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Play
It is what it is, they say, but is it?
Jed McKenna has always been more about destroying questions than answering them, so it's no surprise that Play is more Q than A. In fact, it might be viewed as a progression through the stages of self-inquiry, each of the seven vignettes taking us a bit further along on the inward journey, the early vignettes asking the questions, and the latter ones looking at those who do ask; showing us, promising us, warning us, where honest and relentless inquiry really lead.
But who, Jed has asked, really wants to go where this road really leads? On this journey, who you are changes with every step, and it's all about taking the next step. In the end, Play is what it is. Or is it? Maybe it's the journey of the examined life, or maybe it's just a playful little play. Ultimately, of course, Play, like life, like anything, is whatever it is to you.
Jed McKenna has always been more about destroying questions than answering them, so it's no surprise that Play is more Q than A. In fact, it might be viewed as a progression through the stages of self-inquiry, each of the seven vignettes taking us a bit further along on the inward journey, the early vignettes asking the questions, and the latter ones looking at those who do ask; showing us, promising us, warning us, where honest and relentless inquiry really lead.
But who, Jed has asked, really wants to go where this road really leads? On this journey, who you are changes with every step, and it's all about taking the next step. In the end, Play is what it is. Or is it? Maybe it's the journey of the examined life, or maybe it's just a playful little play. Ultimately, of course, Play, like life, like anything, is whatever it is to you.
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 8, 2014
30 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 19, 2015
Short review: If you were drawn to the previous works of Jed McKenna (Enlightenment Trilogy: Spiritual Enlightenment, Spiritually Incorrect Enlightenment, Spiritual Warfare and his Theory of Everything then I recommend delving further with this book. If you have NOT read the previous books, don't start here. It will only confuse you.
August 6, 2018
Jed McKenna's "Play" is a play. Yes, that is what I wrote. No typos. What's fascinating about the play is that McKenna typically writes non-fiction books about thing like spiritual enlightenment (you know, basic stuff), making "Play" a divergence from his usual work. "Play" is a quick read which uses allegory to express some of McKenna's key ideas about seeing through social/political/religious programming, breaking free from the limits of ego, and getting past the idea that life's big questions can only be answered by spiritual leaders or through a lifetime of theological devotion.
December 12, 2014
Awesome summary
This book condenses all that is in McKenna's trilogy. So concise! So elegant! It reminds me of where I am.
This book condenses all that is in McKenna's trilogy. So concise! So elegant! It reminds me of where I am.
November 8, 2018
Funny and Powerful
I have been a fan of Jed McKenna for a few years and this short play was funny and thought provoking. Very entertaining.
I have been a fan of Jed McKenna for a few years and this short play was funny and thought provoking. Very entertaining.
June 4, 2021
Jeez, this guy's really grinding my nuts. The play? I don't know, the first one was cute, with these babies and everything, then the next one was like war and torture and some like philosophy stuff or whatever, then there was like a funny parade thing and then a weird debate thing, but this last one was totally… I don't know, it's getting a little too… something… I'm not sure I like theater
Yes! Now I see, and I see that this carnival does have rules, and the first rule is to keep your eyes closed at all times. My mistake was to look, but I will look no more. I will close my eyes and ride the rides and laugh and scream. I'll be an easy mark for the carnies and I'll play the games and stuff my face and if I ever come close to seeing this place for what it really is, then I'll close my eyes even tighter and play even harder and laugh and scream even louder.
, if you were an actual philosopher, you would know that there is no such thing as objectively true knowledge, only justified subjective belief.
Truth and knowledge are things we can profess but never possess, so we live in a world of make-believe and make believe we don't
I'm not afraid of the dark, I'm afraid of the light; the terrible cold light where everything is completely visible and there's nowhere left to hide…
Yes! Now I see, and I see that this carnival does have rules, and the first rule is to keep your eyes closed at all times. My mistake was to look, but I will look no more. I will close my eyes and ride the rides and laugh and scream. I'll be an easy mark for the carnies and I'll play the games and stuff my face and if I ever come close to seeing this place for what it really is, then I'll close my eyes even tighter and play even harder and laugh and scream even louder.
, if you were an actual philosopher, you would know that there is no such thing as objectively true knowledge, only justified subjective belief.
Truth and knowledge are things we can profess but never possess, so we live in a world of make-believe and make believe we don't
I'm not afraid of the dark, I'm afraid of the light; the terrible cold light where everything is completely visible and there's nowhere left to hide…
January 12, 2026
Agree with previous reviewer that this is not a good McKenna book to start with, but if you've read the others you'll likely enjoy. To me it felt like he was feeling restless with his previous formats and trying to expand. Still great insights though!
June 4, 2021
All the questions worth asking in this life are in here.
Also, so fucking funny.
Also, so fucking funny.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews