Finite and Infinite Games

By James P. Carse

Categories: Politics & Social Sciences

"There are at least two kinds of games," James Carse writes. Finite games are played to be won, and they end when someone wins. Infinite games are played to keep the game going, and their rules, boundaries, and players can all change. From sports and board games to culture, religion, and science, Carse uses this simple distinction to look at how we live. Rich in aphorism, the book argues that infinite games offer something subtler and grander than wealth or status.

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• Tristan Harris
• Stewart Brand
• Jane McGonigal
• Daniel Gross
• Marc Andreessen: “James Carse describes finite games and infinite games”
• Simon Sinek: “Finite and Infinite Games helped me see that I'm not naive or stupid, I have an infinite mindset in a world filled with finite players.”