SuperBetter by Jane McGonigal is one of my favorite non-fiction
books of the year so far. It has a long subtitle and much information to
impart: “A Revolutionary Approach to Getting Stronger, Happier,
Braver and More Resilient -- Powered by the Science of Games." McGonigal
explains about her long history of game research and how she herself used
gaming to recover from a serious injury. Be sure to catch her TedTalk
on gaming, also, which closely parallels the beginning of SuperBetter.
I thought that McGonigal had
just the right approach to her readers, gradually building trust and pulling
them into this book. The introduction begins with very simple “quests” –
building physical, mental, emotional and social resilience. If you “play” along, I believe you will begin
to feel energized and start to think about problem-solving. Next, SuperBetter
provides research evidence about the benefits of games and then discusses “how to
be gameful,” sharing examples of people who have used SuperBetter
to face their own life challenges. The final section is called “Adventures” and
focuses on creativity and game design. McGonigal
says that “the stories and science [in SuperBetter] will reveal
how adopting a gameful mindset can change your life for the better.” Have a
look and play around.
