Author here! There is a lot about Taylorism in the book, and about how the principles behind gamification extend back hundreds if not thousands of years. The reason why we talk about "gamification" now is not just because it's a slogan, however, it's because the way in which it's being presented and the feedback loops are very different from the past.

I do agree with you about the "you've been played" aspect, that's a publisher thing and "the gamification of everything" would be a less sensational and more accurate title.