Play, Playfulness, Creativity and Innovation

This is an excellent review of a book called Play, Playfulness, Creativity and Innovation by Patrick Bateson and Paul Martin. The authors are behavioral biologists at the University of Cambridge. They write that not only is “playful play” critical to finding innovative solutions to problem-solving, but that it is vital to evolutionary development.
(From the article by Gillian Brown)The scientists… argue that “…play is intricately linked to our ability to generate creative solutions to novel problems. The implications of the links between play and creativity apparently extend beyond any personal enjoyment that individuals might gain, as creative ideas that are adopted and implemented by others can have substantial impact on the direction of evolution. Play is therefore a most serious-minded activity.”
Need I say more? Let’s play!
The Serious Business of Play