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Jane McGonigal
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SuperBetter: The Power of Living Gamefully Paperback – September 13, 2016

by Jane McGonigal (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 467 ratings
Editors' pick Best Nonfiction
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An innovative guide to living gamefully, based on the program that has already helped nearly half a million people achieve remarkable personal growth

In 2009, internationally renowned game designer Jane McGonigal suffered a severe concussion. Unable to think clearly or work or even get out of bed, she became anxious and depressed, even suicidal. But rather than let herself sink further, she decided to get better by doing what she does best: she turned her recovery process into a resilience-building game. What started as a simple motivational exercise quickly became a set of rules for “post-traumatic growth” that she shared on her blog. These rules led to a digital game and a major research study with the National Institutes of Health. Today nearly half a million people have played SuperBetter to get stronger, happier, and healthier.

But the life-changing ideas behind SuperBetterare much bigger than just one game. In this book, McGonigal reveals a decade’s worth of scientific research into the ways all games—including videogames, sports, and puzzles—change how we respond to stress, challenge, and pain. She explains how we can cultivate new powers of recovery and resilience in everyday life simply by adopting a more “gameful” mind-set. Being gameful means bringing the same psychological strengths we naturally display when we play games—such as optimism, creativity, courage, and determination—to real-world goals.

Drawing on hundreds of studies, McGonigal shows that getting superbetter is as simple as tapping into the three core psychological strengths that games help you build:

   • Your ability to control your attention, and therefore your thoughts and feelings
   • Your power to turn anyone into a potential ally, and to strengthen your existing relationships
   • Your natural capacity to motivate yourself and super-charge your heroic qualities, like willpower, compassion, and determination

SuperBetter contains nearly 100 playful challenges anyone can undertake in order to build these gameful strengths. It includes stories and data from people who have used the SuperBetter method to get stronger in the face of illness, injury, and other major setbacks, as well as to achieve goals like losing weight, running a marathon, and finding a new job.

As inspiring as it is down to earth, and grounded in rigorous research, SuperBetter is a proven game plan for a better life. You’ll never say that something is “just a game” again.

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  1. Print length
    480 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Penguin Books
  4. Publication date
    September 13, 2016
  5. Dimensions
    1.1 x 5.4 x 8.4 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0143109774
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0143109778
  8. See all details
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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
467 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book informative, interesting, and impactful. They say it's worth reading, the best book of the year, and worth the effort. Readers describe the writing quality as well-written, engaging, and clever. They also mention the content is useful, powerful, and effective.

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ImpactValue for moneyWriting qualityUse
24 customers mention "Impact"24 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative, interesting, and engaging. They say it motivates them in an authentic and engaging way. Readers also appreciate the clear psychological concepts.

"...The book is very easy to follow and has clear psychological concepts that are excellent for building up your mental health and being vibrant...." Read more

"...It was an eye opening. I am not sure about some of the researches add extra hours in to hour lives by planing games. That was too much to believe." Read more

"This work is not only well researched, entertaining and very helpful; but it also points out the values that the most important game should have;..." Read more

"...It is full of fun science, serious data, is very well researched and annotated but not dry. This woman is on to something!..." Read more

17 customers mention "Value for money"17 positive0 negative

Customers find the book worth reading, interesting, and entertaining. They say it's brilliant and well-intentioned. Readers also love the stories and importance of the quests.

"This book by far is the best book of the year and I read a lot of good books. I didn't want it to end.Why is it the best book ?..." Read more

"This work is not only well researched, entertaining and very helpful; but it also points out the values that the most important game should have;..." Read more

"Amazing book, very knowledgeable author, She really dove in the subject matter...." Read more

"This book is worth reading. It gives you another perspective on how to approach the serious parts of life...." Read more

14 customers mention "Writing quality"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-written, engaging, and easy to understand. They appreciate how the ideas are backed up by evidence. Readers also mention the paper version is an easy reference.

"I loved reading this and it was done really well. The book is very easy to follow and has clear psychological concepts that are excellent for..." Read more

"...And use your resources to defeat them(using power up and allies). Is well written and easy to follow, I loved the stories and the importance of the..." Read more

"......" Read more

"...the most important game should have; optimizing physical health, rational thinking, emotional intelligence and a sense of connectivity towards our..." Read more

9 customers mention "Use"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very useful, powerful, and effective. They say it has a tested and unusually effective strategy to deal with gaming addiction. Readers also mention the book is a brilliant new way of helping parents, teachers, and others look at the positive side of gaming.

"VERY useful, in-depth break down of why games work and how to use them...." Read more

"This work is not only well researched, entertaining and very helpful; but it also points out the values that the most important game should have;..." Read more

"...or self improvement need, it has a tested to work and unusually effective stragegy to deal with it...." Read more

"...The content is well research and very useful...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Nelson Beltran
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for building up your mental health and being vibrant!
Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2020
Verified Purchase
I loved reading this and it was done really well. The book is very easy to follow and has clear psychological concepts that are excellent for building up your mental health and being vibrant. Great story and psychological distinctions about an extraordinary Psychologist. I highly recommend for Gamers, NLP people or anyone who's trying to SHIFT their Way of Beingness or Be Healthy. It's for people who are trying to fight off depression or anything in life to live on the next level.
3 people found this helpful
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stingray
5.0 out of 5 stars You have to read it if you want to learn to overcome your challenges.
Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2015
Verified Purchase
This book by far is the best book of the year and I read a lot of good books. I didn't want it to end.
Why is it the best book ?
I have used some of the technique (secret identity to motivate me to work out) identified bad guys( illnesses, loss of job ,PTSD) for me the bad guy is my comfort zone and my risk aversion.
And use your resources to defeat them(using power up and allies). Is well written and easy to follow, I loved the stories and the importance of the quests.
I love that because of her personal tragedy, she personalized it.
I never thought playing a game could change people lives. The game you choose will stressed you, challenge you and because of it - you will grow, improve your psychological flexibility-the confidence of knowing that you have the ability and confidence to resolve your problems .
16 people found this helpful
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P. Sainsbury
5.0 out of 5 stars But until I started reading Super Better, I didn't "get" the power of the ...
Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2015
Verified Purchase
I've watched Jane McGonigal's TED talks, read Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World and installed the "Super Better" app on my various phones. But until I started reading Super Better, I didn't "get" the power of the concepts contained in the process.

The writing is easy to read, and the use of the "quests" in the middle of the book make me excited to continue reading. My first experience was when reading the book on a bus and being challenged to complete the first 4 quests in the next 5 minutes. How do you strike a power pose in the morning rush on a bus without being "the strange man" who people avoid? I summoned my gaming knowledge and decided to be a ninja super better hero, finding the subtle and hidden ways to achieve the quests while blending into my surroundings. Suddenly I was doing things I'd never do, seeing thing's I'd never see, and experiencing my commute in a new way.

I continually am sending snapshots of paragraphs to friends and family who need to hear the truth behind being "gameful" in life. Friends who have been mocked for playing games, or who have thought less of themselves because they play them. Seeing the benefit in applying a gameful mindset to life is inspiring me to do more, and read more.

The explanations are so natural and easy to follow, that I'm looking forward to becoming more than just better - I'm looking forward to becoming "Super Better".
18 people found this helpful
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Ninos Youkhana
4.0 out of 5 stars Eye opening
Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2015
Verified Purchase
I am very happy to read this book. I was a bit skeptical from the bombastic claims in the beginning of the book. But I am very happy to hear some of the research done in gaming. It was an eye opening. I am not sure about some of the researches add extra hours in to hour lives by planing games. That was too much to believe.
One person found this helpful
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Charles
5.0 out of 5 stars Kick Some A** and make life fun again.
Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2015
Verified Purchase
VERY useful, in-depth break down of why games work and how to use them.
I personally have used the Superbetter app on and off for a couple of years, and it has been a great experience - helped get me through some of the toughest times in my work.

From there, I've experimented with a bunch of different ways to approach my life in a 'gameful' way - with some great results. The resilience that superbetter - and the 'gameful mindset' Jane McGonigal discusses in her book - gave me was one of the key elements in getting me through some really difficult transitions in my life and in my work.

I'm in my mid-20's, played a lot of games as a kid, but I've hardly touched anything more than Portal in about 5 years. The concepts outlined in Superbetter have brought back some of the stuff I used to love about games, but now with a lot more meaning (because the game is my life - and not a complex monstrosity of an adventure video game that I might not want to commit 50 hours of gameplay to).

I'll definitely be getting my friends into the book and game.
23 people found this helpful
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Amy
5.0 out of 5 stars Gotta get my game on!
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2024
Verified Purchase
I saw a TED talk, years ago, and wondered what became of SuperBetter — well, here it is, all grown up & ready to give me leverage on life!
One person found this helpful
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michael Lagneaux
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Condition
Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2023
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Book came on time, in great condition. Much cheaper than buying from a bigger seller! Thank you for continuing to provide great service
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Oscar
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant and well intentioned.
Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2017
Verified Purchase
This work is not only well researched, entertaining and very helpful; but it also points out the values that the most important game should have; optimizing physical health, rational thinking, emotional intelligence and a sense of connectivity towards our peers. Sometimes it's not about effort, but direction and how real our idea of destination is. I will be recommending this book for sure!
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Cliente de Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars Muy bueno ! transforma los problemas en retos estimulantes
Reviewed in Mexico on January 25, 2022
Verified Purchase
Me gustó especialmente su filosofía de la vida es juego y el vocabulario lúdico que propone que lo cambia todo. Las propuestas prácticas que hace están basadas en artículos científicos y en experiencias propias y de miles de personas, una combinación que hace la lectura estimulante y cercana. Por momentos se me hizo demasiada información pero creo que le sacaré todo su partido en que lo vuelva a leer.
Felicidades a la autora !!!!
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silviuzz
5.0 out of 5 stars Un “must read”!
Reviewed in Italy on May 29, 2023
Verified Purchase
L’argomento, l’approccio e lo stile di scrittura, chiaro e scorrevole nonostante sia obiettivamente un librone (grande di formato e piccolo di carattere, c’è di che leggere!), fanno di questo un testo interessantissimo e con molto spunti. Scritto con solide basi scientifiche (la bibliografia è immensa!) e intervallato da curiose “quest” da portare a termine, è un libro da regalarsi e da regalare. Consigliato, assolutamente!
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Thiago A. Oliveira
5.0 out of 5 stars top
Reviewed in Brazil on October 25, 2019
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Ewoks
5.0 out of 5 stars Prima
Reviewed in Germany on May 27, 2020
Verified Purchase
Very interesting ideas, research and experience of the author. My warm recommendation
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Fermin
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantástico libro y fantástico trabajo de Jane
Reviewed in Spain on November 29, 2017
Verified Purchase
Antes de este libro entendía los juegos como una evasión y, en cierto modo, una forma de perder el tiempo. Ahora, gracias a Jane, todo ha cambiado. Este libro explica porque los juegos son una herramienta muy potente, no solo en situaciones médicas sino, sobre todo, en la vida diaria.
Lo que, a veces, desde una cierta perspectiva es dificil o imposible, desde otra perspectiva es fácil, realizable, incluso en ocasiones, inevitable. Cambiar a la perspectiva de los juegos en nuestra vida diaria nos dá ese punto de optimismo y confianza necesarios para recuperar el control de nuestra propia vida, incluso cuando parece que todo esta en contra.
Fantástico libro y denso, que hay que leer varias veces para extraer todo lo que puede dar. Y, por supuesto, pasar a la acción, sin la cual nada sirve. Y fantástica la labor de Jane, documentando exhaustiva y rigurosamente el sistema SuperBetter.
¡Libro imprescindible!
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