Book · 1978 · Utopias
The grasshopper : games, life, and Utopia
- mentions
- 2
- person
- 1
- podcasts
- 2
- episodes
- 2
- recommendations
- 0
In 1978, the Canadian philosopher Bernard Suits published a sly and influential little book called The Grasshopper: Games, Life, and Utopia, in which he defined game playing as the voluntary attempt to overcome unnecessary obstacles.
Stephen Dubner · Freakonomics Radio · May 2026 The best things said about it
That was Bernard suits who said in his book The Grasshopper games life and Utopia that gameplay in particular is the voluntary attempt to overcome unnecessary obstacles.
Why people recommend it
The grasshopper : games, life, and Utopia by Bernard Herbert Suits is a philosophical text that explores the nature of play and defines game playing as the voluntary attempt to overcome unnecessary obstacles. Stephen Dubner brought up the book on an episode of Freakonomics Radio, describing the 1978 publication by the Canadian philosopher as a sly and influential work that established this classic definition of games. Later, on an episode of No Stupid Questions, Catherine Moncure referenced the same book during a fact-check segment. Moncure cited Bernard Suits and his work to clarify and expand upon an earlier comment made by Angela Duckworth regarding the intrinsic definition of play. Across both podcasts, speakers highlighted how Suits used his unique philosophical framework to examine the broader intersections between leisure, existence, and ideal societies. The recurring mentions of the book emphasize its enduring relevance in discussions about why humans engage in rule-bound activities that serve no immediate survival purpose, illustrating the thoughtful depth behind everyday human behavior and institutional gaming structures.
Every mention
Stephen Dubner In 1978, the Canadian philosopher Bernard Suits published a sly and influential little book called The Gras… 1
“In 1978, the Canadian philosopher Bernard Suits published a sly and influential little book called The Grasshopper: Games, Life, and Utopia, in which he defined game playing as the voluntary attempt to overcome unnecessary obstacles”
Mentioned on the show without a named speaker1
“That was Bernard suits who said in his book The Grasshopper games life and Utopia that gameplay in particular is the voluntary attempt to overcome unnecessary obstacles”