Read an Excerpt

Foreword

Minecraft is a cultural phenomenon. It has impacted music, television, and books, and for many people it has been a life-changing game. When I first started playing, back in the summer of 2009, I didn’t know it would be a life-changing game for me, too. I was too concerned with building my brick pyramids and glass balconies, and I didn’t yet see what Minecraft was heading to become.

Since then—despite its simple graphics and mechanics—millions and millions of people have joined the adventures of Minecraft. Once you overcome the initial rough edges and see the bigger picture, you find endless worlds, creativity, challenges, and limitless storytelling in one big package.

These experiences are what we have cherished and aimed to preserve, while constantly adding and improving to keep Minecraft fresh and interesting. With this book we want to share how the people behind Minecraft have been thinking about its history and show how important the game has been—and is—to us.

Of course, to truly understand why Minecraft has touched the hearts and minds of so many others, you really should play it yourself. My hunch is that you already have, so let’s together build a deeper understanding of the universe of Minecraft!

Jens “Jeb” Bergensten