This Post Has 7 Comments

1. Excellent book
   This is an excellent book and should be read by every practitioner who works with those who play videogames and every parent of a child who enjoys videogames. It is well written and very informative.

   Reply

2. Thought-provoking and compelling
   Very compelling book, written in a style something like a therapists’ novel. The author does a good job of painting a picture of the artistic side of gaming culture, as well as psychological, personal, and emotional aspects of much gaming experience. He concludes with an exhortation to the reader to be willing to talk with others about games and one’s experience around them.The only reason I give four instead of five stars is because I get a distinct feeling throughout the book that the author is so enamored with games, and so reactive against anti-gaming stigma, that he overplays his hand and comes near to presenting gaming as a unique and powerful help for people with minimal negative consequences and minimal risk for excess. In fact many of the positives he lists are not benefits of gaming, but benefits of talking openly and thoughtfully about whatever one enjoys, and benefits of any culturally appropriate art forms (e.g. music, movies). I approached the end of the book with the uncomfortable feeling that children ought to take time off from music lessons, sports coaching, and in-person community so as to spend more time becoming a deeper soul though video games.Provided the reader does not follow the unhelpful connotative trajectory that I sensed in the authors attitude toward gaming, the book remains an insightful and compelling exploration of the intersection between humanness and technology, and between psychology and art forms. Well worth a read if these things are of interest to you, or if you are a gamer who wants to appreciate games in a more meaningful way.

   Reply

3. Really well written nonfiction
   The Gaming Mind is a well presented layman accessible discussion of videogames and the effects of play on development and psychology. Released 31st March 2020 by The Experiment, it’s 288 pages and available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats.I’ve been a gamer since (long) before the internet (or computers – in a meaningful way) existed. I went from chess and backgammon to tabletop strategy wargames, to warhammer and D&D, and eventually to MU*s, and thereafter to various MMOrpgs and other video games (including arcade ones). Being a gamer (and bibliophile) is so integral to my personality that it has shaped me profoundly and colored most aspects of my life. I was excited to read this book and explore the clinical aspects of that portion of my life. I wasn’t disappointed.This is such a well written and invitingly warm and compassionate discussion of how gaming affects players and how they can also shape and inform our interpersonal relationships. My experiences paralleled the author’s own in a lot of ways (I’m about 15 years older than he is). The chapters are arranged thematically by subject and include a lot of profound insights on the positive aspects of gaming as well as the inevitable discussions of violence and addiction as they relate to video games.I was surprised at how honestly and frankly he speaks of his real life experiences growing up, and his narrative is so open and compelling that I really felt a connection and a desire to know how his trauma had been resolved and see if his own insights had applicability to my own life.This would make a superlative read for gamers, of course, but even more for gamers’ families, students of clinical psychology, school learners, pretty much everyone, honestly. This is a really well made book. It’s an interesting and enlightening read, beautifully and exhaustively annotated and footnoted, with a solid cross referenced index included.Five stars.Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

   Reply

4. A must read for anyone who loves games or who loves someone who loves games. So probably EVERYONE!
   As a “gamer kid” all my life and someone who’d dealt with my share of trauma and having made it out the other side, this book is spot on. It is so absolutely vindicating and reassuring to read these stories, and see the journey that the perception and understanding of gaming has taken. I see my self in every page of this book, and the path the narrative this book takes feels like the exact journey I took in my mind as I grew up and matured, along with my love and passion for video games.Dr. Kriss’ approach to gaming in the psychology world feel groundbreaking, and unlike anything I’ve seen in media or from any health professional.Do yourself a favor and read this book.

   Reply

5. Brilliantly insightful and engaging – a must-read for players and non-players alike
   A not to-be-missed page-turner for anyone curious about how and why videogames shape the lives of so many. As a non-player, this fascinating book triggered a paradigm shift in my thinking about the positive role videogames and virtual worlds can play at the intersection of fantasy and reality. Which is good news, since they no doubt will become even more pervasive – in unimaginable ways – in the years to come. Alex Kriss masterfully bridges the worlds of gaming and clinical psychology to reveal what’s at stake.

   Reply

6. Misleading review quote
   The full quote from Kirkus Reviews, not the partial quote Amazon gives you: “A thoughtful contribution to an ongoing debate that would have benefited from a more thorough look at harmful effects.”

   Reply

7. If you (or a loved one) games, and you’re not sure whether it’s good or bad for you – read this book. If you’re wondering if it’s something you should be worried about, or where the limit is in “good” and “bad” levels of gaming, this books is definitely worth it.The book is so easy to read, and so very relatable to anyone who plays computer games. I don’t often read non-fiction, and I struggled to put this book down. I’ve learned so much about why I game, and what the benefits (and potential traps) are in gaming.TLDR: it’s potentially an immensely powerful tool. (Read it!)

   Reply