Alumnus Jane McGonigal's "SuperBetter" on Living Gamefully
BCNM alumnus Jane McGonigal's book SuperBetter has been reviewed in The New Yorker by Nathan Heller. SuperBetter explores the application of gaming theory to the happiness of life, and seeks to bridge the gap between video games and happiness research. Jane was instrumental in the formation of BCNM in its early days and we are delighted to see the work that she continues to produce. You can read an excerpt from the article below:
"The idea that life’s challenges can be turned into a game in seven steps is the premise of Jane McGonigal’s “SuperBetter” (Penguin), a new book that seeks to bridge the gap between video-game culture and what is now called happiness research. Games, whether played on coffee tables or on digital screens, are usually described as escapist diversions; we don’t expect those hours of sweet nothingness to help us find fulfillment in our work, build strong relationships, cultivate confidence, or nurture other traits that serve the more amorphous cause of happiness. McGonigal, however, thinks that she can transform game-playing passion into a balanced life. She calls it “living gamefully,” and, according to her, it’s a regimen that has the power to fix almost everything that aspirin can’t."