If there is such a thing as a "cult book" in today's Googled-out world, this brief but powerful volume has got to be it. Finite and Infinite Games by James Carse, a professor emeritus of philosophy and religion at New York University, audaciously defines all human experience as two different kinds of games:
-- Finite games are played with the goal of winning
-- Infinite games are played with the goal of continuing the game
-- Infinite games are played with the goal of continuing the game
Beyond this brief summary, there really is no way to further abbreviate the contents of this remarkable book. It transcends categories, and so does the author. Though Carse has had a career as a professor of religion, he does not believe in God. But he is "endlessly fascinated with the unknowability of what it means to be human, to exist at all."
Here's a link to the Amazon page where you can order Finite and Infinite Games in hard copy or electronic edition. You can also see readers' reviews. One reviewer says, "Read this book, be captivated by it, but don't expect any final answers." Of course, once you grasp the concept of an infinite game -- whether it's in business, philosophy, romance, or life itself -- you definitely won't expect any final answers. You won't want them either.
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