Book SummaryThe Power of Fun, by Catherine Price

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of The Power of Fun

When’s the last time you did something fun? For many of us, as we get older, fun starts to take a backseat to the neverending list of adult responsibilities. But what if it didn't have to be that way? In The Power of Fun, Catherine Price uses research and personal anecdotes to explain why fun is fundamental to living a happy and healthy life and how everyone can start having more fun.

Price is an award-winning science writer, speaker, and consultant. She's the author of several books including Vitamania and _[How to Break Up With Your...

The Power of Fun Summary What Is True Fun and Why Does It Matter?

According to Price, the word fun has been used to describe so many different types of experiences that it has begun to lose some of its meaning. We use fun to describe anything from getting a massage to going skydiving. She explains that many of us also mistake activities like binge-watching a show or scrolling on social media for fun when these activities are little more than distraction or passive entertainment that rarely leaves us feeling better than before.

Price focuses on what she calls True Fun, the kind of fun that leaves you feeling energized and inspired. She argues that True Fun isn't only the most enjoyable kind of fun, but it’s also good for your physical and emotional well-being. Price defines True Fun as the intersection of playfulness, connection, and flow. We’ll discuss each component in turn.

(Shortform note: As Price acknowledges, there's limited research on the nature of fun. Price’s definition of True Fun, for example, is based solely on personal experience and what she extrapolated from the reported experiences of 1,500 volunteers. However, the limited research that exists seems to align with Price’s conclusion that...

The Power of Fun Summary Why Are We Having Less Fun?

Price argues that despite research that seems to demonstrate the positive impact fun has on our lives, people today spend less time having fun than previous generations. She explains that our changing relationships to time and technology inhibit our opportunities for play, connection, and flow that are necessary to experience True Fun.

(Shortform note: It’s difficult to measure and compare the subjective experience of fun across generations. However, numerous studies have shown that gen Z adults and millennials report higher levels of stress than their parents’ and grandparents’ generations. While this doesn’t directly support Price’s claim that people today have less fun than older generations, it does reveal generational differences in self-reported well-being that may in part be affected by how people spend their leisure time.)

Our Changing Relationship to Time

Citing the work of Celeste Headlee, author of Do Nothing, Price explains how the rise of industrialization meant workers...

The Power of Fun Summary How Can You Have More Fun?

Having explained the power of True Fun and why it has become harder to find it, we’ll now give Price’s tips to start incorporating more fun into your life.

Start With a Self-Assessment

Before making any major changes, Price suggests taking time to do a self-assessment (or “fun audit”) of your current relationship to fun to better understand what True Fun means for you.

(Shortform note: Self-assessment is a powerful tool to use before making any kind of life change, whether it be a career shift or implementing a new habit. Self-assessment allows you to make sure the change is right for you, identify potential challenges, and develop a plan, all of which will ultimately increase your chances of success.)

Step 1: Identify what fun feels like. Many of us are acutely aware of what stress and worry feel like. We spend less time thinking about what fun feels like. Ask yourself how you know you’re having fun. What does it feel like emotionally?...

Shortform Exercise: Reflect on Your Experiences of True Fun

Price suggests that before adding more fun into your life, it’s important to understand what fun means to you.

Think back to an experience that you would unequivocally describe as fun. Describe that experience briefly below.

Shortform Exercise: Find Your Passion(s)

After making more space for fun in your life, Price recommends filling the new space with something you’re passionate about.

If you can already identify a passion, describe it below. If you aren’t sure what your passions are, describe something you’ve always wanted to learn about or try but have never had the chance.