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Haim Shapira

Gladiators, Pirates and Games of Trust: How Game Theory, Strategy and Probability Rule Our Lives Paperback – February 14, 2017

by Haim Shapira (Author)

68 ratings

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An accessible, light-hearted exploration of Game Theory—what it is, why it’s important, and how it can help us in our daily lives

Game Theory is the mathematical formalization of interactive decision-making—it assumes that each player's goal is to maximize his/her benefit, whatever it may be. Players may be friends, foes, political parties, states, or any entity that behaves interactively, whether collectively or individually. One of the problems with game analysis is the fact that, as a player, it’s very hard to know what would benefit each of the other players. Some of us are not even clear about our own goals or what might actually benefit us.

In Gladiators, Pirates, and Games of Trust, Haim Shapira shares humorous anecdotes and insightful examples to explain Game Theory, how it affects our daily lives, and how the different interactions between decision-makers can play out. In this book, you will:

   • Meet Nobel Laureate John F. Nash and familiarize yourself with Nash equilibrium
   • Learn the basic ideas of the art of negotiation
   • Visit the gladiators’ ring and apply for a coaching position
   • Build an airport and divide inheritance
   • Issue ultimatums and learn to trust
• Review every aspect of the prisoner’s dilemma and learn about the importance of cooperation
   • Learn how statistics bolster lies
   • And much more

Print length

176 pages
Language:

English
Publisher

Watkins Publishing
Publication date

February 14, 2017
Dimensions

5.1 x 0.56 x 7.8 inches
ISBN-10

1786780100
ISBN-13

978-1786780102
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"One of the best Game Theory books of all time" - BookAuthority

About the Author

Haim Shapira was born in Lithuania in 1962 and immigrated to Israel in 1977, where he earned a PhD in mathematical genetics for his dissertation on Game Theory and another PhD for his research about the mathematical and philosophical approaches to Infinity. He teaches mathematics, psychology, philosophy, and literature. Haim is an author of seven best-selling books. Shapira is not trying to make his readers agree with him, but simply encourages them to enjoy thinking. He is one of Israel's most popular and in-demand speakers and gives lectures on creativity and strategic thinking, existential philosophy and philosophy in children's literature, happiness and optimism, nonsense and insanity, imagination and the meaning of meaning, as well as friendship and love. He is also an accomplished pianist and an avid collector of anything beautiful.

Product details

Publisher : Watkins Publishing (February 14, 2017)
Language: : English
Paperback : 176 pages
ISBN-10 : 1786780100
ISBN-13 : 978-1786780102
Item Weight : 7.1 ounces
Dimensions : 5.1 x 0.56 x 7.8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,004,852 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #249 in Game Theory (Books)
- #857 in Business Negotiating (Books)
- #10,364 in Leadership & Motivation

Customer Reviews:
68 ratings

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David J. Aldous

A wonderful first look at Game Theory

Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2018

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This short book provides a brisk but wide-ranging first look at Game Theory via numerous examples and fairly minimal mathematics. It is very clearly written, and includes both the best-known examples (Prisoners' Dilemma, Ultimatum Game) and concepts (Nash Equilibria) and many less standard games, though often without going into much depth. So I can highly recommend it as a "first look" at the subject.

Does this style of "made up stories involving settings with simple explicit rules" actually help everyday life? Wise to be skeptical. More serious is the point that pretty much any observed behavior can be "explained" as rational within some invented game -- and a theory that explains everything explains nothing.

One quibble: the oft-repeated story "dozens of her neighbors witnessed the murder of Catherine Genovese" is essentially false (see Wikipedia).

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Reality check for altruistic ppl.

Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2019

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It’s a great book but it will break your heart when you see how selfish mankind is. We deal w ppl who know game theory instinctively or have learned it in business schools - these masters of the world are self-dealing, egotistical maniacs because of whom the world is such a miserable place despite all the material wealth around us.

It’s a great reality check. During negotiations I keep in mind what I learnt in this book despite the oppression I feel doing it.

Helpful

yaron zino

Funny and interesting

Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2019

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I really enjoyed reading this fascinating subject. The book is written in a light and funny way and reads quickly. A lot of food for thought

Helpful

Amazon Customer

a great introduction text

Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2019

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a short book (which is a good idea) which provides a great first look at game theory.
though the text is introductory, you can find many profound examples.

Helpful

Guy Friedman

one of the best books about Game Theory - it is a fun ...

Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2017

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one of the best books about Game Theory - it is a fun read for persons without professional knowledge in this subject, but many insights may surprise even the experts.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Excellent, easy introduction to modern game theory

Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2017

This is an amusing and accurate, if not particularly deep, introduction to the mathematics and economics of game theory. It doesn't tell you how to solve real game theory problems, if you're looking for that, The Compleat Strategyst is an excellent introduction but requires a little more mathematics background. Prisoner's Dilemma goes more deeply into the philosophy and history of the subject.

Where this book excels is in integrating mathematics, behavioral psychology and economics in some amusing examples that are simple enough to have clear solutions, but realistic enough to stimulate real thought. It's short and easy to read, clearly written with the flair of an accomplished lecturer.

7 people found this helpful

Helpful

DarrenIngram_dot_com

Ideal read

Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2017

Game Theory is a term many may have heard about, but fewer understand, so a book like this provides a clear, humorous and insightful look at how this mathematical formalization of interactive decision-making can impact on our everyday lives.

We are all competitive, no matter what we may claim, and many play on this competitiveness to try and get us to share their news, buy their products, collect something and so-forth. It is not a one-way street, as our behaviours at auctions and retail sales can attest.

This is a fascinating book that treats a serious subject in a serious way, albeit in an accessible and engaging style. A good balancing act has been achieved and reading it was a pleasure rather than a chore or something one may be required to endure! The author even makes the bold claim that the reader will, if they can remember the maths and tricks explained within, be a great asset at parties when they can amuse and amaze their friends at the same time. This has not yet been verified.

An ideal “summer read” when you are travelling, lazing on the beach or just fancy swotting up on something you may not really know about. That said, even those who believe they know a lot about game theory could get some benefit from this book.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Rocket

Enjoyable read

Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2019

Easy to follow with a health dose of humor. I will re-read this multiple times. Very enjoyable book that makes game theory interesting and easily understood.

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Kevin Dearn

A Solid Introduction to Game Theory

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 18, 2018

Verified Purchase

I have been fascinated by game theory for sometime. Beyond watching a few documentaries about it, I know relatively little. I toyed with the idea of reading Neumann's and Morgenstern's book but at a hefty £40 price tag I thought something more accessable was, perhaps, in order. I plumbed for this one.

Shapira's book gives a good grounding in the princples of game theory and how it can apply in real life situatations using the well-known game theory dilemmas and paradoxes. It is not a text book on the subject but it does give a good introduction; I should describe it as a good starting point.

Shapira describes the cases clearly enough for the layman to understand. There is no impenetrable mathematics. Whether this is considered a good or a bad thing depends on what the reader is hoping to get out of the book.

If you have heard of game theory and want to know what it is all about then this is the book for you. If you want to study it in more detail then I suggest you look elsewhere.

Is this book going to change your life? Probably not significantly but hopefully it will have the reading seeing things, especially events on the world stage, in a new light.

3 people found this helpful

Damaskcat

Gladiators, Pirates and Games of Trust

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 15, 2017

Vine Customer Review of Free Product( What's this? )Verified Purchase

At first sight game theory would seem to have very little connection with everyday events and much more to do with psychologists conducting experiments with groups of volunteers. But it actually has a great deal to do with many of out interactions with other people, whether between two people or between groups of people. The principles also apply between nations and the author uses a frightening example of the Cuban Missile Crises.

Reading this book can help you negotiating with others to get what you want in the most every day situations whether at home or at work. I found it interesting - though I don't pretend to understand the maths involved with some of the game analysis. Reading it did make me realise that I don't always work out what I want out of any situation which involves negotiation.

There is a lot of information in this small book and it does repay careful study as it will help you to improve any situation which involves any sort of negotiation even if it only makes you realise that you have to decide in advance what your own bottom line might be.

6 people found this helpful

Mark Dyer

Unimpressed, unfortunately

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 6, 2018

Verified Purchase

For most of this book I didn't really see the point, perhaps the explanations were lacking or something. The chapter at the end, presenting or summarising conclusions was in my opinion quite badly written. I didn't see much explanation of how The Theory could be used in real life - the Diner's Dilemma for example is surely just a matter of common sense and how to keep your friends by not taking them for a ride.

I've read better analysis of the Cuban missile crisis in a book on negotiation skills.

Almost all of the book reminded me of an analysis I read by a Leading Economist of why popcorn is expensive in cinemas: his use of economic theory made no sense to me whatsoever and whilst I can see how Game Theory came to be invented I'm not much the wiser as to how to apply it in all but the simplest two-person situation; perhaps there's no way to do that, Yanis Varoufakis didn't have much success in using it when negotiating with the EU.

One person found this helpful

moshe

Fantastic read. Complex issues brought to life with simple (but not simplistic) explanations.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 19, 2017

Verified Purchase

Fantastic read. I found this book enlightening and entertaining all at once. I could hardly put it down.
Shapira has a distinctive voice, always walking a fine line between complex issues and simple (but not simplistic) explanations that everyone can enjoy, no matter their background.

6 people found this helpful

nigel

Careful...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 26, 2018

Verified Purchase

Well written, it may start you wondering if your friends are really what they seem! Then again, maybe the strategies will make you wonder if you can get one over on them without them realising! :-)

One person found this helpful

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