Overview

***A Next Big Idea Book Club Must Read*** Playfulness can help you navigate life with more creativity, resilience, and joy—entrepreneur Piera Gelardi offers simple practices and radical permission to shift from the Pressured Way to the Playful Way. Somewhere along the way to adulthood, we learned that play is frivolous. Childish. Something to outgrow. We treat it like a reward we have to earn, separate from our ""real"" lives. But denying our playfulness has a cost—it leaves us feeling drained and disconnected. We rely on pressure and perfectionism, trying to force outcomes, wondering why nothing feels fun anymore. There's another way. In The Playful Way, creative entrepreneur Piera Gelardi shows how to shift from the Pressured Way—clenching, forcing, white-knuckling through life—to the Playful Way, where you move through the world with fluidity, curiosity, and aliveness. For Gelardi—who has built iconic brands, created daring experiences, and consistently put herself out there in bold, creative ways—play has never been frivolous. It was how she made sense of the world. As an adult, she realized that what she'd called burnout or creative block was really a disconnection from play—and that returning to it helped her feel alive again. Through intimate stories, research, and accessible practices, you'll discover how to: quiet the inner critics that restrict your playfulness unlock the Eight Powers of Play embrace a mindset that transforms how you navigate challenges, deepen connections, and find joy in everyday moments The Playful Way is your guide to living with more whimsy, wonder, and possibility—through both the light moments and the tough ones. Because when you embrace playfulness, you don't have to go play. Play comes with you everywhere.

Full Product Details

9780063416697

Table of Contents

Reviews

“Piera Gelardi is our generation's voice on how to unleash play in our work and life. The Playful Way is a soulful, practical, and page-turning book that expands your understanding of play through delicious storytelling and creative exercises. Gelardi reminds us that play is an everyday act that we can all tap into as a force to unwind anxiety, spark creativity, and deepen our connections."" — Scott Shigeoka, author of Seek ??????? “In The Playful Way, Piera Gelardi makes a compelling and deeply human case for play as a vital practice for living—not as escapism, but as a source of resilience, creativity, connection, and care. Drawing on science, storytelling, and her own lived experience, Gelardi shows how playfulness can help us navigate uncertainty, soften rigidity, and rediscover possibility in even the most ordinary moments.” — Debbie Millman, author of Brand Thinking and Why Design Matters ""Growing up in a playful family taught me the power of possibility. Stuck waiting for the bus became the perfect time to create a family rap or see who could spot the most red cars within a minute. Piera Gelardi's book is full of tips to rediscover that playful spirit, and a powerful articulation about the seriousness of play. 'Renew your wows' with The Playful Way!"" — Casper ter Kuile, author of The Power of Ritual

Author Information

Piera Gelardi is a creative entrepreneur, speaker, and artist passionate about bringing play into every room she enters. She cofounded the influential media brand Refinery29 and its magical pop-up, 29Rooms, earning recognition as one of Ad Age's ""50 Most Creative People"" and Entrepreneur's ""50 Most Daring Entrepreneurs."" Through her new company, NoomaLooma, and her energetic keynotes, Piera helps people unlock their creative superpowers. When she's not playing professionally, she loves hosting noodle and doodle nights, throwing spontaneous dance parties, and making up songs with her daughter, Viva. Follow her at @PieraLuisa on Instagram and Substack, or visit www.pieragelardi.com

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