USA Today reviewed a book written by psychiatrist Dr. Stuart Brown titled Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination and Invigorates the Soul. According to Dr. Brown, play is extremely important during periods of prolonged stress like now when we’re not sure where things are going. Play energizes us, refreshes us and reduces our stress levels which makes us healthier, happier, more productive and better able to adjust to changes in our life. It also helps us remain optimistic. Dr. Brown defines play as “an absorbing, apparently purposeless activity that provides a suspension of self-consciousness and sense of time.” Play doesn’t have to be elaborate. It can be something as simple as taking a walk or a hike, petting your cat, playing Frisbee, putting together a puzzle or reading a good book. Dr. Brown’s advice for maintaining an even keel during these difficult times is to make some time to play every day.
One Sentence Wisdom
- “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” — George Bernard Shaw
- “A little nonsense now and then, is cherished by the wisest men.” — Anonymous
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Recommended Reading
Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul
From a leading expert, a groundbreaking book on the science of play, and its essential role in fueling our happiness and intelligence throughout our lives
We’ve all seen the happiness on the face of a child while playing in the school yard. Or the blissful abandon of a golden retriever racing across a lawn. This is the joy of play. By definition, play is purposeless, all-consuming, and fun. 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. We are designed by nature to flourish through play.
Dr. Brown has spent his career studying animal behavior and conducting more than six-thousand “play histories” of humans from all walks of life-from serial murderers to Nobel Prize winners. Backed by the latest research, Play explains why play is essential to our social skills, adaptability, intelligence, creativity, ability to problem solve and more. Particularly in tough times, we need to play more than ever, as it’s the very means by which we prepare for the unexpected, search out new solutions, and remain optimistic. A fascinating blend of cutting-edge neuroscience, biology, psychology, social science, and inspiring human stories of the transformative power of play, this book proves why play just might be the most important work we can ever do.
Recommended Reading
Leading from the Back: To Achieve The Impossible
Are you looking for a leadership model that is uncomplicated, easy to use and produces amazing results? If so, then Leading from the Back is for you! In it you will find everything you need to become a superstar leader. You will learn how to earn respect from your team members and help them in achieving the impossible. No more learning about numerous principles and laws of leadership. Just a three-part model that has an amazing track record of proven success.
Through an engaging parable about the travails of an upcoming young manager, Shiv Kundra, whose leadership style hampers both his ability to lead and his ability to deliver, the authors outline the fascinating concept of ‘leading from the back’.
Leading from the Back is a distillation of the collective experience and wisdom of Ravi Kant (former CEO, vice chairman, Tata Motors), Harry Paul (co-author of the bestseller FISH! A Proven Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results) and Ross Reck (co-author of The Win-Win Negotiator).
