Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World
Janine McGonigal
Penguin (Non-Classics); Reprint edition (December 27, 2011)
I just picked up this book yesterday on the recommendation of a friend, and mentor, after I mentioned I was playing with the concept of game design for social change.
By the end of the introduction, I was blown away.
I’m only 3 chapters in right now, but I’ve already got a new perspective and appreciation for the amazing potential of games, and for the gamers that play them. Gathering research from sociology, psychology, cognitive science and performance design, Janine McGonigal shows how video gamers embody some of the most valuable, selfless characteristics of human society. They voluntarily tackle unnecessary, increasingly difficult obstacles. They innovate, think critically, learn to think and act to the limits of their abilities to play inside the rules. They learn to collaborate on monumental projects and connect to something larger than themselves. They play games for intrinsic rewards; gamers don’t expect payment, luxurious material rewards, or career advancement. They want to play the game, and find the self-confidence and “fiero” that accompanies success.
My conclusions? There is an undeniable power in games for harnessing the best attributes of humanity – and a great potential in directing those attributes towards improving the quality of our work, our lives, and our environment.
See for yourself and pick up a copy at Amazon.com, or use the link to see a detailed description and praise from critics and industry leaders. Below are a few examples:
“Wonder why we love games? McGonigal has written the best take yet on the deep joys of play — and how to use that force for good. Reality is Broken is a rare beast: A book that’s both philosophically rich and completely practical. It will change the way you see the world.” —Clive Thompson, contributing writer for Wired and The New York Times Magazine
“Jane McGonigal’s groundbreaking research offers a surprising solution to how we can build stronger communities and collaborate at extreme scales: by playing bigger and better games. And no one knows more about how to design world-changing games than McGonigal. Reality Is Broken is essential reading for anyone who wants to play a hand in inventing a better future.”— Jimmy Wales, Founder of Wikipedia
“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
You can learn more about the book and the author, Janine McGonigal, by visiting realityisbroken.org. She also gave a TED talk about Reality is Broken that can be viewed at TED.com.
You can also read a NYTimes Book Review, or a Wired Magazine Review about Reality is Broken.
2 Comments
I really enjoyed this book. It presented the case of how games are set up to help a person achieve something, and that if the same strategy were to be applied to life, a person can be very successful. Games have achievements, goals, and other such things that make a person want to surpass. If a person were to put goals and checkpoints that help a reach it and helps him or her to transcend to the next one. Adding a point system to boring things such as chores and have awards for if a certain number is met will help a person achieve such things.
The book is very informative and very interesting. It gives a much different view on video games and virtual realities than is normally adopted by society. McGonigal tries to get readers to understand that, contrary to popular belief, video games don’t corrupt or distract and that they have many concepts and principles that can be adopted to real life to make it even better. The one problem I have with this book is that it seems to be very repetitive with some parts that seem to be put in just to have extra words.