You've Been Played: How Corporations, Governments, and Schools Use Games to Control Us All by Adrian Hon

Game designer Adrian Hon investigates the pervasive rise of gamification—how corporations, schools, and governments harness elements like points, badges, leaderboards, and virtual challenges to influence behavior and control people. From warehouse workers racing virtual dragons to gig economy drivers facing algorithmic nudges, the book offers a critical look at how modern technology exploits human psychology under the guise of fun, serving as a call to protect personal autonomy.