"There are over one thousand entries, comprising 403 titles of specialist books and pamphlets, 493 subsequent editions and variants, and 158 patents. Most of the subject documents are in English, but the French, German, Italian, Swedish, Afrikaans, Chinese and Japanese languages are also represented."--Jacket.

According to Roger Caillois, play is an occasion of pure waste. In spite of this - or because of it - play constitutes an essential element of human social and spiritual development. In this study, the author defines play as a free and voluntary activity that occurs in a pure space, isolated and protected from the rest of life.