‘I wish every parent, teacher and politician would read this liberating and joyous book.’
Brian Eno
Power of Play
How play and its games shape life
Written and illustrated by Paul Pethick
£26.00 —30% = £18.20 / free UK delivery
The first book to travel the complete landscape of play, and show why it’s our only real super-power.
Extensively researched and sparking with new insights, ‘PoP’ will take you on an evolutionary and philosophical journey from the smallest workings of the prehistoric imagination, through our development into the endlessly game-playing species we are today.
Packed with full-colour illustration, Pethick’s book graphically joins the dots to show exactly how play powers creativity in all its animal and human forms, and how it solidifies into the myriad games we describe as culture. From craft to business, from dance to global politics, it unpacks the playful roots of every innovation from weaving to cyberwar.
If you think play is only ‘kids’ stuff’ it’s time to think again.
Featured in
‘Only masters play.’
Joan Sheckel
You’ll also discover how some of the world’s most influential creators in science and the arts really use play and its games to drive their work; and to understand why free play in our minds and bodies should be at the heart of current education if we plan on staying ahead in an AI future.
A softcover book in oversized proportions, with award-winning graphics detailing every part of the story. If you’re interested in psychology, human and animal creativity, as well as our best course for shaping education for coming generations, this is the book.
Compliments and awards
‘One of the most fascinating and thrilling things I’ve read in a long time, so this is the second copy I’ve sent as a gift.’
Nicholas O’Neill
‘Wonderful.’
CEO Today
‘Couldn’t recommend this more.’
Alex Hammond
‘So good.’
Penny Simons
‘Brilliant.’
Brian Eno
Creativepool Annual 2022
People’s Choice Winner for Graphic Design
Business Book Awards 2022
Finalist
Book Information
Written and illustrated by Paul Pethick
Published by PlayLab Publishing
Designed by Null Zero
Softcover, 170 × 240 mm, 352 pages
Over 380 colour illustrations
White foil and edge-printed pages
High-quality OTA binding
Paper by Munken
Printed and bound in Germany
First edition: 500 copies
ISBN: 978-1-5272-8424-1
£26.00 —30% = £18.20 / free UK delivery
Ebook also available
About the Author
Paul Pethick is an all-round creative, and an authority on imagination, originality, and play. It could be said, in fact, that he’s cornered the market in play as the driving energy behind all imaginative endeavours.
Following decades in advertising, design, feature films, music and animation, he saw how much these creative fields rely on the energies of play, and its games, so he set up a consultancy developing live interactions in museums, public spaces and businesses. Diving ever deeper he went on to research every aspect of the evolution and philosophy of our drive to play; as well as interviewing a raft of fascinating creators from all around the world. The result is ‘Power of Play: how play and its games shape life’.
Outside the bubble of book writing and illustrating, Paul has an animation series in development in Los Angeles, and sporadically takes up drumming duties in an ‘occasional band’ that has played in various dives around the world including MoMA in New York, the Salon di Mobile in Milan, and the Multiplex design event in London.
