Playful Intelligence

“Playful Intelligence is one of the most important and influential books you will ever read. It struck me on a deeply personal and emotional level. Anthony DeBenedet has written a wonderful and practical guide to being a more effective parent, spouse, friend, and colleague; it’s a new way to think about what matters most in work and life. Simply put, this book will make you a better human being. Prepare to be inspired!”—Tom Rath, best-selling author of StrengthsFinder 2.0, How Full is Your Bucket, and Wellbeing

In his current work, DeBenedet (coauthor, The Art of Roughhousing: Good Old-Fashioned Horseplay and Why Every Kid Needs It) encourages readers to reintroduce playfulness into their personalities to reduce the negative effect that “the intensity of adulthood” has on living a life of quality. After researching 40 behavioral qualities associated with playfulness, the author selected the five most highly valued―imagination, sociability, humor, spontaneity, and wonder―to serve as the foundation for his theory of playful intelligence, defined as an extension of the “intrapersonal and interpersonal intelligence” skills needed to navigate life without relinquishing joy. Each of the characteristics is discussed throughout, providing ways to awaken the dormant resiliency traits of youth. Verdict: A timely reminder for anyone who feels overwhelmed by daily “adulting” stressors and seeks to revive the psychological flexibility of childhood.—Library Journal

“Much in this book can benefit everyone, so I recommend it to everyone. Well written, well documented, and well designed to hold the reader’s attention, it can be read as a psychological discourse on the nature of human resilience, as a self-help book for becoming happier, or as a set of quite remarkable stories about people who have dealt effectively with adversity. I read it as all three.”—Peter Gray, American Journal of Play

“Anthony DeBenedet’s timely work shows us how playfulness makes us better and offers a simple framework for integrating playfulness into our day-to-day lives. An antidote to the pressure, seriousness, and responsibility overload that defines much of adulthood, Playful Intelligence is the perfect prescription for our high-stress lives.”—Jonah Berger, bestselling author of Contagious and Invisible Influence

“By breaking playfulness down into its component parts, DeBenedet invites us on a delightful adventure filled with compelling research, inspiring stories, and practical steps that makes it possible for us to cultivate this elusive quality and unleash it into our daily lives. In other words, he provides our magical inner child with an escape route through the thicket of our adult conditioning. The world just became a more humane and playful place!”—Gwen Gordon, Emmy Award-winning creative director and author of The Wonderful W

“Anthony’s own playful intelligence shines through every page of this delightful and thought-provoking book. His real gift, however, is showing the rest of us how to be more playful in our adult lives. If everyone took the guidance in this book to heart, the world would be a much better place!”—Lawrence J. Cohen, Ph.D., author of Playful Parenting

“Playful Intelligence is exactly what the doctor ordered! In his new book, DeBenedet beautifully combines his expertise as a physician, behavioral-science aficionado, and fun-loving human being, and writes us the perfect prescription for a happier, healthier, and more playfully engaged life. By breaking down playfulness into its five key components, and sharing ways to incorporate the power of play into our everyday lives, this book gives adults the permission they need to work hard, and play harder.”—Meredith Sinclair, M. Ed., lifestyle expert and author of Well Played: The Ultimate Guide to Awakening Your Family’s Playful Spirit