Culture Play

From a New York Times bestselling author and investigative journalist comes The Social Network for the video game industry: a riveting examination of Blizzard Entertainment's rise and shocking downfall—"A fast paced thrill ride, perfect for anyone who has ever played a video game" (Ben...

A groundbreaking exploration of how women survive—and carry—the lasting impact of sexual trauma from award-winning New York Times Magazine writer Jen Percy “Impossibly beuatiful...Girls Play Dead is a vital continuation of [the effort] 'to tell true stories of women’s lives,' in such...

The founders of a respected Silicon Valley advisory firm study legendary category-creating companies and reveal a groundbreaking discipline called category design. Winning today isn’t about beating the competition at the old game. It’s about inventing a whole new game—defining a new market...

Why do some people break through and make an impact while others get stuck going through the motions? In every organization there are Impact Players—those indispensable colleagues who can be counted on in critical situations and who consistently receive high-profile assignments and new...

In this classic evaluation of play that has become a “must-listen” for those in game design, Dutch philosopher Johan Huizinga defines play as the central activity in flourishing societies. Like civilization, play requires structure and participants willing to create within limits. Starting with Plato, Huizinga traces the contribution of Homo Ludens, or “man the player” through medieval times, the Renaissance, and into our modern civilization.

What does it mean to carry a culture in song? From mythic bards and medieval harpers to rebellious ballads, bodhrán beats, and Beyoncé-backed fiddles, A History of Irish Music: Bardds to Bono tells the story of Irish music like never before. This sweeping, lyrical history explores how music shaped—and was shaped by—the Irish people across centuries of joy, sorrow, migration, resistance, and reinvention. Travel from candlelit sessions in County Clare to sold-out stadiums, from sean-nós singers to TikTok trad stars. Learn how the humble fiddle survived famine, how Riverdance took the ...

The ultimate handbook for fostering and cultivating a strong team culture, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Culture Code and The Talent Code. Building a team has never been harder than it is right now. How do you create connection and trust? How do you stay focused on your goals?...

An exuberant, behind-the-scenes look at the designers and the company that brought us Mario, Zelda, Pokémon, and so much more, illuminating Nintendo's singular ethos, its massive cultural impact, and the innovative solutions behind its creative triumphs “Comprehensive but never too dense...

A joyful retelling of the divine adventures of Lord Krishna—from his playful childhood in Vrindavan to his role as a wise guide in the Mahabharata—filled with devotion, charm, and life lessons.

This program includes material read by the authors. In User Friendly, Cliff Kuang and Robert Fabricant reveal the untold story of a paradigm that quietly rules our modern lives: the assumption that machines should anticipate what we need. Spanning over a century of sweeping changes, from...

A comprehensive and entertaining look at how video games became a cultural and global force, perfect for fans of Blood, Sweat, & Pixels and Console Wars. The evolution of video games from a niche pursuit to the world’s largest entertainment medium, with billions of players and billions of...

Few television shows revolutionized comedy as profoundly or have had such an enormous and continued impact on our culture as In Living Color. Inspired by Richard Pryor, Carol Burnett, and Eddie Murphy, Keenen Ivory Wayans created a television series unlike any that had come before it. In Living Color shaped American culture in ways both seen and unseen. Now, Homey Don't Play That! reveals the complete, captivating story of how In Living Color overcame enormous odds to become a major, zeitgeist-seizing hit.

So, you have decided to learn how to play the Native American Flute. First of all, let me tell you that if you have no music experience, IT’S OK! Some play the flute for The Creator; others play it to calm their spirit in the midst of life’s storms, and others play it professionally. Whatever your reason or passion for learning, if you can breathe, you can learn how to play the Native American Flute. This workbook contains tips, techniques, history, songs, and worksheets to facilitate your ability to learn and start playing in no time.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Orphan Train, and the critically acclaimed author of Bird in Hand, comes a novel of love, risk, and self-discovery—includes a special PS section featuring insights, interviews, and more. Angela can feel the clock ticking. She is single in New...

""Funny, relatable fiction for anyone who thinks they're above the fray but still want to read all about it.""—People ""Heavenly hilarity for readers.""—Good Housekeeping A whip-smart, satirical romp through the minefield of modern motherhood, in the vein of Where’d You Go, Bernadette and...

The 1980s saw the peak of a moral panic over fantasy role-playing games such as Dungeons and Dragons. A coalition of moral entrepreneurs that included representatives from the Christian Right, the field of psychology, and law enforcement claimed that these games were not only psychologically dangerous but an occult religion masquerading as a game. Dangerous Games explores both the history and the sociological significance of this panic.

Since she was a little girl, the wind has dictated every move Vianne Rocher has made, buffeting her from the small French village of Lansquenet-sous-Tannes to the crowded streets of Paris. Cloaked in a new identity, that of widow Yanne Charbonneau, she opens a chocolaterie on a small Montmartre...

An anti-self-help guide for women who are starting to suspect that the real problem in their relationship is him Couples therapy is supposed to be about building trust, reciprocity, and mutual respect. After sixteen years of working as a couples counselor, however, Lisa Sherper came to an...

“A house of wonders itself. . . . Wonderland inspires grins and well-what-d'ya-knows” —The New York Times Book Review From the New York Times–bestselling author of How We Got to Now and Extra Life, a look at the world-changing innovations we made while keeping ourselves entertained. This...

Unlock the incredible power of play with The Role of Play in Child Development. This comprehensive guide explores how play serves as a fundamental pillar in early childhood development, shaping cognitive, emotional, and social skills in profound ways. Journey through an in-depth examination starting from a historical perspective on the importance of play to understanding various types of play and their unique benefits. Delve into Chapter 2, where you’ll discover how simple acts of play contribute to problem-solving abilities, spark abstract thinking, and enhance language skills. Explore ...