{"product_id":"9780807097090","title":"Homo Ludens: A Study of the Play-Element in Culture","description":"In \u003ci\u003eHomo Ludens\u003c\/i\u003e, the classic evaluation of play that has become a  “must-read” 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  \u003ci\u003eHomo Ludens\u003c\/i\u003e, or “Man the player” through Medieval Times, the  Renaissance, and into our modern civilization. Huizinga defines play  against a rich theoretical background, using cross-cultural examples  from the humanities, business, and politics. \u003ci\u003eHomo Ludens\u003c\/i\u003e defines play for generations to come.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"A happier age than ours once made bold to call our species by the name of \u003ci\u003eHomo Sapiens\u003c\/i\u003e.  In the course of time we have come to realize that we are not so  reasonable after all as the Eighteenth Century with its worship of  reason and naive optimism, though us; \"hence moder fashion inclines to  designate our species as\u003ci\u003eHomo Faber\u003c\/i\u003e: Man the Maker. But though \u003ci\u003efaber\u003c\/i\u003e may  not be quite so dubious as sapiens it is, as a name specific of the  human being, even less appropriate, seeing that many animals too are  makers. There is a third function, howver, applicable to both human and  animal life, and just as important as reasoning and making—namely,  playing. it seems to me that next to \u003ci\u003eHomo Faber\u003c\/i\u003e, and perhaps on the same level as \u003ci\u003eHomo Sapiens\u003c\/i\u003e, Homo Ludens, Man the Player, deserves a place in our nomenclature. \"—from the Foreward, by Johan Huizinga","brand":"Beacon","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47118416609520,"sku":"9780807097090","price":15.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9780807097090_p0.jpg?v=1763728990","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780807097090","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}