Finite and Infinite Games
Finite and Infinite Games
James Carse
Jane McGonigal
It’s basically a book about games, but then it turns out it’s about the meaning of life. - Jane McGonigal
Tobi Lütke
It came up in twice today in different meetings. - Tobi Lütke
Daniel Gross
Gets you in the mode of thinking long term. And it provides a powerful shared language with those who read it. - Daniel Gross
Patrick O'Shaughnessy
I absolutely loved it. - Patrick O'Shaughnessy
Ryan Shea
Ryan Shea recommended this book on his website.
+
10
All books

Finite and Infinite Games

Finite and Infinite Games: A Vision of Life as Play and Possibility

James Carse
By
James Carse
3.8
907
ratings on Goodreads

In the thought-provoking exploration "Finite and Infinite Games," James Carse invites readers to reconsider the very nature of the games we play throughout our lives, proposing a paradigm that divides all human activities into two distinct categories: finite and infinite games. Finite games, governed by well-defined rules and clear endpoints, encapsulate the competitive endeavors of society where players vie for victory, striving to outdo one another within a confined space of time and place. These are the games of politics, business, and even personal relationships, marked by the pursuit of tangible achievements and the distinction between winners and losers. In stark contrast, Carse illuminates the concept of infinite games, boundless in scope and unending in duration, where the rules are fluid and the objective is not to win, but to perpetuate play. Infinite games celebrate the boundless capacity for creativity and transformation, inviting participants to engage in a journey of continuous self-discovery and communal growth. Through elegant prose, Carse articulates a vision of life that transcends the limitations of finite competition, encouraging readers to embrace the infinite possibilities that arise when we play not for the sake of conclusion, but for the joy of the experience itself. "Finite and Infinite Games" is not merely a book, but a philosophical guide to reimagining the purposes and pleasures of life, offering profound insights into the essence of human existence and the paths to true freedom.

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Released
1986
1 Jan
Length
180
Pages

10

recommendations

recommendation

Ryan Shea recommended this book on his website.
It’s basically a book about games, but then it turns out it’s about the meaning of life. - Jane McGonigal
Gets you in the mode of thinking long term. And it provides a powerful shared language with those who read it. - Daniel Gross
I like [this book] which has been going around a lot. - Graham Duncan
About life and how to [...] navigate in a more improvisational way. - Tristan Harris
Gave me a mathematical framework for my own spirituality. - Kevin Kelly
Defines these two kinds of games. - Simon Sinek
It came up in twice today in different meetings. - Tobi Lütke
A fundamental interest is gamification – thinking of things in game terms and designing things in gaming terms is one of the profound things that civilization has done for a very long time. - Stewart Brand
I absolutely loved it. - Patrick O'Shaughnessy
To be prepared against surprise is to be trained. To be prepared for surprise is to be educated.
— James Carse, Finite and Infinite Games

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