How Play as an Adult Shapes the Mind
Rebel Read
Play | How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination and Invigorates the Soul | Dr. Stuart Brown | 2009 | Non Fiction
Life has been pretty serious for many years for many of us and with it the irreverence of play and laughter seems to be benched as we cope with world events and politics out of our control
Many of us have closed ourselves off from play and yet the science of play has an essential role in fueling our happiness and intelligence throughout our lives
Dr. Brown spent his career studying animal behavior and conducting more than six-thousand "play histories" of humans from all walks of life
The book, backed by this research, explains why play is essential to our social skills, adaptability, intelligence, creativity, ability to problem solve and more
Brown says that ‘particularly in tough times, we need to play more than ever, as it's the very means by which we prepare for the unexpected, search out new solutions, and remain optimistic’
Brown says that play is anything but trivial - it is a biological drive as integral to our health as sleep or nutrition and we are designed by nature to flourish through play
This book proves why play just might be the most important work we can ever do
I found the book to be a fascinating blend of cutting-edge neuroscience, biology, psychology, social science, and inspiring human stories of the transformative power of play
By definition, play is purposeless, all-consuming, and fun - you can read more about the book here
“Of all animal species, humans are the biggest players of all. We are built to play and built through play. When we play, we are engaged in the purest expression of our humanity, the truest expression of our individuality. Is it any wonder that often the times we feel most alive, those that make up our best memories, are moments of play?”
― Dr. Stuart Brown