Coming soon · Book Profile
The Oxford history of board games
An authoritative historical and analytical survey of traditional board games from around the world, classifying them into distinct families based on their core mechanics and objectives.
A profile of this book is on the way.
What it’s about
This unique book demonstrates that playing games is a serious business, historically an occupation for adults reflecting the moral, social, and even military codes of their cultures. David Parlett's accessible and entertaining style guides the reader through the major families of games: those based on configuration or connection, races or chases, wars or hunts, capture or blockade. Focusing primarily on traditional folk games that have evolved organically over centuries, it also discusses modern commercial products that have built upon their legacy. More than a 'how-to' book, this is an affectionate and authoritative survey of a familiar but often neglected part of our cultural history, offering a deeper understanding that will make any reader a better-informed player.
The through-line
- Who it’s for
- The reader is a board game enthusiast, a curious historian, or a game designer who wants to understand the deeper connections and history behind the games they play, moving beyond simply learning the rules.
- The problem
- The world of board games is vast and seemingly chaotic, with no clear framework for understanding how different games relate to one another. Available literature is often either a simple rulebook, narrowly focused, or academically dense and outdated. The reader feels their appreciation for games is superficial. They suspect there are underlying patterns and a rich history to discover, but feel frustrated by the lack of a clear, comprehensive guide.
- The plan
- Learn a formal classification system for all board games based on their core mechanics.
- Explore the history and evolution of Race games, from ancient dice games to modern strategic racers.
- Discover the principles of Space, Chase, and Displace games, seeing the hidden connections between classics like Chess, Go, and even Monopoly.
- Gain a comprehensive framework for analyzing and appreciating any board game, past or present.
- The payoff
- The reader's appreciation for games is transformed; they can see the entire landscape of board games as an interconnected family tree. · They can analyze any game, identifying its core mechanics and placing it within a historical and cultural context. · They become a better-informed player, a more insightful critic, and can even apply these principles to game design.
See our guide
Additional reading
- Start with Why · Simon Sinek
The book's core idea—'People don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it'—is central to crafting a compelling crowdfunding narrative that connects with backers on an emotional level.
- To Sell Is Human · Daniel Pink
Provides insights into the psychology of pitching and influence, such as the importance of making the audience (backers) feel like collaborators, which is a key strategy for engagement.
- Funding the Dream Podcast · Richard Bliss
A recommended resource for creators, offering interviews and specific insights into crowdfunding tactics and strategies.
- jamesmathe.com (blog) · James Mathe
A creator's blog recommended by the author for its detailed, list-based entries full of practical information for crowdfunders.
- Ready Player One · Ernest Cline
Recommended as an enjoyable alternative read for those who decide crowdfunding isn't for them, showing the author's engagement with geek culture.
- Homo Ludens · Johan Huizinga
Referenced for its foundational concept of the 'magic circle,' which defines play as a separate, protected space outside of ordinary life. This contextualizes the author's own theory.
- Man, Play and Games · Roger Caillois
Cited for its academic definition and categorization of games, providing a counterpoint to the more practical definitions offered by game designers.
- Rules of Play · Katie Salen and Eric Zimmerman
Mentioned as a key contemporary text offering a precise, systemic definition of a game, which the author uses as part of his survey of existing definitions.
- Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience · Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
The concept of 'flow' is discussed as a state of deep immersion that is often associated with fun, but the author distinguishes his theory by focusing on learning rather than mastery.
- The Essential Difference · Simon Baron-Cohen
The theory of 'systematizing' versus 'empathizing' brains is used to explain why different types of games may appeal to different people, particularly along gender lines.