The bearable lightness of living on impulse

Between 2001 and 2006, Tom Bissell wrote several books and over 50 magazine articles. Then he discovered the Grand Theft auto series and cocaine - a perfect match. He spent the next four years playing, occasionally squeezing in some sleep between marathon gaming sessions. He seems to have few regrets because video games apparently enriched his life giving him the most intense experiences (though he does acknowledge some collateral damage). I do hope this spin is part of the marketing strategy for Bissell's new book. The lead character in GTA IV is Niko Bellic, seemingly a former Serb paramilitary with some blood on his hands. But, hey, he has a friend called Hassan - which is a nice way for the makers of that allegedly hyperviolent video game to promote the cause of diversity and multiculturalism.