Overview

"* 2023 Nautilus Book Award Winner: Rising to the Moment: Gold * World-renowned future forecaster, game designer, and New York Times bestselling author Jane McGonigal gives us the tools to imagine the future without fear. ""An accessible, optimistic field guide to the future.""--San Francisco Chronicle ""Reading this book is like sitting down with a creative, optimistic friend--and getting up as a new version of yourself.""--Daniel H. Pink, New York Times bestselling author of When The COVID-19 pandemic, increasingly frequent climate disasters, a new war--events we might have called ""unimaginable"" or ""unthinkable"" in the past are now reality. Today it feels more challenging than ever to feel unafraid, hopeful, and equipped to face the future with optimism. How do we map out our lives when it seems impossible to predict what the world will be like next week, let alone next year or next decade? What we need now are strategies to help us recover our confidence and creativity in facing uncertain futures. In Imaginable, Jane McGonigal draws on the latest scientific research in psychology and neuroscience to show us how to train our minds to think the unthinkable and imagine the unimaginable. She invites us to play with the provocative thought experiments and future simulations she's designed exclusively for this book, with the goal to: Build our collective imagination so that we can dive into the future and envision, in surprising detail, what our lives will look like ten years from now Develop the courage and vision to solve problems creatively Take actions and make decisions that will help shape the future we desire Access ""urgent optimism,"" an unstoppable force within each of us that activates our sense of agency Imaginable teaches us to be fearless, resilient, and bold in realizing a world with possibilities we cannot yet imagine--until reading this transformative, inspiring, and necessary book."

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9781954118331

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Reviews

Praise for Imaginable Reading this book is like sitting down with a creative, optimistic friend--and getting up as a new version of yourself. Jane McGonigal has long been a visionary. Now she teaches the rest of us how to be one too. --Daniel H. Pink, New York Times bestselling author of When and To Sell Is Human Jane McGonigal is unusually adept at anticipating events that most of us can't even fathom. In this eye-opening, actionable book, she teaches you how to widen your peripheral vision, extend your imagination farther into the future, and conceive of the inconceivable. --Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author Think Again and host of the TED podcast WorkLife Imaginable is a delightful and actionable antidote to apocalypse: an invitation to play with the future as if it were limited by nothing but our own imaginative capacity. An inspiring read. --Douglas Rushkoff, author of Present Shock and Team Human Imaginable is more than a book, it's a mindset upgrade. It teaches you to think more creatively and optimistically about what's next. You'll be excited about the future rather than fearful of it. Your brain will be on fire with new possibilities. And you'll never call anything 'unimaginable' or 'unthinkable' again. --Peter H. Diamandis, MD, New York Times bestselling author of The Future Is Faster Than You Think With Imaginable, Jane McGonigal has pulled off a rare and essential feat: she's written a book filled with inspiring ideas about how the future might play out that also provides immediate, practical tools to help you think more creatively about how you can change that future yourself. --Steven Johnson, New York Times bestselling author of Where Good Ideas Come From and Farsighted Imaginable is one of those rare and thrilling books that actually changes you. It translates scientific insights into psychological breakthroughs, giving you a new set of tools to feel more hopeful, more creative, more awake to your dreams for the future. It empowers you with what McGonigal calls a sense of 'urgent optimism.' It will help you transcend the present moment to realize your full potential and make a future that's better for all. --Scott Barry Kaufman, psychologist and author of Transcend: The New Science of Self-Actualization and Wired to Create A unique and insightful look at how games and simulations can not only teach us about the past but give us a window into our future. Jane McGonigal's work provides us with a whole new set of tools to make important decisions better, faster, and more transparently. --Sid Meier, creator of Civilization In challenging times, it can be tempting to put our heads in the sand. In Imaginable, futurist Jane McGonigal offers us her outstretched hand. McGonigal plows years of research and simulation into an actionable guide that proves that we are vastly more capable of building desirable solutions than we realize. Fueled by her conversational tone of 'urgent optimism, ' McGonigal's questions and challenges are a galvanizing, must-read road map to a sustainable, desired future for all who can imagine. --Julie Lythcott-Haims, New York Times bestselling author of How to Raise an Adult In Imaginable, Jane McGonigal teaches us to bring soul-stirring imagination to our daily lives. As she persuasively demonstrates, imagination training is more than just a skill set: it's a creativity boost, a mindset shift, and an emotional uplift all rolled up in one. The life-changing techniques you'll learn in this science-packed book will help you choose your future and feel more in control of what happens next. --Nir Eyal, author of Hooked and Indistractable Everyone should be imagining the future as a basic survival skill. This book is for everyone and is the only book I know of that will teach you the proven techniques that futurists use to forecast the future. It includes all the methods I use, and more. Do yourself a favor: Read this book. --Kevin Kelly, New York Times bestselling author of The Inevitable and Senior Maverick for Wired Futurist and game designer McGonigal delivers an illuminating look at how imagining the future can help to change one's own life while making a difference in the world. Expertly blending practical advice and big-picture thinking, this is a stimulating guide to preparing for the future. Readers will be inspired to put their imaginations to use. --Publishers Weekly A fascinating book about how the future does not have to be an undiscovered country. McGonigal, a future forecaster, game designer, and bestselling author of Reality Is Broken and Superbetter, firmly believes that it is possible to consider the possibilities of the future in a systematic, disciplined way, and her narrative draws on a large body of personal experience, research studies, and knowledge gleaned from her work as a game designer. ... A wealth of interesting ideas combined with practical guidance for new thinking. --Kirkus Reviews

"""Reading this book is like sitting down with a creative, optimistic friend--and getting up as a new version of yourself. Jane McGonigal has long been a visionary. Now she teaches the rest of us how to be one too.""--Daniel H. Pink, New York Times bestselling author of When and To Sell Is Human ""Jane McGonigal is unusually adept at anticipating events that most of us can't even fathom. In this eye-opening, actionable book, she teaches you how to widen your peripheral vision, extend your imagination farther into the future, and conceive of the inconceivable.""--Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author Think Again and host of the TED podcast WorkLife ""Imaginable is a delightful and actionable antidote to apocalypse: an invitation to play with the future as if it were limited by nothing but our own imaginative capacity. An inspiring read.""--Douglas Rushkoff, author of Present Shock and Team Human ""Imaginable is more than a book, it's a mindset upgrade. It teaches you to think more creatively and optimistically about what's next. You'll be excited about the future rather than fearful of it. Your brain will be on fire with new possibilities. And you'll never call anything 'unimaginable' or 'unthinkable' again.""--Peter H. Diamandis, MD, New York Times bestselling author of The Future Is Faster Than You Think ""With Imaginable, Jane McGonigal has pulled off a rare and essential feat: she's written a book filled with inspiring ideas about how the future might play out that also provides immediate, practical tools to help you think more creatively about how you can change that future yourself.""--Steven Johnson, New York Times bestselling author of Where Good Ideas Come From and Farsighted ""Imaginable is one of those rare and thrilling books that actually changes you. It translates scientific insights into psychological breakthroughs, giving you a new set of tools to feel more hopeful, more creative, more awake to your dreams for the future. It empowers you with what McGonigal calls a sense of 'urgent optimism.' It will help you transcend the present moment to realize your full potential and make a future that's better for all."""

"""Reading this book is like sitting down with a creative, optimistic friend--and getting up as a new version of yourself. Jane McGonigal has long been a visionary. Now she teaches the rest of us how to be one too.""--Daniel H. Pink, New York Times bestselling author of When and To Sell Is Human ""Jane McGonigal is unusually adept at anticipating events that most of us can't even fathom. In this eye-opening, actionable book, she teaches you how to widen your peripheral vision, extend your imagination farther into the future, and conceive of the inconceivable.""--Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and host of the TED podcast WorkLife ""Imaginable is a delightful and actionable antidote to apocalypse: an invitation to play with the future as if it were limited by nothing but our own imaginative capacity. An inspiring read.""--Douglas Rushkoff, author of Present Shock and Team Human ""Imaginable is more than a book, it's a mindset upgrade. It teaches you to think more creatively and optimistically about what's next. You'll be excited about the future rather than fearful of it. Your brain will be on fire with new possibilities. And you'll never call anything 'unimaginable' or 'unthinkable' again.""--Peter H. Diamandis, MD, New York Times bestselling author of The Future Is Faster Than You Think ""With Imaginable, Jane McGonigal has pulled off a rare and essential feat: she's written a book filled with inspiring ideas about how the future might play out that also provides immediate, practical tools to help you think more creatively about how you can change that future yourself.""--Steven Johnson, New York Times bestselling author of Where Good Ideas Come From and Farsighted ""Imaginable is one of those rare and thrilling books that actually changes you. It translates scientific insights into psychological breakthroughs, giving you a new set of tools to feel more hopeful, more creative, more awake to your dreams for the future. It empowers you with what McGonigal calls a sense of 'urgent optimism.' It will help you transcend the present moment to realize your full potential and make a future that's better for all.""--Scott Barry Kaufman, psychologist and author of Transcend: The New Science of Self-Actualization and Wired to Create ""A unique and insightful look at how games and simulations can not only teach us about the past but give us a window into our future. Jane McGonigal's work provides us with a whole new set of tools to make important decisions better, faster, and more transparently.""--Sid Meier, creator of Civilization ""In challenging times, it can be tempting to put our heads in the sand. In Imaginable, futurist Jane McGonigal offers us her outstretched hand. McGonigal plows years of research and simulation into an actionable guide that proves that we are vastly more capable of building desirable solutions than we realize. Fueled by her conversational tone of 'urgent optimism, ' McGonigal's questions and challenges are a galvanizing, must-read road map to a sustainable, desired future for all who can imagine.""--Julie Lythcott-Haims, New York Times bestselling author of How to Raise an Adult ""In Imaginable, Jane McGonigal teaches us to bring soul-stirring imagination to our daily lives. As she persuasively demonstrates, imagination training is more than just a skill set: it's a creativity boost, a mindset shift, and an emotional uplift all rolled up in one. The life-changing techniques you'll learn in this science-packed book will help you choose your future and feel more in control of what happens next.""--Nir Eyal, author of Hooked and Indistractable ""Everyone should be imagining the future as a basic survival skill. This book is for everyone and is the only book I know of that will teach you the proven techniques that futurists use to forecast the future. It includes all the methods I use, and more. Do yourself a favor: Read this book.""--Kevin Kelly, New York Times bestselling author of The Inevitable and Senior Maverick for Wired ""Futurist and game designer McGonigal delivers an illuminating look at how imagining the future can help to change one's own life while making a difference in the world. Expertly blending practical advice and big-picture thinking, this is a stimulating guide to preparing for the future. Readers will be inspired to put their imaginations to use.""--Publishers Weekly ""A fascinating book about how the future does not have to be an undiscovered country. McGonigal, a future forecaster, game designer, and bestselling author of Reality Is Broken and Superbetter, firmly believes that it is possible to consider the possibilities of the future in a systematic, disciplined way, and her narrative draws on a large body of personal experience, research studies, and knowledge gleaned from her work as a game designer. . . . A wealth of interesting ideas combined with practical guidance for new thinking.""--Kirkus"

"""Reading this book is like sitting down with a creative, optimistic friend--and getting up as a new version of yourself. Jane McGonigal has long been a visionary. Now she teaches the rest of us how to be one too.""--Daniel H. Pink, New York Times bestselling author of When and To Sell Is Human""Jane McGonigal is unusually adept at anticipating events that most of us can't even fathom. In this eye-opening, actionable book, she teaches you how to widen your peripheral vision, extend your imagination farther into the future, and conceive of the inconceivable.""--Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and host of the TED podcast WorkLife""Imaginable is a delightful and actionable antidote to apocalypse: an invitation to play with the future as if it were limited by nothing but our own imaginative capacity. An inspiring read.""--Douglas Rushkoff, author of Present Shock and Team Human""Imaginable is more than a book, it's a mindset upgrade. It teaches you to think more creatively and optimistically about what's next. You'll be excited about the future rather than fearful of it. Your brain will be on fire with new possibilities. And you'll never call anything 'unimaginable' or 'unthinkable' again.""--Peter H. Diamandis, MD, New York Times bestselling author of The Future Is Faster Than You Think""With Imaginable, Jane McGonigal has pulled off a rare and essential feat: she's written a book filled with inspiring ideas about how the future might play out that also provides immediate, practical tools to help you think more creatively about how you can change that future yourself.""--Steven Johnson, New York Times bestselling author of Where Good Ideas Come From and Farsighted""Imaginable is one of those rare and thrilling books that actually changes you. It translates scientific insights into psychological breakthroughs, giving you a new set of tools to feel more hopeful, more creative, more awake to your dreams for the future. It empowers you with what McGonigal calls a sense of 'urgent optimism.' It will help you transcend the present moment to realize your full potential and make a future that's better for all.""--Scott Barry Kaufman, psychologist and author of Transcend: The New Science of Self-Actualization and Wired to Create""A unique and insightful look at how games and simulations can not only teach us about the past but give us a window into our future. Jane McGonigal's work provides us with a whole new set of tools to make important decisions better, faster, and more transparently.""--Sid Meier, creator of Civilization""In challenging times, it can be tempting to put our heads in the sand. In Imaginable, futurist Jane McGonigal offers us her outstretched hand. McGonigal plows years of research and simulation into an actionable guide that proves that we are vastly more capable of building desirable solutions than we realize. Fueled by her conversational tone of 'urgent optimism, ' McGonigal's questions and challenges are a galvanizing, must-read road map to a sustainable, desired future for all who can imagine.""--Julie Lythcott-Haims, New York Times bestselling author of How to Raise an Adult""In Imaginable, Jane McGonigal teaches us to bring soul-stirring imagination to our daily lives. As she persuasively demonstrates, imagination training is more than just a skill set: it's a creativity boost, a mindset shift, and an emotional uplift all rolled up in one. The life-changing techniques you'll learn in this science-packed book will help you choose your future and feel more in control of what happens next.""--Nir Eyal, author of Hooked and Indistractable""Everyone should be imagining the future as a basic survival skill. This book is for everyone and is the only book I know of that will teach you the proven techniques that futurists use to forecast the future. It includes all the methods I use, and more. Do yourself a favor: Read this book.""--Kevin Kelly, New York Times bestselling author of The Inevitable and Senior Maverick for Wired""Futurist and game designer McGonigal delivers an illuminating look at how imagining the future can help to change one's own life while making a difference in the world. Expertly blending practical advice and big-picture thinking, this is a stimulating guide to preparing for the future. Readers will be inspired to put their imaginations to use.""--Publishers Weekly""A fascinating book about how the future does not have to be an undiscovered country. McGonigal, a future forecaster, game designer, and bestselling author of Reality Is Broken and Superbetter, firmly believes that it is possible to consider the possibilities of the future in a systematic, disciplined way, and her narrative draws on a large body of personal experience, research studies, and knowledge gleaned from her work as a game designer. . . . A wealth of interesting ideas combined with practical guidance for new thinking.""--Kirkus"

Author Information

"Jane McGonigal, PhD, is a future forecaster and designer of reality games created to improve real lives and solve real problems. She is also the author of two New York Times bestselling books, Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World (Penguin Press, 2011) and SuperBetter: The Power of Living Gamefully (Penguin Press, 2016), and her TED talks on how gaming can improve our lives have more than 15 million views. She is the Director of Games Research & Development at the Institute for the Future, a non-profit research group in Palo Alto, California, currently teaches the course ""How to Think Like a Futurist"" at Stanford University, and is the lead instructor for the Institute for the Future's series on the Coursera platform. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area."

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