“Genuine travel has no destination. Travelers do not go somewhere, but constantly discover that they are somewhere else. Since gardening is a way not of subduing the indifference of nature but of raising one’s own spontaneity to respond to the disregarding vagaries and unpredictabilities of nature. We do not look on nature as a sequence of changing scenes but look on ourselves as persons in passage. Nature does not change; it has no inside or outside. It is therefore not possible to travel through it. All travel is therefore change within the traveler, and it is for that reason that travelers are always somewhere else. To travel is to grow.” - James P. Carse, Finite and Infinite Games

This book was tough, but well, well worth it. When it first started I thought to myself “Oh, this is some thought experiment where videogames are akin to a simulation of the real world.”. Boy as I wrong.

I mean, it was good to have somewhere to start! After that though, this book went way deep. It touched on everything – religion, spirituality, sex, communities, family, science. It’s all in here.For many years, when I had delved into a new subject, I have often marvelled at the depth of literature that is to be found on each topic. Whether it is sports, technology, literature, you name it, there is a mountain of information to choose from, an immense drilling into every facet of each topic. After realising this, I wondered if there was a book that went the other way, that panned out and looked at all topics from 30,000 feet. Finite and Infinite Games is one such book.

Every sentence required deep concentration. Although I finished it this morning, I feel that if I read it right now I would get a different interpretation again! Ultimately, it talked to me about philosophy, and the role of philosophy underpinnings in everything we know and teach. A much-maligned term, I believe that understanding the philosophy of the world makes the going easier. This book feels like a modern day version of something written in ancient Greece 2000 years ago, but updated for the times.

I don’t recommend this book as a starter book for anyone looking for a grounding in philosophy, but its definitely on the must-read list for those looking to stretch their imaginations.

I expect to find the quote above on a lot of travel blogs from now on!