This is a book I am currently reading –Reality Is Broken:  Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World  by Jane McGonigal.   I did a search here on Tap Repeatedly of the phrase reality is broken  .   I assumed that this book had been referenced or discussed in something I hadn't read.   The search turned up some matches but when I looked at the articles,  I couldn't find the book mentioned.

So let me hype it.   It is terrific.  It brings a ton of psychological research to bear on games (not just video games although they are the centerpiece) and why games are important and what they do for people and why people want to play them.  

It then makes the jump to how the principles of game design that make games so satisfyingly addictive could be applied to make our everyday reality and lives more satisfying.    The interesting thing is that so much of this is such basic psychology.   It also explained to me why after 40 years of smoking and failing repeatedly to quit,  the behavior mod program I set up for myself worked.  I actually had created at game that was very hard but I could in the end win.  And I did.   This is a pathetic thing to say but quiting smoking may have been the greatest achievement of my entire life (it certainly is why I am still alive) and it took a game for me to do it.

Anyway,  this is a facinating book.  And to me it makes sense.  Take a look at it.

Kay