what works."
Genuine play is voluntary, purposeless, free of time constraints, inherently pleasing, and takes us into a feeling of flow with life. It strengthens our relationships with those who are playing with us. It gives us meaning beyond just survival.
A lot of the book seems pretty self-evident, but it's nice to see what an MD and play expert has to say on the topic. The world could certainly use more spirit of play- there would be less animosity and alienation, and we would all be more willing to open ourselves up to change and new possibilities. People who think they're playing are often just competing, and the fun has been drained out of everything they do. The book encourages us to look back into our childhood and find things that give us bliss, with the understanding that it's not realistic to be playing all the time.
The author uses some real-life examples from people he has worked with, as well as some psychological studies to back up his points.
He concludes the book with this. "Play is how we are made, how we develop and adjust to change. In he end the most significant aspect of play is that it allows us to express our joy and connect most deeply with the best in ourselves, and in others. Play transcends both love and work, infuses them with liveliness and still's time's arrow. Play is the purest expression of love."
The book is short at 218 pages, but I still recommend it with 4 out of 5 stars for its unique take on an important topic.
April 23, 2014
I picked this book based on the recommendation in Brene Brown's Gifts of Imperfection, and I was pretty disappointed. The general principles are sound, and some of the anecdotes are inspiring - I especially liked an early story about a dog and polar bear playing together in the arctic.
But overall, the book feels disorganized and half-baked. Stuart Brown's career and credentials are impressive, but it seems like his ghostwriter just piled a series of general interviews together into a book.
There's a lot of sloppy, lazy writing. Grandiose generalizations are ubiquitous, citations are virtually nonexistent, and ideas reappear randomly in different chapters with no reason. Most ludicrous were the top-of-the-head lists of random famous people marshaled to illustrate a vague theory. For example: "Bill Gates left Harvard because he loved computers... Oprah recognized her talents and grew with them. Ozzie Smith, the retired baseball star, as a kid threw balls over the roof and chased them down, imagining himself in the majors. These were emotion-laden choices, not cognitively laid-out ten-year plans."
I was especially frustrated with the chapter "Does Play Have a Dark Side?" which read like a defensive dodge of the question posed. His conclusion is that problematic behaviors like addiction to computer games, aggression, and violence are, by definition, not play. He writes naively, "...when our interactions are based on a foundation of caring, these hurts are corrected and avoided in the future," but correction requires self-regulation skills that not everyone has. If play is partly about testing limits, what happens when appropriate limits are not present or not recognized?
But overall, the book feels disorganized and half-baked. Stuart Brown's career and credentials are impressive, but it seems like his ghostwriter just piled a series of general interviews together into a book.
There's a lot of sloppy, lazy writing. Grandiose generalizations are ubiquitous, citations are virtually nonexistent, and ideas reappear randomly in different chapters with no reason. Most ludicrous were the top-of-the-head lists of random famous people marshaled to illustrate a vague theory. For example: "Bill Gates left Harvard because he loved computers... Oprah recognized her talents and grew with them. Ozzie Smith, the retired baseball star, as a kid threw balls over the roof and chased them down, imagining himself in the majors. These were emotion-laden choices, not cognitively laid-out ten-year plans."
I was especially frustrated with the chapter "Does Play Have a Dark Side?" which read like a defensive dodge of the question posed. His conclusion is that problematic behaviors like addiction to computer games, aggression, and violence are, by definition, not play. He writes naively, "...when our interactions are based on a foundation of caring, these hurts are corrected and avoided in the future," but correction requires self-regulation skills that not everyone has. If play is partly about testing limits, what happens when appropriate limits are not present or not recognized?
September 14, 2015
A joyous read. I think we all need this book. I have always been a playful person, but I am renewing my intentions to make my life more playful.
Last year, I was very depressed. I became very anxious about how to use my time. I was unemployed, with lots of time, which was what I always dreamed I wanted when I was in school. After an inciting event sparked the depression and it stuck around, I began to despair that life was just a choice between working for a weekend that was not all that great or being bored; either way unhappy. This is the thought process of a depressed person, unable to feel the joy of things they once loved. It is still very comforting to be to be re-assured again and again, in as scientific a way as possible, that life can and should be joyful. When you're healthy and have a decent balance between work and play.
I still think 40 hour work-weeks are too long, especially since most work-places make work very difficult to feel playful. That's why the next book I'm reading is: "Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has The Time".
Last year, I was very depressed. I became very anxious about how to use my time. I was unemployed, with lots of time, which was what I always dreamed I wanted when I was in school. After an inciting event sparked the depression and it stuck around, I began to despair that life was just a choice between working for a weekend that was not all that great or being bored; either way unhappy. This is the thought process of a depressed person, unable to feel the joy of things they once loved. It is still very comforting to be to be re-assured again and again, in as scientific a way as possible, that life can and should be joyful. When you're healthy and have a decent balance between work and play.
I still think 40 hour work-weeks are too long, especially since most work-places make work very difficult to feel playful. That's why the next book I'm reading is: "Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has The Time".
April 17, 2014
It wasn't exactly what I was looking for. It it a good example of the psychology and anthropology of play but it only scratches the surface of the development of social interaction, morality and ethics, which is my preferred area of study. The best moment in the book is actually a quote from James Michener.
"The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labour and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him, he’s always doing both."
"The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labour and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him, he’s always doing both."
August 7, 2018
Who would've thought play would be so important in our lives? This book brings to light something I think many of us know on a subconscious level but need to remind ourselves over and over again. After reading this book I believe play is a missing puzzle piece not only in my own life but probably in many of the lives of people I know. Scientific yet still readable, Brown explains why he believes play is the cornerstone to happiness. A few sections were a little dull, but for the most part PLAY is accessible and a much-needed reminder. I'd recommend to anyone for whom life feels dull or monotonous.
May 9, 2015
I can't begin to say how useful I found this book in thinking about how to facilitate growth and development at the personal and organisational levels. It's an exploration of what play is, what it does, and how you can use it to make your life better. I've been using play at work for some time, particularly for solving large complex problems, but this really opened my eyes to some of the psychology behind it.
Recommended for everyone.
Recommended for everyone.
March 19, 2018
Good read. I liked that the author looks at games from a broad perspective. It can be useful to break ice, encourage people to engage through an invitation to play.
July 8, 2021
Wow... This book was absolutely not what I was looking for. I was interested in a book that talked about play and the positive benefits produces in human beings emotionally and physically. Maybe throw in a couple of studies where people introduce play into their lives? Maybe look at historical events where play was noticeable absent and talk about the impact it had on society as a whole, such as economically or politically. Did this book have that? Nope.
This book really should just be called "A rich white man's musings on play". The author mentions that he lives close to the Pebble Beach golf course in California and that he's played there, so he clearly is well off. Then he frequently mentions talking to corporate executives or hanging out with other researchers/professors. When was the last time this author talked to a normal person? All of his anecdotes that he used to inform himself about the "benefits" of play came from observing animals and human children. How about setting up a clinical trial to see if play can benefit people with heart disease? Or what about people who are chronically stressed or experiencing pain? I feel like the initial reaction to this would be, "Duh, of course it would benefit," but where's the data to back up that initial reaction? That kind of data and the stories around that data is the kind of book that I wanted to read. This was not it.
I think my biggest take away from this book came early on when the author was describing how he doesn't like to define play because he feels it's impossible to truly put the feelings into words. According to the author, the only way to truly understand and comprehend play is to experience it, rather than to try to attach some stuffy labels to it. Unfortunately for the author, the whole point of science and books that attempt to be educational is to try to attach labels to things and to try to define them. I hope he's grown as an author and an educator, because I really found the "research" he put into this book to be lacking.
This book really should just be called "A rich white man's musings on play". The author mentions that he lives close to the Pebble Beach golf course in California and that he's played there, so he clearly is well off. Then he frequently mentions talking to corporate executives or hanging out with other researchers/professors. When was the last time this author talked to a normal person? All of his anecdotes that he used to inform himself about the "benefits" of play came from observing animals and human children. How about setting up a clinical trial to see if play can benefit people with heart disease? Or what about people who are chronically stressed or experiencing pain? I feel like the initial reaction to this would be, "Duh, of course it would benefit," but where's the data to back up that initial reaction? That kind of data and the stories around that data is the kind of book that I wanted to read. This was not it.
I think my biggest take away from this book came early on when the author was describing how he doesn't like to define play because he feels it's impossible to truly put the feelings into words. According to the author, the only way to truly understand and comprehend play is to experience it, rather than to try to attach some stuffy labels to it. Unfortunately for the author, the whole point of science and books that attempt to be educational is to try to attach labels to things and to try to define them. I hope he's grown as an author and an educator, because I really found the "research" he put into this book to be lacking.
January 27, 2018
Play is a real treasure of a popular science book. Based on Brown's work as a clinician and deep familiarity with the literature, it moves through the deep important of play to all animals, and especially human beings. Far from being frivolous, play and a playful attitude is associated with learning, with success, and with a longer and healthier life. Imaginative play, exuberant play, and play free from consequence or adult supervision, is what makes us human, and what makes life worth living.
Brown strays into pat self-help in places, and Boomer kid-shaming in others, but this book is everything I wanted to be Exuberance to be.
Brown strays into pat self-help in places, and Boomer kid-shaming in others, but this book is everything I wanted to be Exuberance to be.
April 10, 2024
The second half was better than the first, but still only just about as far as, "Well, that's an interesting thought."
I don't know if I'd ever use this or refer to it again. The concept of the book intrigued me, but the conclusions were a bit stretched, in my opinion. When you write a book on play, everything in life connects to play, and you'll do your best to convince others of the same thing. I was intrigued but unconvinced.
The interesting part was the connections we make during play. Parent/child and child/child play is a great way to learn, grow, and figure out life as you explore boundaries. Anecdotal evidence verifies that play is a good learning experience, but I'm not sure how else to use the info from this book. It was okay. Fine. Would I read it again? No. Will I forget it in the future? Youbetcha.
I don't know if I'd ever use this or refer to it again. The concept of the book intrigued me, but the conclusions were a bit stretched, in my opinion. When you write a book on play, everything in life connects to play, and you'll do your best to convince others of the same thing. I was intrigued but unconvinced.
The interesting part was the connections we make during play. Parent/child and child/child play is a great way to learn, grow, and figure out life as you explore boundaries. Anecdotal evidence verifies that play is a good learning experience, but I'm not sure how else to use the info from this book. It was okay. Fine. Would I read it again? No. Will I forget it in the future? Youbetcha.
November 23, 2023
In a society based on productivity and achievement, this is a much needed book. It’s a bit old but still entirely relevant, maybe even more so as our digital age expands. I did find it interesting that, like many scientists, he often advocates play for the purpose of advancing productivity & creativity, when in reality we should play (and rest!) simply because it’s our divine right and not for the advancement of societal goals.
May 23, 2020
I read this book as part of research into the application of play therapy in treatment of depression in adults. I discovered that creative play is my play personality, so I'm reinvesting in coloring as play. Great book. It has applications for parenting, managing our own depression, and in the treatment of anxiety and depression in others. Highly recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2020
It was really fascinating to read what happens in our brains when we play. I found it especially relevant in how play is essential to creativity, but as any great nonfiction book, it was full of surprising and wonderful connections and stories across many disciplines: parenting, social connection, innovation, business, health. Loved it and will refer to it again.
July 12, 2021
As a primary school teacher, this book is great for justifying the importance of play at a young age, despite the majority of the book focussing on the benefits of play for adults. I will definitely be playing sports with friends and goofing off in work more often now!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 471 reviews