Rating: 
Summary: Exemplary Treatment of a 20th century Renaissance Man
Review: "Prisoner's Dilemma" is one of the best non-fiction books I've ever read. It alternates chapters on von Neumann's biography with straightforward expositions of game theory and 20th century political history, seamlessly integrating all three elements.
Von Neumann is not exactly a household name like Einstein, yet his genius equalled (and some would say surpassed) the latter's, because he produced major contributions to the fields of physics, mathematics, economics, and computer science. A decided non-pacifist, he worked enthusiastically on the Manhattan Project (but may have been, along with Werner von Braun, a source for the character Dr. Strangelove)...He had a genuine photographic memory, reciting entire chapters of books verbatim he'd read decades earlier. He virtually invented the field of game theory singlehandedly, which has found deep ramifications in political science, economics, and psychology.
Rating:
Summary: The life of von Neumann and applications of game theory
Review: A clear presentation of the prisoner's and other dilemmas, as well as some basic components of game theory. It also provides insight into the life and times of John von Neumann.
Rating:
Summary: A primer on game theory and how it was developed
Review: A simple introduction to game theory through the lives of the people that developed it. A very interesting biography of Von Neuman, his views on politics and his influence in Cold War strategies
Rating: 
Summary: not much of a primer.
Review: Although I enjoyed the book it was, I'm afraid, not much of a primer on game theory. The background and biographical information on Von Neumann was well told but lacked adequate information on his involvement politically. This book is more of a introduction to the IDEA of game theory and falls short of explaining the reality of game theory. Not informative enough, but still entertaining.
Rating:
Summary: Essential introduction to game theory and its history
Review: Game phrases such as, zero-sum, non-zero sum, payoff, and etc have been integrated into our speech and written work. I have serious doubts about the extent of game theoretic competency of those who use it on a daily basis. However, that's another point. This book explains why a few mathematicians at a building in Santa Monica, California, came to be great influences on our foreign policy to this very day through the introduction of a thing called game theory. In addition, game theory has been integrated into our educational curriculum as well. Look at any social sciences department in the US and you will come across various scholars with research emphasis on games. Read this book and you will understand the significance this phenomenon a little bit better.
Rating:
Summary: poorly organized
Review: Granted the subject matter is absolutely fascinating, 5 stars out of 5. Having said that, the subject deserves a much better treatment. This book was poorly organized and felt rushed. Yes, it was readable. But it felt like Poundstone just jammed together the results of his research rather than using his research to flesh out a coherent structure.The purported central point of the book was the influence of game theory on cold war strategy. Yet this theme was not well developed or documented. The book was part (weak) bio of von neuman, part (weak) introduction to game theory, and part(weak) history of the cold war. The parts just did not fit together smoothly.
Rating:
Summary: A good introduction
Review: I think Poundstone accomplishes his task of introducing the life and times of John von Neumann, as well as game theory and Cold War strategy (and follies associated with it). Game theory in its original von Neumann/Morgenstern formulation is dauntingly unapproachable. For the layman, Poundstone cuts to the essential meat of the matter. I found the chapters on various game formulations and introductory analysis to be enlightening, as Poundstone does not try to force everything into a game theory solution like many economic texts do- he recognizes and explains the limitations and shortcomings that game theory researchers have discovered over the years. A good read, whether you're a hawk or a dove on arms control issues.
Rating:
Summary: fun and informative
Review: In my opinion, the Cold War was the most interesting era of all history. This book gives a real sense the the precariousness of the world situation of the time. The fact that liberals like Bertrand Russell advocated going to war with the USSR in the late 40's to prevent them from building a nuclear arsenal shows how fearful people were in the early Cold War. The world may have been saved by Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD), the idea that if both sides have the ability to eliminate the other, neither will act. MAD is a game theoretical concept, and game theory was dirctly resonsible for the ABM treaty. Poundstone does a very good job of explaining game theory, using several examples ranging from prisoners trying to reduce their sentence, to high schoolers trying to get their friends to shave their heads. Von Neumann, inventor of game theory, comes across as one of the geniuses of the 20th century, but not as someone you would want for a boss. Poundstone's story of Von Neumann's life and explainations of game theory are very entertaining, and his profound observations of the Cold War are something that I wish more people were familar with.
Rating: 
Summary: A good overview of game theory wrapped in a light biography
Review: Prisoner's Dilemma addresses two major areas: an overview of the concepts of game theory and a biography of John von Neumann. Neither are convered in extreme detail, but that isn't bad. In fact, it makes this book an enjoyable casual read. The game theory pieces are presented at a very approachable level of detail. No rigorous math, just well written descriptions of the basic concepts. The first part of the book covers the development of game theory and provides good "character development" of von Neumann. It them moves away from von Neumann and into the politics of the time (which are exceptionally interesting, especially if you didn't live through them). Overall I found the book very interesting. It manages to balance several topics without wandering and going into excessive detail.
Rating:
Summary: Directly Related To What You Already Know
Review: The enjoyment, or perhaps the utility you'll find with this book, will be directly related to how much you know about Game Theory prior to this read. This book spends, as much time on history and biography as it does on what Game Theory is about, so this work would seem to be most appropriate to those who are new to the material. I had only basic understanding of Game Theory from other books I had read, within which this field of study was mentioned, so for me the book was very worthwhile. The historical and biographic aspects of the book were not new, so there were of less interest to me. Math need not be a passion for this book to be understood and enjoyed. The various games that are explained and, "played", for the reader actually utilize little in the way of math. Game Theory in practice is about the number of participants, the choices they have, how the games should rationally be played, and how there are played when people replace theory. The results of these games are applicable to daily life, whether it explains how a network will decide the placement of their commercials, why a person will stand in a line of unknown length, or pay more than the true value of an item (like a dollar bill). Peoples behavior often crosses from the irrational to the absurd, and many of these games will point out courses of action almost all readers will have taken at one time or another, when the rational decision was the opposite of what they chose to do. The book is also a good primer for further reading on Bertrand Russell, John Nash the subject of the movie, "A Beautiful Mind", and John von Neumann, who many considered the most brilliant man alive during his career, and many other great scientists of the 20th Century. There is also review of the development of both the atomic and hydrogen bombs, and the very surprising groups of people that either supported their development and use, and those that were diametrically opposed. There is also some discussion on how Game Theory was and is used to make decisions on a global scale, and also where Game Theory falls short of some of its initial promise. You will most likely enjoy following "The Prisoner's Dilemma, The Stag Hunt, The Dollar Auction, and So Long Sucker", the last of which often was alleged to have spouses leave the scene of the game is separate cabs. Any one who is inquisitive will enjoy the book, and may be motivated to pursue a variety of its topics further.
|
