Finite and Infinite Games -- James P. Carse

"A finite game is played for the purpose of winning.  An infinite game is played for the purpose of continuing the play."

...

"Because infinite players prepare themselves to be surprised by the future, they play in complete openness.  It is not an openness as in candor, but an openness as in vulnerability.  It is not a matter of exposing one's unchanging identity, the true self that has always been, but a way of exposing one's ceaseless growth, the dynamic self that is yet to be. The infinite player does not expect to only be amused by surprise, but to be transformed by it."

finite games are easier to formulate, and so many people have been taught about them and not about infinite games. many are puzzled by even the notion of the latter. not so those who have more than scratched the surface of, eg, design and improvisation, however, where it generally serves you to play with the world and others rather than against them. i find questions and insights in any creative practices illuminated by this book - in the framing of finite and infinite games.

The Tao Te Ching -- Lao Tsu

"1. A way can be a guide, but not a fixed path;
names can be given, but not permanent labels.
Nonbeing is called the beginning of heaven and earth;
being is called the mother of all things.
Always passionless, thereby observe the subtle;
ever intent, thereby observe the apparent.
These two come from the same source but differ in name;
both are considered mysteries.
The mystery of mysteries
is the gateway of marvels."

taoism's acknowledged historical introduction, i have gravitated to thomas cleary's translation in the essential tao. it also includes a translation of the inner teachings of chuang tzu, the other central taoist text, and one which often provides more elaboration than the tao te ching.

The Politics of Experience -- R.D. Laing

"Experience used to be called the soul."

...

"science [...] means a form of knowledge adequate to its subject."

...

"The seems to be no agent more effective than another person in bringing a world for onself alive, or, by a glance, a gesture, or a remark, shriveling up the reality in which one is lodged."

...

"We are taught what to experience and what not to experience, as we are taught what movements to make and what sounds to emit."

...

"We are afraid to approach the fathomless and bottomless groundlessness of everything."

...

"For without the inner the outer loses its meaning; and without the outer, the inner loses its substance."

john brunner:

• stand on zanzibar
• the shockwave rider

frank herbert (profound perspectives on humanity extended, ecology, social dynamics):

• the dosadi experiment (sequel to whipping star)
• dune and, to lesser degree, dune sequels
• the eyes of heisenberg
• the godmakers

neil stephenson

• zodiac - non-stop and wild
• diamond age - unbridled and ferocious invention
• cryptonomicon - computer geeks delight, though some non-geek types seem to like it, too
• snow crash

john crowley:

• little, big
• engine summer

haunting magical realism

tea with the black dragon - r.a. mcavoy - elegant, amusing, and riveting fantasy

ray bradbury - great for the younger reader getting a taste for excursions in grace and wonder:

• the martian chronicles
• dandelion wine
• the illustrated man

roger zelazny - amazingly fun adventure/fantasy/alternate worlds stuff:

• nine princes of amber, and several (five? six?) sequels; this is the definitive science fiction/adventure/fantasy series
• creatures of light and darkness
• lord of light

isaac asimov's all-time classic foundation trilogy: foundation, foundation and empire, and second foundation. also, caves of steel.

arthur c clarke:

• the nine billion names of god: best short stories of arthur c clarke
• 2001: a space odyssey

keith laumer: dinosaur beach

gordon r dickson: sleepwalkers' world