Games of Strategy, Second Edition [Hardcover]

Avinash K. Dixit (Author), Susan Skeath (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2004 | ISBN-10: 0393924998 | ISBN-13: 978-0393924992 | Edition: Second Edition

Now available in a Second Edition, Games of Strategy remains the most accessible principles-level text for courses in game theory, addressing a remarkably broad range of concepts in a narrative that is both clear and compelling. Using resonant real-world examples, the authors simplify difficult theoretic ideas, helping students see the value of strategic thinking in a variety of situations.

The text has been carefully updated for this Second Edition, including thorough revisions of the sections on sequential- and simultaneous-move games and those on voting and auctioning.

This is an inviting introduction to game theory, offering students an engaging, comprehensive view of the discipline without assuming a prior knowledge of economics or complex mathematics (uses only high school algebra). Additionally, instructors will find a variety of useful pedagogical tools in the accompanying Instructor’s Manual, including student exercises and suggested classroom games and experiments.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Avinash K. Dixit is John J.F. Sherrerd University Professor of Economics at Princeton University, where he offers his popular freshman course in game theory. He is among the world’s leading economists, having made fundamental contributions in several major fields, including Game Theory. He is world famous. He is the author of many books, including Thinking Strategically (Norton, 1991), Investment Under Uncertainty (Princeton UP, 1994), and The Art of Strategy (Norton, 2009).

Susan Skeath is Professor of Economics at Wellesley College, where she teaches a number of courses in microeconomics, including the game theory course she introduced into the school’s curriculum. Professor Skeath conducts research in international trade theory, and earned her doctorate at Princeton University.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 688 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; Second Edition edition (April 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393924998
• ISBN-13: 978-0393924992
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #99,019 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #87 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Puzzles & Games > Logic & Brain Teasers

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent introduction to game theory, November 5, 2004

By 

Amina Tarina - See all my reviews

This review is from: Games of Strategy, Second Edition (Hardcover)

This is a fantastic introduction to game theory. I'm in a graduate-level game theory course with a much more confusing textbook, and this one has enabled me to learn the concepts more clearly. Once I study the text and examples in Dixit & Skeath, I'm comfortable moving on to the harder problems in my other text. I definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in learning game theory -- you'll even get a few good laughs out of some of the examples and the authors' jokes.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good nontechnical introduction, September 13, 2008

By 

Grouchy Smurf (New York, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Games of Strategy, Second Edition (Hardcover)

This textbook is a good nontechnical introduction. To understand the intended audience, you need to read the preface of this book. the authors intended this book to be a textbook for freshmen and sophomore who are not in a particular discipline yet. Therefore, (1) the book is intended for that level, and (2) it takes a non-disciplinary approach, in the sense that it is not written for economics, or political science or business majors per se. Instead it is written for all of them, but in a more general way. Also, the authors say the book sort of replaced 'thinking strategically' by Dixit and Nalebuff, since the latter was more of a trade book, not a textbook. Therefore, owning both books could be a bit redundant, but it could also offer a nice pairing and complement each other.
If you are looking for a mathematical approach, this is probably not the book for you. If you know nothing about game theory and just want to read up on it, go with 'thinking strategically' instead of this because this is a textbook. If you want a relatively non-technical introduction as part of a course or for self-study, or if you have another textbook that you find too technical, this would be a good book for you.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Too light on detail, June 22, 2008

By 

Michael P. Quinn (Lewisville, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Games of Strategy, Second Edition (Hardcover)

Usually, attending class is required to find out what the professor is going to focus on in the book. Using this book, attending class was required because the book is so shallow, the lecture actually goes into more depth then the book.

This is a very introductory text book, and at times can be frustrating trying to go the next step that is needed for comprehension of a concept. If you are looking for an introduction to Game Theory concepts and examples of the introductory games, this is a good book. But once to try to go the next step and start analyzing the boundary cases or a more complicated game, this book will not have the answers.