I’m not a gamer, unless you count tennis, which you probably don’t, so my writing a book about games and game design might seem odd. But that’s one of the benefits of being a journalist. I’m afforded the opportunity to learn, which leaves me in a constant state of wonder. It’s led me to publish books on topics as diverse as corporate espionage (Spooked), poorly designed cars that roll over and kill or maim thousands of people (Tragic Indifference, reissued as Blood Highways), businesses expressly divined to grow virally (Viral Loop), as well as novels that explore our tenuous connections between reality and virtual reality (Virtually True), and a murder mystery wrapped in a legal thriller (Trial and Terror).
It’s a privilege to teach at the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute at New York University. It sports a world-class faculty and facility, which creates a stimulating intellectual environment that foments the exchange of ideas and attracts an eclectic, whip-smart student body. I’m indebted to Stephen Solomon, director of the Business and Economic Reporting (BER) program—easily the finest of its kind in the world—who often covered for me as my deadline loomed, as well as all my colleagues.
I owe a bottomless cup of thanks to Sarah Lacy, a force of nature who’s the founder and CEO of PandoDaily. She allowed me the flexibility to finish this book while working as editor of the site. I’m also grateful to Paul Carr, founder of NSFW Corp., a peer-turned-friend, who introduced me to Sarah in the first place. Like many writers, most of my ideas spring from my own reporting and writing. This book grew out of a feature story I wrote for Fast Company and includes material from that, as well as various pieces of text I’ve posted elsewhere, including PandoDaily. I also appreciate the help I’ve received from the Fast Company crew over the years, including Noah Robischon, Tyler Gray, Anjali Mullany, Bob Safian, Rick Tetzelli, and many others.
While writing is largely a solitary pursuit every book is collaborative. Thanks to Courtney Young and the legendary Adrian Zackheim, who acquired the book for Portfolio. Brooke Carey is everything an author could want in an editor and helped me shape this maelstrom of ideas and half-baked theories into a book. Emily Angell then took the reins to bring it to market. Kate Lee did her usual fine job as agent, so I was sad (for me but happy for her) that she departed ICM to work as an editor at Medium. She left me in the capable hands of Kristine Dahl, who helped shepherd this book to publication.
I interviewed more than seventy people for this project, too many to list, but I feel obligated to express special appreciation to those who went the extra mile for me—letting me tap their brains for hours, sometimes days: Carnegie Mellon professors Jesse Schell and Luis von Ahn, whose fingerprints are all over this book; former DARPA director Regina Dugan and Jay Rogers of Local Motors; Quirky’s Ben Kaufman, NYU research librarian Alexa Pearce, Avi Millman of Stray Boots, and Matthew Bernier from the Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Center; the Foldit team, including Dr. David Baker, Seth Cooper, and Firas Khatib; Dr. Carla Pugh, who heads the University of Wisconsin Health Clinical Simulation Program; Susan Olson, who gave me a tour of the sim center; and Maimonides Medical Center chief of surgery Dr. Patrick Borgen; Joshua March of Conversocial, Philip Beauregard and Matthew Grace of Objective Logistics, and Ross Smith, the workplace games guru of Microsoft.
Paul Johnson of design firm Studioe9 engages me in thoughtful discussion on a variety of ethereal tech topics and has influenced how I see the world. Brendan Koerner is a talented writer who took time to share information on Foldit and other games that promote scientific research. Two listservs I’m on—Vor and BirdbyBird—are full of people doing great things and creating fascinating discussion threads. And a shout-out to my tennis buddies, who keep me sane by blasting forehands, backhands, and serves at me: Jon Furay, Sandy Miller, Jon Dahl, Mike Philips, Daniel Djan, and Jeff Amurao.
As challenging as any book is to a writer, it can be equally daunting for the people in his life. If life is a game, then I certainly leveled up to the top of the leaderboard when I married Charlotte. Remarkably generous of soul, she had to do without me for long stretches, as did my daughters, Lila and Sophie, who amaze me every day. (The cognitive teardown of Angry Birds is for you!) I’m also grateful to my extended family: Nana Lin, Nana Bacon, Auntie Me, Uncle B, Charlie, and Olivia, and everyone else who pitched in. Here’s to the memory of Barbara and Arnold. I miss you.
Do many people read the acknowledgments? Consider this an “Easter egg.” Visit penenberg.com and send me an e-mail telling me what you think of the book, or whatever else you want to talk about. I’ll write back. You can also find me on Twitter: @penenberg.
ADAM L. PENENBERG
Brooklyn, New York
May 2013