Seven Games: A Human History *[EPUB]
A group biography of seven enduring and beloved games, and the story of why―and how―we play them. Checkers, backgammon, chess, and Go. Poker, Scrabble, and bridge. These seven games, ancient and modern, fascinate millions of people worldwide. In Seven Games, Oliver Roeder charts their origins and historical importance, the delightful arcana of their rules, and the ways their design makes them pleasurable. Roeder introduces thrilling competitors, such as evangelical minister Marion Tinsley, who across forty years lost only three games of checkers; Shusai, the Master, the last Go champion of imperial Japan, defending tradition against “modern rationalism”; and an IBM engineer who created a backgammon program so capable at self-learning that NASA used it on the space shuttle. He delves into the history and lore of each game: backgammon boards in ancient Egypt, the Indian origins of chess, how certain shells from a particular beach in Japan make the finest white Go stones. Beyond the cultural and personal stories, Roeder explores why games, seemingly trivial pastimes, speak so deeply to the human soul. He introduces an early philosopher of games, the aptly named Bernard Suits, and visits an Oxford cosmologist who has perfected a computer that can effectively play bridge, a game as complicated as human language itself. Throughout, Roeder tells the compelling story of how humans, pursuing scientific glory and competitive advantage, have invented AI programs better than any human player, and what that means for the games―and for us. Funny, fascinating, and profound, Seven Games is a story of obsession, psychology, history, and how play makes us human. 27 illustrations Read more
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Why Must Read Seven Games: A Human History?
This is a tremendous book that I could not put down. Each chapter takes us through the social history of a different game. In it, we are introduced to characters who play them, have obsessed over them and strived to become experts. We also learn about the communities of each game and how players have sought insight from technology to improve their game. It is fascinating to compare and contrast the different types of people who are attracted to each game and why humans are intrinsically drawn to such pastimes. The author writes in a very accessible manner and immerses himself in the playing of each game to learn more about their inner workings. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in puzzles, games, logic, tech or subcultures.
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