Playful
How Play Shifts Our Thinking, Inspires Connection, and Sparks Creativity
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Playful
Narrated by:
Cas Holman
Buy Now for £18.39
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Narrated by:
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Cas Holman
About this listen
“Radiant and essential … this book brings a sense of transcendence. Reading it was not only inspiring; it was joyful.” —Elizabeth Gilbert, NYT bestselling author of Big Magic
We’re all born playful. But when we grow up, we learn to suppress this critical, hardwired instinct and our lives become ruled by “getting things done.” As world-famous designer Cas Holman explains, this disconnection from our playful selves is hazardous to everything from our emotional wellbeing to our ability to problem solve and innovate. The emerging science of play shows that it sparks joy, wonder, creativity, and insight at any age.
Here, Holman explains the power of “free play” through open-ended, unstructured activities that we become absorbed in with no obvious goal or purpose. The ways we can play are endless and what recharges us most is unique to each of us: whether it’s a piece of art we create, an entertaining conversation with a stranger, or an experiment to shake up a routine task. Weaving in inspiring stories and eye-opening research, Holman shows us that adopting a playful mindset is crucial in helping us:
- Overcome fear of failure and embrace new ways of thinking
- Destress, reset, and connect with each other
- Grow our creativity at every stage of our lives
- Find joy in bleak times
Playful draws on psychology, history, art, and design thinking to make a powerful case for the vital importance of play for grown-ups in a world obsessed with productivity. Provocative, wise, and full of spirit, it will inspire you to (re) learn how to play.
Critic reviews
“We desperately need a more playful world, and Cas Holman knows how to build it. This book is a designer’s delight—it’s full of inspiring ideas for parents, teachers, and anyone who’s curious or fun-loving.”
—Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Potential and Think Again
“Playful is a radiant and essential book for our anxious age. With wisdom, warmth, and infectious delight, Holman shows us how play—true, inspired, unleashed play—can reverse fear, restore connection, and reignite our creative spark. In a heavy moment of history, this book brings a sense of transcendence. Reading it was not only inspiring; it was joyful.”
—Elizabeth Gilbert, New York Times bestselling author of Big Magic
“Cas Holman has written the book we didn’t know we desperately needed: a permission slip to take play seriously. Playful is a joyful provocation. Holman challenges us to see play not as an escape from the real world but as a way to remake it. This book is as fun to read as it is profound.” —Ingrid Fetell Lee, author of Joyful
“This brilliant book reveals a fundamental, overlooked truth: Play isn’t just for kids! Holman and Denworth make a convincing case that if adults want to thrive, we need to relearn how to play. Insightful, energizing, and inspirational, Playful is a must-read for anyone who wants to bring more joy, creativity, and connection into their life.” —Catherine Price, author of The Power of Fun
“This book is so needed right now! Holman encourages us to find ways to look beyond our everyday routines and find opportunities to bring more lightness and creativity to our lives. This is a must-read guide on how to approach life with a new sense of joy.” —Judson Brewer, MD, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of Unwinding Anxiety
“Play is a powerful tool (and prescription) for emotional resilience and brain health. It boosts dopamine, lowers stress, and builds social connection. Far from frivolous, play enhances creativity and cognitive strength. It’s not a pause from life—but rather its very essence.” —Sue Varma, MD, author of Practical Optimism
“It is a rare treat to read Playful and realize that Cas’s lifelong insights validate my many years of in-depth play research. She has lived by following her own intrinsic motivation from play itself, and here she vividly demonstrates, using her own experiences, how the reader can find permission within themselves to also access their own play natures. No reader can emerge from this book without a new awareness of the importance of immersing themselves in play.”
—Stuart Brown, MD, author of Play
—Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Potential and Think Again
“Playful is a radiant and essential book for our anxious age. With wisdom, warmth, and infectious delight, Holman shows us how play—true, inspired, unleashed play—can reverse fear, restore connection, and reignite our creative spark. In a heavy moment of history, this book brings a sense of transcendence. Reading it was not only inspiring; it was joyful.”
—Elizabeth Gilbert, New York Times bestselling author of Big Magic
“Cas Holman has written the book we didn’t know we desperately needed: a permission slip to take play seriously. Playful is a joyful provocation. Holman challenges us to see play not as an escape from the real world but as a way to remake it. This book is as fun to read as it is profound.” —Ingrid Fetell Lee, author of Joyful
“This brilliant book reveals a fundamental, overlooked truth: Play isn’t just for kids! Holman and Denworth make a convincing case that if adults want to thrive, we need to relearn how to play. Insightful, energizing, and inspirational, Playful is a must-read for anyone who wants to bring more joy, creativity, and connection into their life.” —Catherine Price, author of The Power of Fun
“This book is so needed right now! Holman encourages us to find ways to look beyond our everyday routines and find opportunities to bring more lightness and creativity to our lives. This is a must-read guide on how to approach life with a new sense of joy.” —Judson Brewer, MD, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of Unwinding Anxiety
“Play is a powerful tool (and prescription) for emotional resilience and brain health. It boosts dopamine, lowers stress, and builds social connection. Far from frivolous, play enhances creativity and cognitive strength. It’s not a pause from life—but rather its very essence.” —Sue Varma, MD, author of Practical Optimism
“It is a rare treat to read Playful and realize that Cas’s lifelong insights validate my many years of in-depth play research. She has lived by following her own intrinsic motivation from play itself, and here she vividly demonstrates, using her own experiences, how the reader can find permission within themselves to also access their own play natures. No reader can emerge from this book without a new awareness of the importance of immersing themselves in play.”
—Stuart Brown, MD, author of Play
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