Here's a quote---from the Foreword to The Art of Play written by Ashley Montagu, the late noted  anthropologist and author of the book, "Growing Young":

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The Art of Play: Helping Adults Reclaim Imagination and Spontaneity (3rd. ed., 1997), by Adam Blatner, M.D. & Allee Blatner.
     (Published by Brunner/Mazel, later Routledge, 1997, now out of print and being revised into a 4th edition. )
(First edition published by authors in 1985 in Texas---a spiral-bound version; second edition published in 1987 by Human Sciences Press.)
 Comments welcome: Email to adam@blatner.com

The Art of Play: Message to CIIS Drama Therapy Students

This book is out of print, but being revised for a new edition.  As a favor to my friend Renee Emunah,  in the interim I've made the book available to you for study at no cost (i.e., free).

First published, August, 2008; Revised and Re-Published, July 19, 2011.:
In return, your suggestions for improvement will be greatly appreciated. I need updated references, anecdotes, what has worked for you, etc. If I use more than a few lines of your  suggestions, I'll mention your name in the acknowledgments of the next edition.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Ashley Montagu, Ph.D. ...h   
Preface to the Revised Edition    
Introduction    
Chapter
   1: A Psychology and Philosophy of Play     1

   2: Play, Pleasure & Paradox     10

   3. The Benefits of Play     h    18

   4. An Orientation to the Art of Play     25

   5. The Extended Session-An Example     40

   6. Fundamentals of Enactment     55

   7. Elaborating Roles     66

   8. Using Psychodramatic Techniques     74

   9. Integrating Other Dimensions of Spontaneity    83

Section II: Countering the Psychological and Cultural Inhibitions to Play

 10. The Inhibition of Play     92

 11. Reality and Fantasy     108

 12. Play's Vulnerability to Judgment     115

Section III: Applications

 13. Applying Sociodramatic Methods in Education    124

 14. Playfulness, and Psychotherapy     134

 15. The Spirit of Play     h    144

 16. The Future of Play     h    154

        General References      161

General Bibliography on Play      177
Index      183