The Compleat Strategyst: Being a Primer on the Theory of Games of Strategy [Paperback]

J. D. Williams (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1986 | ISBN-10: 0486251012 | ISBN-13: 978-0486251011 | Edition: Revised

This entertaining text is essential for anyone interested in game theory. Only a basic understanding of arithmetic is needed to grasp the necessary aspects of strategy games for two, three, four, and more players that feature two or more sets of inimical interests and a limitless array of zero-sum payoffs.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Classic game theory primer from 1954 that discusses basic concepts of game theory and its applications, and which popularized the subject for amateurs, professionals, and students throughout the world. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 268 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications; Revised edition (May 1, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486251012
• ISBN-13: 978-0486251011
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #187,932 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #29 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Science > History & Philosophy > General

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fun Introduction to Game Theory, December 19, 2001

By 

Daniel Graf "Daniel Graf" (Tuscaloosa, Alabama) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Compleat Strategyst: Being a Primer on the Theory of Games of Strategy (Paperback)

The Compleat Strategyst by J.D. Williams is a wonderful introduction to the ins and outs of game theory. The pace of the primer I found quite reasonable, and the organization is very natural. The Compleat Strategyst begins with the gist (as it should) regarding game matrices and how to interpret them. Williams's discussion then proceeds through 2 x 2 games, 2 x m games, 3 x 3 games, 3 x m games, and so on. Each section contains clever story problems chosen to both re-enforce basic principles and point to potential pitfalls. Also provided are numerous exercises to build the skills necessary to understand game theory.

One of the most enjoyable facets of The Compleat Strategyst is J.D. Williams's entertaining writing style. He seems to know the kind of people reading his book (non-mathematicians who think they might be able to apply game theory to their own work - in my case anyway), and the text is taylored to that audience. In addition, while making the subject matter of game theory accessible strictly through arithmatic, the author provides fair reminders that a great deal of actual mathmatics is being swept beneath the rug.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Witty Intro to Game Theory and Zero-sum Games, June 10, 2005

By 

Cevat Cokol (New York, NY, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Compleat Strategyst: Being a Primer on the Theory of Games of Strategy (Paperback)

I share the feedback of the other reviewers in that this book is extremely fun to read, very well-written and comprehensively covers (thoroughly teaches the so inclined) a few aspects of game theory. The drawback is that it limits itself, consciously it seems, to zero-sum games played between two players. So after reading this book, you have no excuse for not being able to solve any such games. The narrative, the examples and the exercises take care of this. However, you will learn near nothing about non-zero-sum games, which are in actuality more life-like (hence a probable reason for the complaint of one reviewer who wants more real examples).

Nevertheless, this book is extremely well-written, and truly accomplishes what it aims: giving the reader an appreciation of the basis of game theory and teaching them to solve zero-sum games. And quite a many witty jokes come in extra!

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, June 3, 2001

By 

"alynder" (Sydney, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Compleat Strategyst: Being a Primer on the Theory of Games of Strategy (Paperback)

I found this book to be an excellent introduction to game theory that doesn't require much mathamatical background beyond simple algebra. It comes complete with theoretical explainations of the game matrix, problems to help sharpen your skills, and strategic stories that fit with a game matrix, to help show how game theory can be applied to real problems. A definite must for anyone who wants to start learning about game theory.