If Life Is a Game, How Come I'm Not Having Fun?

Paul Brenner is an analyst at the Department of Commerce in Washington, DC. An economist, he holds a BA from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, an MBA from Rutgers University, and an MS in Policy and Management from the University of Oregon. He is the author of the novel Dear Brotherhood: A Fantasy under the pseudonym Alex Voyd.

"For most of us, trying to make sense out of the incessant onslaught of daily life is a bewildering task....Paul Brenner offers an interesting perspective that can help us navigate our way through this dilemma. In this well-written book, he explores the notion of games and play as metaphors for life. Rather than provide answers, Brenner allows his readers to think for themselves, to complete an idea, or to respond to a provocation. Although each of us must find our own path, Brenner helps us survey the landscape and identify the signs we meet along the way." — Carl Hosticka, from the Foreword"Paul Brenner has written a very hopeful and compelling book that points to the power of play, which has been so undervalued in our culture." —Robert J. Landy, Professor, New York University, and author of Persona and Performance: The Meaning of Role in Drama, Therapy, and Everyday Life

• Foreword, Carl Hosticka Acknowledgments Introduction Part 1: Life by the Rules 1 What Life Is in the Modern Era The Elks of SporthavenThe World as a StageBob Hope and the Knights of St. Gregory the Great with StarMirna, the Queen of AzaleasDaily Living through Role-PlayA Vitamin Called "Viewing Life as a Game"Childhood Memories 2 The Parallel Worlds We Live In Private DominionsThe Religion GameThe Social Aspect of ReligionThe Line between Belief and Make-Believe 3 Persona and Performance The Meaning of Life for War PrisonersRobert Landy's Role Categories in Everyday LifeOur Analog "I" 4 The Theatres of Society Rules of GamesPlay Smart—Choose the Right TheatreTwenty Political and Two Business Roles 5 Think, Don't Believe A Game Called "Advertising"The Game Alcoholics PlayThe Drama of SufferingPlay in Sickness Part 2: Success Redefined 6 Can Work Be Playful? Games of StrategyThe Multimillion-Dollar Executive Games of Virtual RealityVacationing on the Austrian AlpsLet's Play SistersA Historical Snapshot of Our ParadigmFour Chords of Mental Health 7 A Journey's Aim A Conversation with NisragadattaThe Inmates' RevoltIn the Royal Gardens of InnsbruckThe Competitive EdgeKohn's Case against CompetitionThe Meaning of Anxiety 8 Happiness and Bargains Successful Executives Pay the PriceKant and the Morality of UnhappinessHow "Success in Life" May Be RedefinedMartinHow It Came to Be That We Have Ten CommandmentsStretching Up Hands into the Mist Part 3: Joyous Minds 9 The War Games Nations PlayA Game Bigger than LifeElements of AdventureIn the Armed ForcesOn the Theory That We Are Genetically EvilOn the Theory That We Are Born Tabula RasaOn the Theory That We Are Genetically Both Good and EvilLessons from the HolocaustThe Elephant and the FlyRiding the Roller Coaster 10 Peace Dance in the Moonlight Alexander's Ideal: A World United in PeaceThe Game of a City of Happy PeopleThe Inside of a Cup 11 Theories of Play and Healing: Reviewing Research Five Classical Theories of PlayJ. C. Friedrich von SchillerFive Contemporary Theories of PlayPleasure versus UtilityProf. Lewis Terman and the Famous "Termites"Play Therapy and HealingRole-Play and CreativityThe Perils of Illusion in PlayAnimals at Play 12 Life Is Tough, Tough But Fun Epilogue Notes Bibliography