THE GAME OF LIFE AND HOW TO PLAY IT: The Original 1925 Unabridged Edition

The original The Game of Life and How to Play It contains 10 chapters. The chapter titles below follow the original contents.

 

Chapter 1: The Game

In the opening chapter, Florence Scovel Shinn introduces the central metaphor of the book: life is a game rather than a battle.

She explains that this game cannot be played successfully without an understanding of spiritual law. Giving and receiving, according to Shinn, are fundamental principles of this game.

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The chapter explores the relationship between what a person gives through words and actions and what eventually returns to them.

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Shinn also introduces the importance of imagination and the subconscious, establishing several ideas that recur throughout the rest of the book.

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The opening chapter therefore provides the foundation for her broader philosophy: life can be approached with greater understanding when its spiritual principles are recognized.

 

Chapter 2: The Law of Prosperity

The second chapter focuses on prosperity. Shinn presents prosperity as more than simply possessing money. The chapter discusses supply, faith, giving, receiving, and the mental attitude with which a person approaches abundance.

 

Rather than treating prosperity solely as an external condition, Shinn connects it with a person's spiritual understanding and expectations.

 

The chapter develops the idea that fear, limitation, and a sense of lack can interfere with one's experience of prosperity, while faith and an understanding of spiritual supply can lead toward a different experience.

 

Chapter 3: The Power of the Word

In the third chapter, Shinn turns to one of the central themes of her work: the power of words. She gives considerable importance to what a person speaks, emphasizing that words are not merely descriptions of circumstances.

 

Within Shinn's metaphysical framework, spoken words can influence consciousness and the conditions a person experiences.

The chapter therefore examines the consequences of speaking from fear, limitation, criticism, or doubt, while also presenting the use of affirmative statements and words of faith.

 

This chapter helps establish why affirmations became such an important part of Shinn's teachings.

 

Chapter 4: The Law of Nonresistance

The fourth chapter presents The Law of Nonresistance.Shinn explores the idea that resisting an unwanted condition through fear, anger, or continual mental struggle can give additional attention and power to that condition.

 

Instead, she advocates a different response based on faith and nonresistance.

 

Nonresistance in Shinn's teaching does not simply mean doing nothing. Rather, it involves releasing excessive resistance and allowing a different spiritual principle to operate.

 

The chapter develops this idea through examples and situations involving fear, conflict, circumstances, and desired outcomes.

 

Chapter 5: The Law of Karma and the Law of Forgiveness

The fifth chapter brings together two related subjects: karma and forgiveness. Shinn discusses the principle of cause and effect and the consequences that can follow from a person's actions and words. She then connects this with forgiveness.

 

Forgiveness becomes important because resentment, anger, and condemnation can keep a person mentally connected to an unwanted experience.

 

Through forgiveness, Shinn presents the possibility of releasing these patterns and moving beyond them.

 

The chapter therefore explores consequences, responsibility, forgiveness, and release within her spiritual framework.

 

Chapter 6: Casting the Burden (Impressing the Subconscious)

The sixth chapter is titled “Casting the Burden (Impressing the Subconscious).” Here Shinn explores the idea of releasing worries and burdens rather than continuously carrying them through fear and mental effort.

 

The chapter also discusses the subconscious and the process of impressing an idea upon it. Faith, surrender, suggestion, and the subconscious are brought together as part of Shinn's approach to changing one's experience.

 

The idea of casting the burden represents a movement away from anxiety and excessive effort and toward trust in a higher spiritual power.

 

Chapter 7: Love

The seventh chapter is simply titled Love. Shinn presents love as an important spiritual principle rather than limiting the subject to romantic relationships. 

 

The chapter explores love in relation to other people, relationships, harmony, and one's mental attitude toward others.

 

Shinn's treatment of love is connected with the broader principles of giving, receiving, forgiveness, and spiritual harmony developed throughout the book.

 

Chapter 8: Intuition or Guidance

The eighth chapter examines intuition and guidance. Shinn suggests that a person should not rely exclusively upon intellectual reasoning when making important decisions. Instead, she gives importance to intuition and what she describes as spiritual or divine guidance.

 

The chapter explores the idea that the right course of action may not always be obvious from external circumstances or ordinary reasoning.

 

Learning to recognize and follow inner guidance therefore becomes another part of what Shinn considers successfully playing the game of life.

 

Chapter 9: Perfect Self-Expression or the Divine Design

The ninth chapter is titled “Perfect Self-Expression or the Divine Design.” Here Shinn explores the idea that each person has a particular form of perfect self-expression.

 

Rather than simply attempting to reproduce another person's life or success, she suggests that an individual should discover and express what is right for them.

 

The concept of the Divine Design is connected with one's talents, purpose, relationships, work, and overall direction in life.

 

The chapter encourages readers to seek their own ideal expression rather than measuring their lives solely against the circumstances of others.

 

Chapter 10: Denials and Affirmations

The final chapter is Denials and Affirmations. This chapter brings together the practical use of the ideas developed throughout the book.

 

Shinn discusses the use of denials to reject the power or permanence of unwanted conditions and affirmations to consciously state a desired spiritual truth.

 

The chapter contains affirmative statements related to different areas of life and demonstrates how Shinn applies her principles through words.

 

It provides a practical conclusion to the book's discussion of spiritual law, belief, speech, expectation, and consciousness.