DOCSLIB.ORG

Traditional Cosmological Symbolism in Ancient Board Games

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Traditional Cosmological Symbolism in Ancient Board Games Traditional Cosmological Symbolism in Ancient Board Games Gaspar Pujol Nicolau ADVERTIMENT. La consulta d’aquesta tesi queda condicionada a l’acceptació de les següents condicions d'ús: La difusió d’aquesta tesi per mitjà del servei TDX (www.tesisenxarxa.net) ha estat autoritzada pels titulars dels drets de propietat intel·lectual únicament per a usos privats emmarcats en activitats d’investigació i docència. No s’autoritza la seva reproducció amb finalitats de lucre ni la seva difusió i posada a disposició des d’un lloc aliè al servei TDX. No s’autoritza la presentació del seu contingut en una finestra o marc aliè a TDX (framing). Aquesta reserva de drets afecta tant al resum de presentació de la tesi com als seus continguts. En la utilització o cita de parts de la tesi és obligat indicar el nom de la persona autora. ADVERTENCIA. La consulta de esta tesis queda condicionada a la aceptación de las siguientes condiciones de uso: La difusión de esta tesis por medio del servicio TDR (www.tesisenred.net) ha sido autorizada por los titulares de los derechos de propiedad intelectual únicamente para usos privados enmarcados en actividades de investigación y docencia. No se autoriza su reproducción con finalidades de lucro ni su difusión y puesta a disposición desde un sitio ajeno al servicio TDR. No se autoriza la presentación de su contenido en una ventana o marco ajeno a TDR (framing). Esta reserva de derechos afecta tanto al resumen de presentación de la tesis como a sus contenidos. En la utilización o cita de partes de la tesis es obligado indicar el nombre de la persona autora. WARNING. On having consulted this thesis you’re accepting the following use conditions: Spreading this thesis by the TDX (www.tesisenxarxa.net) service has been authorized by the titular of the intellectual property rights only for private uses placed in investigation and teaching activities. Reproduction with lucrative aims is not authorized neither its spreading and availability from a site foreign to the TDX service. Introducing its content in a window or frame foreign to the TDX service is not authorized (framing). This rights affect to the presentation summary of the thesis as well as to its contents. In the using or citation of parts of the thesis it’s obliged to indicate the name of the author. TRADITIONAL COSMOLOGICAL SYMBOLISM IN ANCIENT BOARD GAMES DOCTORAL THESIS GASPAR PUJOL NICOLAU BARCELONA , 2009 Director: Dr. Josep Olives Puig Program: “Doctorat en ciències humanes, socials i jurídiques” Department: Humanitats Traditional Cosmological Symbolism in Ancient Board Games GASPAR PUJOL NICOLAU TRADITIONAL COSMOLOGICAL SYMBOLISM IN ANCIENT BOARD GAMES TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................ 4 FOREWORD: GAMES AS A UNIVERSAL STRUCTURAL PATTERN ........................... 6 PART I THE SIMBOLIC STUDY OF ANCIENT BOARD GAMES ................................ 13 1. METHODOLOGICAL FRAME ......................................................................................... 14 1.1 PURPOSE , AIM AND CONTRIBUTION ................................................................................................... 14 1.2 STRUCTURE OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT ........................................................................................... 17 1.3 PRELIMINARY HYPOTHESES .............................................................................................................. 19 1.4 BIBLIOGRAPHY & ICONIC SOURCES .................................................................................................. 19 2. LIMITING THE MATERIAL OBJECT ............................................................................ 23 2.1 MAN AND PLAY ................................................................................................................................ 25 2.2 PLAY , GAME AND BOARD GAMES ...................................................................................................... 29 2.3 ANTIQUITY AS MAIN SELECTION CRITERION ..................................................................................... 40 2.4 FUNCTIONAL GAME FAMILIES ........................................................................................................... 43 2.4.1 Path games ............................................................................................................................... 50 2.4.2 Calculation games ................................................................................................................... 51 2.4.3 Spatial games ........................................................................................................................... 52 3. BUILDING A THEORETICAL MODEL FOR ANCIENT BOARD GAMES ANALYSIS................................................................................................................................. 56 3.1 SYMBOLS AND SYMBOLISM : ANALOGICAL THOUGHT ........................................................................ 57 3.2 SYMBOLIC HERMENEUTICS & COMPARATIVE STUDIES ..................................................................... 65 3.3 TRADITIONAL COSMOLOGICAL SYMBOLISM SEEN THROUGH BOARD GAMES ..................................... 71 4. REFORMULATION OF THE HYPOTHESES ................................................................ 77 2 Traditional Cosmological Symbolism in Ancient Board Games GASPAR PUJOL NICOLAU PART II KEY SYMBOLIC ELEMENTS IN ANCIENT BOARD GAMES ..................... 80 1. ON THE SYMBOLIC CONTENT OF GAMES ................................................................ 81 2. ANCIENT BOARD GAMES AS COSMOGRAMS .......................................................... 92 2.1 SYMBOLISM OF SPACE : GIVING SPACE A MEANING . ........................................................................... 94 2.2 GEOMETRICAL AND CARDINAL PATTERNS ...................................................................................... 105 2.2.1 The point: center and axis ...................................................................................................... 108 2.1.1.1 Center as a goal or as being strategically relevant .......................................................................... 111 2.1.1.2 Center is “sacred” or empty ............................................................................................................ 116 2.1.1.3 Axis of symmetry ........................................................................................................................... 123 2.2.2 The cross: cardinality and quartered division of space ......................................................... 124 2.2.3 The square: limits of game ..................................................................................................... 132 2.2.4 The grid .................................................................................................................................. 144 2.2.5 Circles, cycles and spirals ..................................................................................................... 152 3. ANCIENT BOARD GAMES AS ANTHROPOGRAMS ................................................ 164 3.1 PLAY AND MYTH ............................................................................................................................. 166 3.1.1 The heroic challenge .............................................................................................................. 169 3.1.2 Ethics, rules and cheating ...................................................................................................... 180 3.1.3 Opponent as complementary .................................................................................................. 187 3.1.4 Some remarks about the playing pieces ................................................................................. 196 3.1.4.1 Verticality and horizontality ........................................................................................................... 198 3.2 PLAYING AS A RITE ......................................................................................................................... 200 3.2.1 Līlā, life as play...................................................................................................................... 202 3.2.2 Spiritual ascension: the ultimate goal .................................................................................... 207 3.2.3 Randomness: fate, fortune telling and oracles ....................................................................... 217 3.2.4 Sacred & profane gambling ................................................................................................... 227 4. CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................................. 234 5. FURTHER LINES OF RESEARCH ................................................................................. 244 III BIBLIOGRAPHY .............................................................................................................. 245 3 Traditional Cosmological Symbolism in Ancient Board Games GASPAR PUJOL NICOLAU ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Before starting, I want to dedicate this research work to several people, who have influenced me and whithout whom I could not have ever finished it. A few lines of text would neverbe enough, but are the least I can do to thank them. To my wife (at last!). You have seen me struggle with this research and with myself fortoo long.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Menu of Volunteer Opportunities
    Menu of Volunteer Opportunities For the Sherburne County, Minnesota Area Review the whole list or click on a desired category: MOST RECENTLY ADDED OPPORTUNITIES CHILDREN & YOUTH ACTIVITIES DISASTER SERVICES $ ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY EDUCATION – ADULT & COMMUNITY EDUCATION – CHILDREN & YOUTH ENVIRONMENT & OUTDOORS FOOD & CLOTHING SERVICES GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC SAFETY HEALTH CARE HUMAN & VETERAN SERVICES MEAL SERVICE/DELIVERY OTHER NON-PROFIT SENIOR SERVICES Contact RSVP Sherburne County for more information: 763-635-4505 1 Heather.Brooks @ci.stcloud.mn.us MOST RECENTLY ADDED OPPORTUNITIES RSVP- Retired and Senior Volunteer Program 55+ Volunteers - If you are 55+, this is your invitation to volunteer service! Start with a discussion about your individual interests, skills and time available to volunteer. Explore the possibilities for service through a wide variety of local agencies, including many projects with limited or flexible commitments. End with a rewarding volunteer experience that fits perfectly into your lifestyle and comes with some additional perks because you’re experienced at life! Where to Help? Do you wonder where your volunteer time investment is needed most? What are all the choices? What will fill the time you have available and not more than you expected? Contact RSVP/Volunteer Bridge to explore the possibilities that will fit perfectly into your lifestyle and match your interests, skills and passions! Choose what works best for you and receive help getting connected. Extra perks for those 55+ because you’re experienced at life! One-time events – 55+ RSVP volunteers are asked to assist for a couple hours at a variety of one-time events in the community. From ticket taking at a performance to helping at a blood drive, from a school book sale to counting patrons at the public library.
    [Show full text]
  • Family Activities to Do During COVID-19 for Additional Information, Please Visit Loganhealth.Org Or Coronavirus.Ohio.Gov
    DISEASE FACT SHEET Family Activities to Do During COVID-19 For additional information, please visit loganhealth.org or coronavirus.ohio.gov. Here are so many things you can do during this time at home…you are only limited to your imagination! Get outside and play! • Take a nature walk at one of the 75 Ohio State Parks. Check the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website for more information. • Join your children outside for a game of hide and seek, kick the can, or a scanvenger hunt around the neighborhood. • Take your dog for a walk or visit the local playground. • Start planning your summer garden! • Go for a jog! • Create an obstacle course with toys and games from your garage. Explore More Indoors! • Have a local library card? Many local libraries, including the Ohio Digital Library, allow you to check out and download ebooks! Read aloud to each other, read silently, or take turns reading to each other. • Start a virtual book club! Choose a book and start an online chat with your friends. The State Library of Ohio, Ohioana Library Association and Ohio Center for the Book recommend these 20 books by Ohio authors. • Play games indoors! Games for younger children include Simon Says, Duck Duck Goose, or Follow the Leader. Older children can play “I Spy,” charades, indoor bowling, or make up new games. • Try a new recipe or make dinner as a family; find recipes and tips for cook with children safely on the Cooking with Kids webpage. • Read a chapter book together and discuss the characters and plot and ask questions to encourage critical thinking.
    [Show full text]
  • About Cards & Puzzle
    Cards & Puzzle Fun Dozens of interesting card & $10 compelling puzzle games to play in solitude or against humans. Absolute Farkle Classic Mahjong Fashion Cents Deluxe A fun and easy to play dice game. Solitaire You are given a wide assortment But be careful, it is easy to get The objective of mahjong solitaire of hats, tops, bottoms, and shoes addicted. It also goes by other is simple – just removing the in a variety of styles and colors, names such as Ten Thousand and matching tiles. But there is a which you must combine into 6 Dice. simple rule that adds quite a bit outfits that are color-coordinated. of complexity to the game… White, black, and denim items are BombDunk Mahjong solitaire only lets you wild and go with any other color. Mixes the strategy of remove a tile if there isn't a tile Minesweeper with the cross- directly above it, or the tile can't GrassGames’ Cribbage checking logic of Sudoku, and slide to the left or right. Although A beautiful 3D computer game presents it in a fun arcade format. the rules are simple- the game version of the classic 400 year old The object of the game is to can require quite a bit of strategy card game for 2 players. With locate hidden Bombs without and forethought! Intelligent Computer opponents making too many mistakes! You or Full Network Play can work out where the bombs Classic Solitaire are with a combination of logical A fun and easy-to-use collection clues and a little guesswork.
    [Show full text]
  • Roy Staab Four Seasons / Four Corners
    ROY STAAB FOUR SEASONS / CORNERS ROY STAAB FOUR SEASONS / CORNERS Institute of Visual Arts University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee July 10-September 27, 2009 with contributions by Suzaan Boettger Nicholas Frank John K. Grande Amy Lipton Institute of Visual Arts University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee July 10-September 27, 2009 Inova is grateful for the support of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Mary L. Nohl Fund. Published by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Peck School of the Arts on the occasion of the exhibition ROY STAAB: FOUR SEASONS/FOUR CORNERS Organized by the Institute of Visual Arts (Inova) P.O. Box 413 Milwaukee, WI 53201 Phone: (414) 229-4762 Fax: (414) 229-6154 arts.uwm.edu © 2009 by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. All rights reserved. No part of the contents of this book may be produced without the written permission of the publisher. ISBN: 9780981930114 Printed in the United States of America All photographs of installations by Roy Staab except: Michel Goday, figs. 2, 9 Gregg Schmidts, fig. 17 Leonard Freed, fig. 23 Nicholas Frank, fig. 33 Alan Magayne-Roshak, fig. 34 Additional credits: cover: Pyramid Space 7 - August 24, 1988 fig. 16: Digital Image © The Museum of Modern Art/Licensed by SCALA/Art Resource, NY fig. 18: Collection of the Gemeente Museum Den Haag. 1 (opposite) Fluke, 2008, Marbaek Beach near Esbjerg, Denmark 2 Port-Vendres, France, 1979 5 X MARKS THE STAAB Anyone who knows Roy Staab has experienced the discrepancy between 3 Dennis Oppenheim his personality and his artwork. His temporary environmental site installations Cancelled Crop, 1969 are the embodiment of calm, humility and silence.
    [Show full text]
  • Two Generations of Muslim Women in France: Creative Parenting, Identity and Recognition
    delcroix:print 24/7/09 16:00 Page 87 TWO GENERATIONS OF MUSLIM WOMEN IN FRANCE: CREATIVE PARENTING, IDENTITY AND RECOGNITION by Catherine Delcroix In bringing up and educating their children, Muslim immigrant parents (coming ABSTRACT from North Africa and living in France) are very aware of the difficulty of the Key words: task. Their children face a double bind: on the one hand, French society asks creativity; them to ‘integrate’, that is to enter into labour markets and melt into French parenting; ways of life. On the other hand teachers, employers, the police and media Muslim; keep considering them as ‘the other’. Immigrant parents show tremendous France creativity in trying to help their children, boys and girls differently, to cope with this double bind. In France today there are approximately one educate their children to face the difficulties million families who come from North Africa. linked to economic instability: unemployment, Many of these are large families. Their children chronic shortage of money, and discrimination.2 are born in France and they are French citizens. For studying the educational strategies of Their language is French, and they are raised in these families, I have used a methodological French schools. They feel French. But given the approach based on the reconstruction of family colonial past of France, the metropolitan histories, drawn from life story interviews with French continue to consider them somehow as several members of each family: parents, chil- ‘the other’. This post-colonial attitude has very dren and so on. I have repeated these case damaging consequences, encouraging discrim- studies in many different regions and cities of ination by some teachers, by employers, by France.
    [Show full text]
  • The Archway Investment Fund Semi Annual Report, Fall 2014 Bryant University, Archway Investment Fund
    Bryant University DigitalCommons@Bryant University Archway Investment Fund Archway Investment Fund Fall 2014 The Archway Investment Fund Semi Annual Report, Fall 2014 Bryant University, Archway Investment Fund Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.bryant.edu/archway_investment Part of the Finance and Financial Management Commons Recommended Citation Bryant University, Archway Investment Fund, "The Archway Investment Fund Semi Annual Report, Fall 2014" (2014). Archway Investment Fund. Paper 20. http://digitalcommons.bryant.edu/archway_investment/20 This Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Archway Investment Fund at DigitalCommons@Bryant University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Archway Investment Fund by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Bryant University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Archway Investment Fund Semi-Annual Report • fall 2014 ARCHWAY INVESTMENT FUND The archway investment fund was established in Portfolio Management, in which students take on portfolio fall 2005 to provide Bryant University students with the management responsibilities and work with the Securities opportunity to manage real-world investments following Analysts to improve the future growth of the Fund. In principles used by investment managers around the globe. addition to managing the Fund, Portfolio Managers, hav- Students must apply for the two-part course and inter- ing just been through the course, mentor the Securities view for a position in the class, competing against other Analysts in the stock selection process. At semester’s students, much like the job search process. In the program, end, Portfolio Managers present their work to a panel of which is led by Professor David Louton, students develop professionals from the investments industry.
    [Show full text]
  • The Game of Texas Hold'em 3
    The Intelligent Guide to Texas Hold'em Poker Copyright O 2003 by Intelligent Games Publishing Book cover writing by Susan Kendrick Writing All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner, or distributed through any medium, including photocopying, electronic data stor- age and transmission via the Internet, without written consent from the publisher. Exceptions are usage of brief quotations for the purposes of criticism and review. For information contact: Intelligent Games Publishing P. 0.Box 6705, Towson, MD 21285 Web Site: www.intelligentpoker.com E-mail: [email protected] Write the publisher for bulk price quotes. ISBN 0-9677551-2-3 Library of Congress Control Number: 2003100272 Publisher's Cataloging-in-Publication (Provided by Quality Books, Znc.) Braids, Sam. The intelligent guide to Texas hold'em poker / Sam Braids. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. LCCN 2003 100272 ISBN 0967755 123 1. Poker. 2. Gambling. I. Title. GV 125 1.B73 2003 795.41'2 QBI03-20008 I PLEASE NOTE: The material contained in this book is for informational pur- poses only. In no manner should this book be construed to offer legal advice on the issue of online gambling. It is the reader's responsibility to know and follow the laws that apply in his or her state and jurisdiction. Seek appropriate legal advice from a qualified attorney if unsure. The publisher does not endorse or guarantee any of the services described in this book. The reader assumes all risks and respon- sibility for his or her actions. If you do not agree with these conditions, you may return this book to the publisher for a full refund.
    [Show full text]
  • Life Cycle Patterns of Cognitive Performance Over the Long
    Life cycle patterns of cognitive performance over the long run Anthony Strittmattera,1 , Uwe Sundeb,1,2, and Dainis Zegnersc,1 aCenter for Research in Economics and Statistics (CREST)/Ecole´ nationale de la statistique et de l’administration economique´ Paris (ENSAE), Institut Polytechnique Paris, 91764 Palaiseau Cedex, France; bEconomics Department, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat¨ Munchen,¨ 80539 Munchen,¨ Germany; and cRotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, 3062 PA Rotterdam, The Netherlands Edited by Robert Moffit, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, and accepted by Editorial Board Member Jose A. Scheinkman September 21, 2020 (received for review April 8, 2020) Little is known about how the age pattern in individual perfor- demanding tasks, however, and are limited in terms of compara- mance in cognitively demanding tasks changed over the past bility, technological work environment, labor market institutions, century. The main difficulty for measuring such life cycle per- and demand factors, which all exhibit variation over time and formance patterns and their dynamics over time is related to across skill groups (1, 19). Investigations that account for changes the construction of a reliable measure that is comparable across in skill demand have found evidence for a peak in performance individuals and over time and not affected by changes in technol- potential around ages of 35 to 44 y (20) but are limited to short ogy or other environmental factors. This study presents evidence observation periods that prevent an analysis of the dynamics for the dynamics of life cycle patterns of cognitive performance of the age–performance profile over time and across cohorts. over the past 125 y based on an analysis of data from profes- An additional problem is related to measuring productivity or sional chess tournaments.
    [Show full text]
  • Cognitive Psychology
    COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY PSYCH 126 Acknowledgements College of the Canyons would like to extend appreciation to the following people and organizations for allowing this textbook to be created: California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office Chancellor Diane Van Hook Santa Clarita Community College District College of the Canyons Distance Learning Office In providing content for this textbook, the following professionals were invaluable: Mehgan Andrade, who was the major contributor and compiler of this work and Neil Walker, without whose help the book could not have been completed. Special Thank You to Trudi Radtke for editing, formatting, readability, and aesthetics. The contents of this textbook were developed under the Title V grant from the Department of Education (Award #P031S140092). However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. Unless otherwise noted, the content in this textbook is licensed under CC BY 4.0 Table of Contents Psychology .................................................................................................................................................... 1 126 ................................................................................................................................................................ 1 Chapter 1 - History of Cognitive Psychology ............................................................................................. 7 Definition of Cognitive Psychology
    [Show full text]
  • The Sacrality of the Mountain the Sacrality of the Mountain
    University of Arkansas, Fayetteville ScholarWorks@UARK Theses and Dissertations 12-2014 The aS crality of The ounM tain Manuel Rivera Espinoza University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd Part of the Asian History Commons, Asian Studies Commons, Comparative Philosophy Commons, History of Religions of Eastern Origins Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Rivera Espinoza, Manuel, "The aS crality of The ounM tain" (2014). Theses and Dissertations. 2072. http://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/2072 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UARK. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UARK. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. The Sacrality of the Mountain The Sacrality of the Mountain A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Arts in History by Manuel Rivera Espinoza Universidad de Chile Bachelor in History, 2008 December 2014 University of Arkansas This thesis is approved for recommendation of the Graduate Council. _______________________________ Dr. Rembrandt Wolpert Thesis Director _______________________________ _______________________________ Dr. Liang Cai Dr. Elizabeth Markham Committee Member Committee Member Abstract In this thesis I explore the conception of the mountain as a “sacred space” based on the definition provided by Mircea Eliade
    [Show full text]
  • Random Positions in Go Benard Helmstetter, Chang-Shing Lee, Fabien Teytaud, Olivier Teytaud, Wang Mei-Hui, Shi-Jim Yen
    Random positions in Go Benard Helmstetter, Chang-Shing Lee, Fabien Teytaud, Olivier Teytaud, Wang Mei-Hui, Shi-Jim Yen To cite this version: Benard Helmstetter, Chang-Shing Lee, Fabien Teytaud, Olivier Teytaud, Wang Mei-Hui, et al.. Ran- dom positions in Go. Computational Intelligence and Games, Aug 2011, Seoul, North Korea. inria- 00625815 HAL Id: inria-00625815 https://hal.inria.fr/inria-00625815 Submitted on 22 Sep 2011 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. Random positions in Go Bernard Helmstetter, Chang-Shing Lee, Fabien Teytaud, Olivier Teytaud, Mei-Hui Wang, Shi-Jim Yen Abstract—It is known that in chess, random positions are However, the board is always “almost” empty in the sense harder to memorize for humans. We here reproduce these that there is enough room for building classical figures. Also, experiments in the Asian game of Go, in which computers are it is sometimes said in Go that the fact that Go moves from much weaker than humans. We survey families of positions, discussing the relative strength of humans and computers, and an empty board to a full board is in the spirit of the game then experiment random positions.
    [Show full text]
  • Reality Is Broken a Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World E JANE Mcgonigal
    Reality Is Broken a Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World E JANE McGONIGAL THE PENGUIN PRESS New York 2011 ADVANCE PRAISE FOR Reality Is Broken “Forget everything you know, or think you know, about online gaming. Like a blast of fresh air, Reality Is Broken blows away the tired stereotypes and reminds us that the human instinct to play can be harnessed for the greater good. With a stirring blend of energy, wisdom, and idealism, Jane McGonigal shows us how to start saving the world one game at a time.” —Carl Honoré, author of In Praise of Slowness and Under Pressure “Reality Is Broken is the most eye-opening book I read this year. With awe-inspiring ex­ pertise, clarity of thought, and engrossing writing style, Jane McGonigal cleanly exploded every misconception I’ve ever had about games and gaming. If you thought that games are for kids, that games are squandered time, or that games are dangerously isolating, addictive, unproductive, and escapist, you are in for a giant surprise!” —Sonja Lyubomirsky, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside, and author of The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want “Reality Is Broken will both stimulate your brain and stir your soul. Once you read this remarkable book, you’ll never look at games—or yourself—quite the same way.” —Daniel H. Pink, author of Drive and A Whole New Mind “The path to becoming happier, improving your business, and saving the world might be one and the same: understanding how the world’s best games work.
    [Show full text]