Play Stuart Brown

Play

How it shapes the brain, opens the imagination, and invigorates the soul.

We've all seen the happiness in the face of a child who's playing in the school yard. Or the blissful abandon of a golden retriever racing with glee across a lawn. This is the joy of play. By definition, play is purposeless and all-consuming. And, most importantly, it's fun.

As we become adults, taking time to play feels like a guilty pleasure- a distraction from 'real' work and life. But as Dr. Stuart Brown illustrates, play is anything but trivial. It is a biological drive as integral to our health as sleep or nutrition. In fact, our ability to play through life is the single most important factor in determining our success and happiness.

Backed by the latest research, Play explains why play is essential to our social skills, adaptability, intelligence, creativity, ability to problem solve and more. Play is hardwired into our brains- it is the mechanism by which we become resilient, smart and adaptable people.

Beyond play's role in our personal fulfillment, its benefits have profound implications for child development and the way we parent; education and social policy; business innovation; productivity; and even the future of our society. A fascinating blend of cutting-edge neuroscience, biology, psychology and social science, this groundbreaking book proves why play just might be the most important work we can ever do.

Stuart Brown, MD is a medical doctor, psychiatrist, clinical research, and the founder of the National Institute for Play. He speaks regularly to Fortune 5000 companies and groups across the US on the importance of play in our lives. The producer of a three-part PBS series, The Promise of Play, he has also appeared on National Public Radio and was featured in a cover story in The New York Times Magazine.

Play
Scribe
Author: Stuart Brown, MD with Christopher Vaughan.
ISBN: 9781921640537
Price: $27.95