The Joy of Play: Insights on Fun and Animal Behavior

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This chapter explores the concept of fun and play in non-human animals, particularly analyzing play behavior in fish and dogs while addressing anthropomorphism in interpreting their actions. The speakers discuss the significance of playful interactions, especially with dogs, and the impact of shared joyful experiences on personal well-being. Furthermore, they delve into childhood's influence on our relationship with fun, contrasting the simplicity of playing with boxes versus structured toys and emphasizing the importance of free play in fostering creativity.

What exactly is “fun?” How will you know when you’re having it? Do introverts have special alone fun? Is it okay to seek fun in bleak times? Catherine Price is an award-winning journalist and author who spent years researching the science of fun for her book “The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again.” She let me lob many questions at her including: adult vs. childhood fun, what’s the difference between happiness and laughter and fun, what does fun do to your actual meat body, how can you have more of it, do substances mean more fun, and how to have fun when the world is crumbling in cinders around you – and why it’s important that you do. It’s a fun one, I promise.

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