😉Florence Scovel Shinn Still Hits in 2025

The initial encounter with Florence Scovel Shinn's "The Game of Life and How to Play It" was a moment that really changed my life for the better.

Published in 1925, this book has navigated through a century, yet its message continues to strike and influence with remarkable force in the year 2025. At its heart lies this simple idea: life is not a battle but a game to be played, governed by spiritual laws that, when understood and applied, can lead to a more fulfilling and successful existence.

The fact that a book published so long ago continues to be widely read and recommended in the world of 2025 suggests that its message still taps into fundamental truths and transcends the constraints of time.

For many, including myself, "The Game of Life" has become more than just a book; it's a yearly ritual, it is a way for me to reconnect with a more optimistic way of living. Reading it at least once a year has become like some sort of tradition for me...hahaha, a moment to intentionally reignite a "magic-like mentality". When I read this book, it always serves as a powerful reminder of the "rules" of this life game, and always - always, makes me feel a fresh dose of positivity and clarity while I read it.

The main idea behind the book is that life is like a game with its own set of rules and this really sticks with you. It makes you feel like, once you understand those rules, you can approach life with a bit more ease and less stress. And strangely enough, when you’re actively applying what the book teaches, you start noticing more synchronicities, those weirdly perfect coincidences that feel like little winks from life, you know.

Coming back to the book every time I read it; it just brings back that sense of magic. It’s not just about remembering the ideas; it’s about feeling uplifted again, mentally, and emotionally. It’s like it resets your viewpoint so to speak and gets you back into a positive, proactive mindset.

What’s interesting is how often those “coincidences” seem to show up during this time, at least for me, when I read it.

One moment that really stuck with me happened on an ordinary subway ride to work. Thinking about The Game of Life, you know, just letting the ideas roll around in my head - when I happened to glance up. A few seats away, there was a woman completely absorbed in a book. I looked a little closer, and there it was - The Game of Life. Same book I’d been thinking about.

But what really caught my attention wasn’t just the coincidence, it was the look on her face. She was smiling, not just a polite little smile, but one of those genuine, joyful expressions. You could tell she wasn’t just reading, she was feeling it. Right there, in the middle of a crowded train, something in that book was lighting her up.

That moment reminded me just how powerful this book can be. It’s not just words on a page, it moves people. Seeing someone visibly happy because of it made me feel like, yeah, this book really does something. And the fact that it happened in such a random, everyday setting made it feel even more magical.

One of the first things that hits you when reading The Game of Life and How to Play It -  is its bold opening: life is not a battle, but a game. And honestly, that shift in mindset couldn’t feel more relevant in 2025. In a world that often pushes us to compete, hustle, and worry, seeing life as a game, something you can learn, enjoy, and even master, brings a whole new sense of relief and freedom.

Instead of viewing every challenge as a war you need to survive, this perspective invites you to approach life with curiosity and why not some playfulness. According to the book, “winning” isn’t about crushing others or collecting trophies. It’s about feeling good across the board, and this means in health, love, purpose, money and of course self-expression.

One teaching that really stands out is the idea of blessing your competition. It sounds strange at first, bless someone who’s challenging you or making your life harder? But it’s a central theme in the book. Instead of fighting back, you bless them. Why? Because blessing diffuses tension. It’s like taking the batteries out of negativity. It doesn’t mean being passive or letting people walk over you. It means choosing not to waste your energy on resistance.

It’s powerful because it flips the usual instinct to resist or defend. Instead, you're creating space for better outcomes by changing your energy. It’s not magic in the woo-woo sense, it’s a mindset shift that often leads to surprising, positive changes in how situations play out.

Another timeless gem in Shinn’s book is how she talks about words. “Your word is your wand”. Shinn reminds us that our words create, they shape how we see ourselves, how others respond to us. Choose them wisely, and they become a tool for freedom.

The book also dips into spiritual ideas like karma and forgiveness, not in a preachy way, but in a way that makes you pause and reflect. Karma, as she frames it, is about cause and effect: what you put out, you get back. Simple and powerful. And forgiveness? That’s your way out of resentment and repetitive pain. Shinn makes the case that letting go, really letting go, frees you up to move forward. You don’t do it for the other person, you do it for you.

So why is this book still resonating a hundred years after it was written? Maybe it’s because it goes beyond trends and taps into something deep and universal.

If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just looking for a new way to see the world, give this book a try. Try out its ideas, even if they feel strange at first. Because the magic isn’t just in the reading, it’s in - of course the doing. And who knows? It might just change the game for you too.

🔮📖You can get the book from here "The Game of Life and How to Play it" by Florence Scovel Shinn: https://amzn.to/4jW9Wax