by Jane McGonigal
Jane McGonigal is probably the person most recognised as leading the current ‘gamification’ movement and in this book she outlines why she thinks that gaming can help in nearly every area of life.
Reality is Broken
Gamification by Design.
by Gabe Zichermann and Christopher Cunningham
People enjoy computer games – therefore if you turn non-game things into games, everyone will be happy. That’s the idea, and that’s what this book is trying to tell you. But (and I guess you saw that BUT coming) the argument is not convincing.
The New Games Book
Edited by Andrew Fluegelman
I read about this book in Jane McGonical’s Reality is Broken and sought it out on Ebay. Published in the mid-seventies, this book is half a guide to communal games you can play [in parks, beaches and other spaces] but the other half presents essays outlining the relevance and importance of gaming.
Your Choice.
By you?
Gamification is fairly new and whilst there is a lot of talk about it in blogs and forums not many authoritative books have been written on the subject. We certainly didn’t want to recommend any that we haven’t actually read so we’re asking for your opinions and reviews of any you have read which make a[...]
Just My Type.
by Simon Garfield.
It’s hard to know quite who this book is aimed at, the type geeks (mostly made up of graphic designers) or the interested layman? Well, it seems to aim right in the middle of the two, but in doing so often disappoints the former and confuses the latter.
Design as Art.
by Bruno Munari.
Design as Art is Munari’s 1966 book of essays bringing together his thoughts and musings on design and art. Is there a difference between an artist and a designer today he asks? Munari thought the designer was the artist of his day.
Information is beautiful.
by David McCandless.
I don’t know what it is but there’s something very refreshing when somebody appears who is not a trained designer and creates beautiful things. I was a big fan of David Carson when I was a student and loved his take on the rules of design.
Nudge.
by Robert H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein
In the previous review of Robert Caldini’s book ‘Influence’ I mentioned that it has spawned many other books that refresh its content for the modern world but pretty much stick to the theories it introduced. Since Influence was first published in 1984 the world has become used to[...]
Gorgias.
By Plato.
A slightly odd one you may think for a site that talks about design and psychology, but this is actually a fantastic read on the power of oratory as well as the ethics of persuasion.
Gorgias is one of Plato’s most accessible reads as it doesn’t rely on any prior knowledge of Socrates or Plato’s[...]
The Upside of Irrationality.
by Dan Ariely.
I have previously featured a couple of Dan Ariely’s videos on TED or Big Think most of which present some of the examples from his two books. Dan’s first book, ‘Predictably Irrational’, introduces you to the notion that we don’t always act in a rational way