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“There are at least two kinds of games: finite and infinite. A finite game is played for the purpose of winning, an infinite game for the purpose of continuing the play.”

Thus begins one of the most endlessly fascinating philosophy books you’re ever likely to come across — and one that can impact your life in ways that you can’t unsee once you’ve seen them for the first time.

If you haven’t read the book before, the distinction between finite and infinite games is kinda important, so let’s start there!

A finite game is any activity with clear, identifiable rules, clear boundaries, and clear winners and losers — everything from a football game to an international conflict.

The purpose of an army is to defeat the enemy so decisively that they cannot continue, and in the case of the football team, at the end of the game there’s no more time left, and an ultimate winner and loser have been decided.

Most people, as you can see, are familiar with finite games — elections, contests, obtaining a university degree, etc.

Infinite games, by contrast, are played in order to keep playing, to see how far you can go.