Reality is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World Audiobook

" Author uses a lot of recent psychology & digital work to explain how gaming impacts us & how we can use that impact to our advantage. Highly fascinating read!! "

" This book validates an intuition I've had for quite a while. The author has to use a lot of self referential examples, but the field of applying game mechanics to real life is sorta new, so you have to cut her some slack. It was a great read filled with practical ideas, and I will bel looking forward to witnessing the development of this field. "

" I wanted to give this book a four. I really did. I love the premise, love the ideas - that we can take what we've learned playing games and apply it to the real world to create real change. But as much as I love the concepts, the book did not do much to prove them. It was relentlessly upbeat, and full of little "fixes" for the real world, but there was little in the way of actual, concrete suggestions for how to make it happen. The first section of the book, it should be noted, is fantastic. Despite the author's inability to effectively prove the thesis, this is still a good read, and I recommend it to anyone with any level of interest in gaming, psychology, or making a difference in the world. "

" It was interesting reading about how some the features that make computer gaming so engaging could be used to help us to be better involved in real life activities. I found the book rather uneven, and repetitive in places, and McGonigal is rather evangelical, but I think that is probably the nature of 'motivational' books. All in all interesting. Now I'll see if I take any of the ideas to heart. "

" She has some interesting ideas, but overall it seems like she's trying to justify the existence and popularity of video games to her grandmother while wearing a cheerleader outfit. You heard me. "

" A new look about games. I was more interested on how it made me think of reality. We are missing community and are finding it in games. "

" Jane gives us a glimpse into the future of evolution and the human species. Gives us understanding of the present state of games, their current impact and potential. Finally, Jane gives us hope, for most of us are indeed equipped with the weapons to survive the future. "

" Highly recommend! A real eye-opening read; this book opened up a whole world of positive aspects and applications of computer games. "

" puts your mind in a whole new space of how organizations can be structured and society coordinated "

" This is something that I am really interested in. I read it the day it came out so the information was really relevant. I think some of the points may have been cover a little too in depth, even for me. "

" I don't remember the last time I read a book that was this gleefully optimistic, this was a great fun read, and I love the root message. What can we apply from what we've learned about games (Games are fun and games are rewarding, etc.) to make real life better. "

" Very good beginning with a fascinating and inspiring thesis. But it drags on a bit towards the end. "

" Meh. It was interesting enough... I really didn't like her writing, but there were a fair amount of interesting tidbits of information throughout the book. "

" This is an oddly fascinating book. It's a taxonomy of games, mostly online games, but not all, with a methodical explanation of how games make us smarter and happier, and how we can collaborate - game-ways - to make the world better. Hugely ambitious, but largely successful. "

" A new look about games. I was more interested on how it made me think of reality. We are missing community and are finding it in games. "

" This is something that I am really interested in. I read it the day it came out so the information was really relevant. I think some of the points may have been cover a little too in depth, even for me. "

" Wow, this was fun! I'm not sure what I was expecting, but this was not it... it was better in every way. More data, more neurochemistry, more psychoanalysis of gaming and gamers. My 11-year-old loved it too. "

" I really don't know what to say about this "

" Very interesting discussion around how and why games are compelling to people and how we might leverage that interesting into making real life more interesting and productive. I've been able to take some of those ideas and integrate it into my software development process. "

" I loved this book - a really great mix of game mechanics and positive psychology. "

" The second half of the book is somewhat repetitive, with different examples rehashing similar concepts. Overall, a very informative, unique perspective. "

" Simplistically, we game because it lets us fail safely. "