Games and Decisions: Introduction and Critical Survey (Dover Books on Mathematics) [Paperback]

R. Duncan Luce (Author), Howard Raiffa (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1989 | ISBN-10: 0486659437 | ISBN-13: 978-0486659435

Superb nontechnical introduction to game theory and related disciplines, primarily as applied to the social sciences. Clear, comprehensive coverage of utility theory, 2-person zero-sum games, 2-person non-zero-sum games, n-person games, individual and group decision-making, much more. Appendixes. Bibliography. Graphs and figures.

Product Details

• Paperback: 509 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (April 1, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486659437
• ISBN-13: 978-0486659435
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #208,052 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent and easy to read introduction to Game Theory, July 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Games and Decisions: Introduction and Critical Survey (Dover Books on Mathematics) (Paperback)

This book covers all the elements of Game Theory, emphasizing intuition over mathematical formalism. The philosophical aspects are also given a thorough treatment. The 8 appendices provide a more formal exposition of several key concepts such as the Minmax Theorem, the geometry of equilibria and Linear programming. The book has not changed much since its publication in 1957, but it is by no means archaic. Even for those who have a modern and more rigorous textbook, "Games and Decisions" is Highly recommended as a supplement. There is something for everyone in it.

51 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This was the textbook used by John Nash......, February 11, 2002

By 

"davecook99" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Games and Decisions: Introduction and Critical Survey (Dover Books on Mathematics) (Paperback)

in his course in Game Theory (M711!) at MIT in the late 1950's.
I took that course; while Nash was unquestionably brilliant, he was getting to be pretty hard to follow at that point. The lecture hall was always jammed to overflowing, because even on a bad day Nash was really something! Nevertheless, the book was subsequently very useful, with lots of ideas about game-theoretic approaches to real-world problems.

Nash didn't think too highly of this book (too much non-mathematical stuff), but thought it the best available at the time not written by his arch-enemy, Von Neumann!

34 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Read, March 23, 2000

By 

Geoff Considine (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Games and Decisions: Introduction and Critical Survey (Dover Books on Mathematics) (Paperback)

This overview of game theory and decisions is a great into the problems and ideas behind game theory. I expect that this book will be most appreciated by non-math Ph.D.'s or grad students. For a math person, Von Neumann and Morgenstern's classic title is perhaps a better place to start. This book is one of those that can be read on a range of levels. I work in a trading and risk management environment and I find this book very useful.