Finite and Infinite Games: A Vision of Life as Play and Possibility by James P. Carse published by Free Press (1986) Paperback – January 1, 1994

Life changing! This book will transform how you live your life. Pick up a copy of the book today! Wow

I found most of the first half to be illuminating and interesting. A good chunk of the second half though just started getting loopy, and losing meaning. The author loves these one liner "reversal sentences". For example, "finite players play within boundaries. Infinite players play with boundaries". There's probably one such sentence every 3rd page. Some are used to great effect. Some feel forced, or like they were thrown in just to add more quotable lines. Leaving aside some weak sections, at it's best, it's a great new addition to philosophical works coverings this ground. If you like discussing this sort of philosophy (broadly, eastern philosophy written natively in English), I might also recommend The Wisdom of Insecurity, by Alan Watts.

This is a book hard to classify. I bought it because I read some fragments of it in Robert Fulghum's Words I Wish I Wrote: A Collection of Writing That Inspired My Ideas, where he quotes some of the aphorisms with what James P. Carse, the author, fills and charms the book.As the title suggests, this is a work on finite and infinite games that purports "a vision of life as play and possibility." So if life is a game you should play it and if you play it you should follow the rules. Right, but what are the rules. Well, here enters Carse, who in seven chapters defines the game and unfolds and explains the rules.The seven chapters are named in a very sportive (and even poetic) manner: There are at least to kind of games; No one can play a game alone; I am the genius of myself; A finite game occurs within a world; Nature is the realm of the unspeakable; We control nature for societal reasons; Myth provokes explanation but accepts none of it.And there you are. As I said, the book is written in an aphoristic mode, as in Also sprach Zarathustra/Thus Spoke Zarathustra: German/English Bilingual Text (German Edition), but with much more sense than that Nietzsche's brick. "Finite and Infinite..." is not a wanton sum of sayings more or less wise. So please do not confound games with lightness or pastime. At least not in this book. So you have to keep in mind, as long as you read, that this is a book about life ("A vision of life..."), not about playing games as a part of your life.Then, what are the rules? The rules are simple but full of derivatives or branches that have no limit. Like life itself that starts with a very simple origin and grows up in complexity and variety. That's why the first paragraph says that "There are at least two kinds of games. One could be called finite; the other infinite." As long as this rule begins to increase in complexity is very helpful to keep that definition in mind. Carse says that a game can be won, so the game ends, which is the finite case. Or the game is playing continuously because the purpose is not winning but to follow up the game, which is the infinite case.Let's quote Carse: "Infinite players cannot say when their game began, nor do they care. They do not care for the reason that their game in not bounded by time. Indeed, the only purpose of the game is to prevent it from coming to an end, to keep everyone in play." Sounds mysterious? It is. We play infinite games as long as we live, and the finite games we play are there not only to compensate (or to maintain under control the anxiety and) our ignorance of who wins at last in the infinite version, but also to be prepared against, and to be educated for the surprises and twists that life put in front of us: "To be prepared against surprise is to be 'trained.' To be prepared for surprise is to be 'educated.'"The probe of this work descends very deep. That's the reason why the last chapter is dedicated to the myth issue. For several years I've been studying the singularities of a myth, the purpose they have, why they appeared, why they are here with us in spite of the exponential growing of knowledge through science and the technological development associated with it. And Carse offers here one of the most astounding answers to my search, which is presented in the very title of the chapter: "Myth provokes explanations but accepts none of it." It is as if finite and infinite games collide in this final movement of the play, remembering us what the author told us at the beginning of the book: "Infinite players cannot say when their game began, nor do they care. They do not care for the reason that their game is not bounded by time. Indeed the only purpose of the game is to prevent it from coming to an end, to keep everyone in play." If that is not the very source of a myth, then what.Insofar as this book (a very brief book indeed, with 149 pages) is about games, we as a readers are players also, so maybe there are as many readings as readers. Or almost. Yet, it remains (or let) something that to me is unequivocal: life can be seen as a game so it has rules. This book propose that rules in a temporal basis (finite vs. infinite). If you look for, you could find others, but to me this book offers the most amazing explanation to the philosophical question that beats under our skins all the time: what is life?A game. "There are at least to kind of games..."Highly recommended.

It was so dense, with explosions on almost every page; even my digital highlighter went dry. The infinite game has touched my every perspective on "everlasting" Life.

This is sold as the audiobook on the same page as the paperback BOOK, but it is not a reading of the book. It is a lecture by Carse. It's a good lecture but I wanted THE BOOK. I ordered the audiobook of the BOOK. I feel cheated.

James Carse's "Finite and Infinite Games" offers insightful distinctions between finite games, played to win with clear rules and endpoints, and infinite games, played to continue the play and foster creativity. Carse provocatively invites us to see life as an evolving journey filled with possibilities, emphasizing the importance of freedom in genuine play with nuggets like "one who must play cannot play." His framework encourages us to embrace an infinite mindset, viewing life as an open-ended adventure rather than a series of finite achievements.However, Carse's rigid categorization risks imposing a Hegelian, deterministic structure that oversimplifies the rich, multifaceted nature of human engagements. The danger is in following him too closely and missing the dynamic, open-ended reality of life, where finite actions support infinite aims, and we continuously reinvent ourselves in a world full of shifting possibilities. By categorizing activities too neatly, Carse may overlook the fluid interplay between finite and infinite elements, failing to capture the true complexity of human experiences and the boundless potential inherent in every moment.

"Finite and Infinite Games" is a profound exploration of the nature of human engagement and purpose. James P. Carse's book offers a unique perspective on the ways we approach life and its myriad activities, distinguishing between finite games with defined rules and objectives, and infinite games that focus on ongoing engagement and growth. The philosophical insights and thought-provoking ideas presented in this book challenge conventional thinking and inspire readers to consider their own life’s purpose and motivations. It's a must-read for anyone interested in philosophy, self-improvement, or understanding the deeper meanings behind our actions.

I have purchased several copies of this book to give away. The book itself is a revelation about life and the writing is crafted with the highest precision.

Really good book that does an admirable job of covering massive subject area. There is a lot here to take away and a lot to think about, but I think anyone would struggle to cover all aspect of games and play in all manifestations with a necessary degree of depth. This book does an excellent job however and the writing is well considered and thought provoking.

enjoyed reading ! wd recommend.

In one of his 101 remarks, Carse emphasises the social character of playing the game called life by pointing out that “one cannot be human by oneself”. At its core, this book is a study of different modes of engagement in the “game”, covering multiple topics and general concepts such as property, sexuality, nature or myth. Carse’s skilful use of philosophical references, some of which include Nietzsche, Rousseau, Locke, Heidegger and Freud, makes it an interesting read.The fundamental differentiation between ‘finite’ and ‘infinite’ games is exemplified by various situations we find ourselves in our lives. ‘Infinite’ goals can be conceived as ones without the need of attaining something concrete or final. Infinite exercises are meant to be performed continuously as a virtue in itself. It seems worthwhile and helpful to apply this distinction actively, making this book an example of practical philosophy at its best.