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Broad your knowledge about theory of games
I teach theory of games for practical business applications.I purchased this book for broadning my knowledge about the theory of games. Politics it is not my cup of coffe, but the book worths what I paid. Douglas Gilson ... Read more

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In this path-breaking theoretical work, political scientist Steven Brams and mathematician Mark Kilgour show how game theory can be applied to the rigorous development and thoughtful analysis of several critical problems that afflict the security of nations, from the deterrence of foes who might launch attacks, to the stabilization of crises that could explode into wars. In addition, they analyze a variety of related questions, including the interlocking preferences that fuel arms races, the strategic impact that Star Wars may have on nuclear deterrence, and optimal strategies for verifying arms control treaties.

Of interest to students on international relations and foreign policy as well as those concerned with the formal analysis of conflict, Game Theory and National Security provides new foundations for understanding the rational basis of international conflict. ... Read more

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Dynamic games continue to attract strong interest from researchers interested in modelling competitive as well as conflict situations exhibiting an intertemporel aspect. Applications of dynamic games have proven to be a suitable methodology to study the behaviour of players (decision-makers) and to predict the outcome of such situations in many areas including engineering, economics, management science, military, biology and political science.

Dynamic Games: Theory and Applications collects thirteen articles written by established researchers. It is an excellent reference for researchers and graduate students covering a wide range of emerging and revisited problems in both cooperative and non-cooperative games in different areas of applications, especially in economics and management science.

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This book is on applications of game theory. It contains a lot of examples of applications of game theory together with the background of those games considered and a list of unsolved problems. Also we consider only the game where the optimal strategies of the players are found in closed form. For example, the following games are investigated: (a) games of protection of a channel from infiltration of a submarine, (b) the submarine versus helicopter game, (c) the matrix search games, (d) allocation search and economics games, where players face up an alternative either not to come into contest if the cost of efforts seems too high, or come into it, (e) dynamic infiltration games where the infiltrator tries to penetrate zone uncaught, (f) duels and (g) parlour games. ... Read more

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Formal political theory seeks to develop formal, mathematical models of political and economic processes. This book attempts to integrate the last twenty years of development in this field. Professor Ordeshook uses the modern developments in the theory of games (decision making with multiple, interactive decision makers) as the basis for the synthesis. Topics covered include models of elections and of committee processes, the demand and supply of public goods, and surveys of game theory and social-choice theory. Game Theory and Political Theory is designed as a textbook for graduate courses in formal political theory and political economy. ... Read more

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Noted expert’s clearly written discussions of essential ideas of highly useful mathematical approach to human behavior and decision-making. Lucid, accessible treatment of such concepts as "utility," "strategy," and the difference between "non-zero" and "zero-sum" games. Minimum of mathematical prerequisites makes it accessible to non-mathematicians.
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Customer Reviews (2)

A concise, colorful and illuminating introduction to two-players Game Theory
Definitely a must reading if you are interested in game theory, conflict resolution or behavioral science. This very enjoyable book is full of interesting and colorful examples to illustrate each covered topic.
Rapoport combines an interesting and rare mix of skills: a mathematical expertise, an extensive and deep knowledge of behavioral science and an amenable writing style. The result is little-great book that knits together work in decision-making, psychology, strategic thinking and pure game theory. In this remarkable and illuminating text the relevant concepts are introduced in a very clear way. In the last chapter the author offers a critical review assessing strong and weaknesses of Game Theory for purposes of modeling human behavior and situations characterized by conflicts of interest. The main conclusion is a remarkable one: the great value of game theory is in its power to reveal its own incompleteness.

The starting point book for learning game theory
If you want to learn the underlying foundations of game theory, and do not want anything over-technical or under-technical in its explanation and description, then this is a good book to consider. Most introductory game theory books usually plunge you into the math immediately and the remaining few use very little of it and focus on the qualitative aspects.If you're looking for a book that can both teach you game theory and the math behind it, but assumes all you know is the math you know or remember was from high school, then Two-Person Game Theory is what you've been looking for. This book begins essentially with no usage of mathematical jargon whatsoever and slowly works in the math a little more each chapter.By the last third of the book, there is substantial use of math in each chapter, but by then it is understandable because of this slowly increasing dosage you've been exposed to while reading.In any case, the mathematical background requirements of the reader is minimal.For most of the book all you will encounter are basic concepts of probability, with some simple algebra and a few instances of calculus used in the later chapters, though these parts aren't integral for overall understanding if you're just getting into game theory.However, the author also provides a verbal account for the rationale and underlying logic for every mathematical equation and representation he introduces.Overall, this is an excellent introductory book, especially if you're intimidated by math but still want to learn about game theory and the math behind it. ... Read more

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It is a common complaint against moral philosophers that their abstract theorising bears little relation to the practical problems of everyday life. Professor Braithwaite believes that this criticism need not be inevitable. With the help of the Theory of Games he shows how arbitration is possible between two neighbours, a jazz trumpeter and a classical pianist, whose performances are a source of mutual discord. The solution of the problem in the lecture is geometrical, and is based on the formal analogy between the logic of the situation and the geometry of a parabola. But an appendix provides the alternative algebraic treatment of a general two-person collaboration situation. ... Read more

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Originally invented to explain complicated economic behaviors, game theory is poised to become a fundamental technique in the field of wireless communications and networks. This book explains how game theory can be used to address a wide range of issues in wireless communications and examines how it can be employed in infrastructure-based wireless networks and multihop networks to reduce power consumption, improve system capacity, decrease packet loss, and enhance network resilience. The authors demonstrate how to effectively apply the game theoretic model to handle issues of resource allocation, congestion control, attack, routing, energy management, packet forwarding, and MAC. ... Read more

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Excellent
This book describes how to use game-theoretical ideas to"construct" models of (i.e. mathematical structures satisfying) aconsistent set of axioms. The language of first-order logic is emphasizedthroughout.

Personally, I think the subject itself is fascinating, andthat the writing does full justice to the beauty of the ideas. All in all,this is a book that every mathematical logician should at least browsethrough. The prerequisites are modest: some naive set theory, someelementary logic and some willingness to use your brain... ... Read more

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This is the first book to collect research on game-theoretic tools in the analysis of language with particular reference to semantics and pragmatics. Games are significant, because they pertain equally to pragmatics and semantics of natural language. The book provides an overview of the variety of ways in which game theory is used in the analysis of linguistic meaning and shows how games arise in pragmatic as well as semantic investigations. The book is a balanced combination of philosophical, linguistic, logical and mathematical argumentation.

The book has an introductory and a concluding chapter, written by the editor, to give a gentle introduction to the topics covered in the book and to provide wider conclusions and prospects arising from the individual essays.

The major topics covering the field of game theory and linguistic meaning included in the book are:

. language games, Wittgenstein
. evolutionary language games
. communication games, Grice
. games of partial information
. equilibrium semantics
. game-theoretic semantics
. logical modelling, generalised quantifiers
. the semantics/pragmatics distinction

*International contributions from known leaders in the field
*Part of the Current Research in Semantics/Pragmatics Interface series ... Read more

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This volume presents mathematical game theory as an interface between logic and philosophy. It provides a discussion of various aspects of this interaction, covering new technical results and examining the philosophical insights that these have yielded.

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[Man] invented a concept that has since been variously viewed as a vice, a crime, a business, a pleasure, a type of magic, a disease, a folly, a weakness, a form of sexual substitution, an expression of the human instinct. He invented gambling.
Richard Epstein's classic book on gambling and its mathematical analysis covers the full range of games from penny matching, to blackjack and other casino games, to the stock market (including Black-Scholes analysis). He even considers what light statistical inference can shed on the study of paranormal phenomena. Epstein is witty and insightful, a pleasure to dip into and read and rewarding to study. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

tough to review a book like this

From the number of stars above, you know I really liked this book. It is difficult to review such a book because you have to think about the intended audience. I think the intended audience is me; someone who is mathematically literate, who is looking over probability and statistical thinking applied to games of chance, or who might be otherwise modestly interested in such. The intended audience is probably not a professional probabilist. The intended audience is definitely not your average gambler. As such, the specialist and the average person may not be well served by this book. But, for the scientist, engineer or recreational mathematician who might be reviewing material on combinatorics, probability and statistics, or interested in applying it to different "games" (like markets), this book is a work of beauty. The author is witty, informative and he picks lively subject: I was never bored. A most entertaining way to review probability in general, and the mathematics of gambling. There are other books on the mathematics of gambling games which treat the subject differently, or in greater detail, but for a medium-light read on the subject: one that includes actual mathematics, without drowning in detail and formalism, it's hard to beat Epstein's book.

Excellent Resource!
The Theory of Gambling and Statistical Logic is a superbly written book comtaining much knowledge about gambling and assessing the odds for specific games.Epstein begins with an overview of statistics and gambling, followed by chapters on specific items, like dic and coins, and specific games, like blackjack, bridge, and even chess.One caveat:you need more than a rudimentary knowledge of statistics to fully appreciate this book.Also, the book was written in the 1970's before poker (in general) and hold 'em (in specific) became popular.If you are buying The Theory of Gambling and Statistical Logic to analyze poker, I would recommend looking elsewhere.

Disappointing and Often Uninsightful
Some parts are interesting, and the writing can be entertaining, but the book is short on insight and clarity and long on tedious tables and uninterpreted computations.

Buy this if you already know probability and would like to see -some- applications and cute games.

Don't buy it if you want insight into particular games; especially, the blackjack and bridge sections (and meager poker section) have virtually no value.

I am a graduate student in mathematics, and enjoy probability theory and games: I should be the ideal audience.
The math is no problem for me, but much is boring, and much time is spent writing huge tables without giving much insight.

Research articles in statistics are easier to read, and far more informative.

The math background is awful: if you don't already know it, don't learn it here.
[Instead, see "The Cartoon Guide to Statistics", or Feller's "Intro to Probability"]
The writing is willfully obscure and florid (though, admittedly,
entertaining): gymkhana, panjandrum, kubiagenesis?

My main objection is the lack of insight: the author does (mostly) correct computations and statements but seldom shows much depth of understanding and rarely conveys any to the reader.

Rather than answering questions or giving examples that convey the meaning of the theory, how it lets you understand questions, Epstein does many unillustrative examples.

This book won't teach you to understand games and gambling, which it could do, and should do.

At best, it provides a basis from which you can (after too much work) begin to understand games. This is not because the subject is that hard (at least not what Epstein covers) -- it's because the material is undigested and Epstein is a poor expositor.

If you want to get something out of this book, be prepared to do the work that Epstein hasn't, and to look at more modern and insightful references.

Here's an example: how many times do you need to shuffle a deck before it's essentially random? Very natural question, of big interest in gambling. Epstein gives a very slick argument, one of the gems of the book (measure entropy of a shuffle) that you need at least 5 shuffles -- but beyond that just writes some equations for 2 shuffles of a 4-card deck and says that a computer would help, and instead tabulates that 18 perfect shuffles of a 58-card deck return it to the original state.

The rest of the book is like this: some question begging for study, perhaps an insight, and then irrelevant and pedantic computations and tables.

There are gems in here (it's a grab-bag), and the writing is often amusing, but it's a frustrating read: it could be so much better.

Very Hard to Find Info
Don't read this book if you're a poker player who knows how to divide your outs by number of unseen cards but never took any serious math courses.This is a serious mathematical treatment of gambling.

If you want a more rigorous treatment of the general statistical theory involved in gambling (in general, not just for poker) then this is a book you MUST read. Are you a full or part-time mathematician?Are you someone who took some math courses and is interested in learning about how to mathematically describe different games that involve gambling?Are you wanting to write a computer program to simulate statistical games based on solid mathematics and understand your program?This book is something you don't want to overlook if you answered "yes" to any of those questions.Ifyou answered with a resounding "no" to all of them and are just interested in a particular game and aren't mathematically inclined then you want to look elsewhere.

Kubeiagenesis
To the reader who was frustrated by the title of Chapter one, 'Kubeiagenesis', and could not find a definition.

-genesis, is first defined as a suffix, meaning 'origin'.
Kubeia comes from The New Testament Greek Lexicon.

Kubeia (koo-bi'-ah). Definition 1. dice playing 2. metaphor for the deception of men, because dice players sometimes cheated and defrauded their fellow players.

Translated to english in Ephesians as both 'sleight' (KJV) and 'trickery' (NAS).

Clearly, Kubeiagenesis is meant to be the origin of sleight, trickery, and deception.

That it is the first word of the text may be to inform the reader that what follows may be nonintuitive -- but is well defined, documented, and referenced. You may find yourself reading several of the referenced texts before completing the book if you are going to absorb it all.

This book is the Bible on the subject. The author brilliantly interweaves relevant stories, and shows connections to disciplines outside mathematics and gaming. If you simply want answers and don't care how they were calculated, try some of the other texts offered. If you want to understand the subject -- buy this book. ... Read more

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Covering attack detection, malware response, algorithm and mechanism design, privacy, and risk management, this comprehensive work applies unique quantitative models derived from decision, control, and game theories to understanding diverse network security problems. It provides the reader with a system-level theoretical understanding of network security, and is essential reading for researchers interested in a quantitative approach to key incentive and resource allocation issues in the field. It also provides practitioners with an analytical foundation that is useful for formalising decision-making processes in network security. ... Read more

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"Co-Opetition" is a new business strategy that combines the advantages of both competition and cooperation. Intel, Nintendo, American Express, and dozens of other companies have been using co-opetition not only to win but to make it possible for their industry as a whole to grow. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (53)

Book Review from the Aleph Blog
Again, I don't just do book reviews of new books.I do reviews of new books, and older books that I think are significant.One strategic management book that has helped me is Co-opetition.Co-opetition is the use of both co-operation and competition in an effort to better your business.

Similar to Michael Porter's Five Forces framework, Co-opetition aims to describe a business or industry as part of a broader system, and design business strategy through competition and alliances with other economic actors that affect your business.

That broader system is called the "value net," and is composed of the firm in question, their customers, suppliers, competitors, and complementors.Complementor was a term they created to describe those parties who produce products or services that help make your customers more likely to buy from you.As the book describes it, think of hot dogs and mustard.

When I was a bond manager, I intuitively understood co-opetition.Most managers/traders played the game very sharply, and argued for every basis point.I realized that I had to be careful, and show that I was no pushover, but I found a variety of co-operative strategies that got my brokers working for me, not against me.

1) Helping them out when they were short a bond.I did not sell my bonds to them cheaply, but I did not gouge their eyes out (a technical bond market term) either.They were grateful to me, and Wall Street does have its own brand of loyalty.It protects friends.

2) I let brokers know what I was up to in general, while reserving discretion.I was more open than other managers, realizing that it would be hard to imitate what I was doing, and no one broker had the full picture.I let brokers truly know what my motives were for selling a bond, whether it was relative value, or needing to raise cash.

3) My brokers knew that my word was my bond.I did not break trades.When I uttered the word "done" it did not change.

4) My brokers knew that I would give them frank feedback.If they were way out of kilter with the market, I would give them one chance to change their position after I told them what I knew.

5) I would show "love" on occasions when they had badly mis-bid for my bonds.I would give them back one-third of the difference between their bid and the second place bid.

That's my main example from my own life.When a large part of my competitors viewed brokers as their competitors, I viewed them more as suppliers, and tried to find ways to work with them, and not against them.

I also found ways when working in the Pension Division of Provident Mutual, to use our small size and flexibility as an advantage versus our larger rivals.Understanding the competitive landscape was a real advantage, particularly in finding those that could aid us -- where there would be mutual benefit.

I could write at length over the individual strategies in the book.They are all significant, though only a subset applies at any given time.The book gives a good strategic manager tools, and he has to decide which are relevant to his situation.

Excellent divulgative book
I'm an Economics student and I'm studying games theory applied to business. This book provides a lot of interesting examples, which can be very useful to understand how games theory can be successfully used to improve (or analyze) decision making in real-world situations.

Increase Flexibility in Business Deals
Co-opetition is a great way to rethink the relationships that you have with suppliers, vendors, customers and competitors. It is optimistic, not naive. It allows you to be benevolent yet tough-minded and logical.

The reader will see new, more creative ways of playing the game, and new opportunities will present themselves. Keep a pen and notebook handy while you read this book. You will need them to keep an account of all the ideas that will pop into your mind as you read.

Highly recommended!

Co-opetition
Excellent book! Promotes a way of thinking that can expand your horizons in a very effective manner. However, reading the book is just the beginning. To extract the full benefit, you need to be disciplined enough to push yourself to find and follow the best course of action. Sometimes it may feel a bit unnatural as it may go against the competition dogma imprinted on our minds over the years.

I also recommend the book to those in business and government who are trying to better understand the times we live in. It could make it easier to accept that business and government working together may lead to something better.

Watered down game theory
The idea is very interesting, but the book is a result of reducing theory into a few sentences, and then repeating it over and over again. Good for airplane reading between business trips, though. ... Read more

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Never HIGHLIGHT a Book Again!Virtually all testable terms, concepts, persons, places, and events are included. Cram101 Textbook Outlines gives all of the outlines, highlights, notes for your textbook with optional online practice tests. Only Cram101 Out ... Read more

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Groups of people perform acts that are subject to standards of rationality. A committee may sensibly award fellowships, or may irrationally award them in violation of its own policies. A theory of collective rationality defines collective acts that are evaluable for rationality and formulates principles for their evaluation. This book argues that a group's act is evaluable for rationality if it is the products of acts its members fully control. It also argues that such an act is collectively rational if the acts of the group's members are rational. Efficiency is a goal of collective rationality, but not a requirement, except in cases where conditions are ideal for joint action and agents have rationally prepared for joint action.

The people engaged in a game of strategy form a group, and the combination of their acts yields a collective act. If their collective act is rational, it constitutes a solution to their game. A theory of collective rationality yields principles concerning solutions to games. One principle requires that a solution constitute an equilibrium among the incentives of the agents in the game. In a cooperative game some agents are coalitions of individuals, and it may be impossible for all agents to pursue all incentives. Because rationality is attainable, the appropriate equilibrium standard for cooperative games requires that agents pursue only incentives that provide sufficient reasons to act. The book's theory of collective rationality supports an attainable equilibrium-standard for solutions to cooperative games and shows that its realization follows from individuals' rational acts.

By extending the theory of rationality to groups, this book reveals the characteristics that make an act evaluable for rationality and the way rationality's evaluation of an act responds to the type of control its agent exercises over the act. The book's theory of collective rationality contributes to philosophical projects such as contractarian ethics and to practical projects such as the design of social institutions. ... Read more