Fun and Games: A Text on Game Theory [Hardcover]

K. G. Binmore (Author), Kenneth Binmore (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1992

Binmore's groundbreaking text on game theory explores the manner in which rational people should interact when they have conflicting interests. While Binmore uses a light touch to outline key developments in theory, the text remains a serious exposition of a serious topic. In addition, his unique story-telling approach allows students to immediately apply game-theoretic skills to simple problems. Each chapter ends with a host of challenging exercises to help students practice the skills they have learned. The highly anticipated revision, expected in 2003, will include more coverage of cooperative game theory and a more accessible presentation—with chapters broken up into smaller chunks and an abundance of economic examples integrated throughout the text.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 671 pages
• Publisher: D.C. Heath (January 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0669246034
• ISBN-13: 978-0669246032
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #952,295 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars wet your appetite for game theory, October 31, 2003

By 

Some Fool (GOETTINGEN Germany) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fun and Games: A Text on Game Theory (Hardcover)

first, a note on ken binmore: he was involved in the model of a worldwide auction that did very well. subsequently, he has become very rich and probably will not write another edition of this book. his model was based on game theoretic concepts.

this book has a few features that i think everyone interested in it should know about.

1. this is not at all a mathematically rigorous treatment of game theory. the proofs are few and far between and leave something to be desired. e.g. the famous "minimax" theorem.

2. this book was given as a text for my undergraduate game theory class. there are some interesting problems, but many may be considered too easy for students of mathematics.

3. if you are a student of math, you should try the higher numbered problems for more of a challenge.

4. the author does not cover games of imperfect information.

5. the book is very easy to read. the explanations are very clear.

6. the author partions the book into parts relevant to economics-math-philosophy students. i would recommend reading all the sections.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good stories, can be distracting, May 17, 2000

By 

a reader (London) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fun and Games: A Text on Game Theory (Hardcover)

Ken Binmore is an excellent story-teller. The book is an introduction to the mathematics of game theory with a wealth of examples that can distracting to a beginning student. Its weakest point is the discussion of equilibrium in mixed strategies in one breath with security strategies, which are the same concept only for zero-sum games but otherwise quite different. For streamlined mathematics and clarity, Roger Myerson's "Game Theory" is better. But every important concept of noncooperative games is there if you have the patience to sit back and read and enjoy.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reference for late entrant game theorists, October 31, 2001

By 

Pranab Majumder (Chapel Hill, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fun and Games: A Text on Game Theory (Hardcover)

I find this book to be an excellent book to give me a complete idea of game theoretic concepts. I have to use them in my research, but have not had early training in it. This book, intended to be used as an undergraduate text, rounds out my analytic approach to the concepts with a number of examples and common problems in Game Theory.

It goes into quite advanced topics, such as evolutionary stability, and does not shy away from discussing cooperative game theory.