Fun Inc: Why Games are the 21st Century's most serious business by Tom Chatfield was published this week.
Chatfield suggests, our hunger for playfulness is actually a positive sign: in these imaginary worlds we can both escape and strengthen ourselves. The games we create can be both "a critique of what is lacking in many lives", and "a channel through which those lives might be changed". (The Guardian 17/1/10)
I am currently working my way through this book and it is a great read, and has been reviewd lots in the press this week.
Last year we welcomed Tom into Oakdale to see the work we were doing with Brain Training at the time - this was mentioned along with a great overview of the book by Tom himself writing in this weeks Independent - the article can be found here.