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Rating: 
Summary: Remembered for years
Review: I first read this book when I was in high school, around 1957. I still remember it today, for a clear, coherent, and funny discussion of game theory, and the statistics controlling the optimum strategy. I hope I can raise a copy of it, since it is out of print!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: I found this book to be an excellent introduction to game theory that doesn't require much mathamatical background beyond simple algebra. It comes complete with theoretical explainations of the game matrix, problems to help sharpen your skills, and strategic stories that fit with a game matrix, to help show how game theory can be applied to real problems. A definite must for anyone who wants to start learning about game theory.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent introduction but could use more real world example
Review: I majored in political science. Any course on International Relations would have one day were Game Theory was introduced, followed by a brief discription of two common political games (PD and Chicken). This was interesting mabey the first three times I heard it.
Obviously if I wanted to have a greater understanding of Game Theory I would have to look in to it on my own. This book provided a excellent background in how to solve for the best solution in a game. Which I had not encounterd before. It also introduced me to more complex games, PD and Chicken are both 2x2. What this book does fail to do is give it's reader an understanding of how game theory can be applied to real economic and political problems. But when push comes to shove this book is still an excellent intro.
Rating:
Summary: Simply excellent
Review: It takes a lot of time to work thru the examples in this book. (I use Excel to speed things up). But it's a great book. First read it at around 1970. Still in love with it.
Rating:
Summary: A Fun Introduction to Game Theory
Review: The Compleat Strategyst by J.D. Williams is a wonderful introduction to the ins and outs of game theory. The pace of the primer I found quite reasonable, and the organization is very natural. The Compleat Strategyst begins with the gist (as it should) regarding game matrices and how to interpret them. Williams's discussion then proceeds through 2 x 2 games, 2 x m games, 3 x 3 games, 3 x m games, and so on. Each section contains clever story problems chosen to both re-enforce basic principles and point to potential pitfalls. Also provided are numerous exercises to build the skills necessary to understand game theory.One of the most enjoyable facets of The Compleat Strategyst is J.D. Williams's entertaining writing style. He seems to know the kind of people reading his book (non-mathematicians who think they might be able to apply game theory to their own work - in my case anyway), and the text is taylored to that audience. In addition, while making the subject matter of game theory accessible strictly through arithmatic, the author provides fair reminders that a great deal of actual mathmatics is being swept beneath the rug.
Rating:
Summary: A Fun Introduction to Game Theory
Review: The Compleat Strategyst by J.D. Williams is a wonderful introduction to the ins and outs of game theory. The pace of the primer I found quite reasonable, and the organization is very natural. The Compleat Strategyst begins with the gist (as it should) regarding game matrices and how to interpret them. Williams's discussion then proceeds through 2 x 2 games, 2 x m games, 3 x 3 games, 3 x m games, and so on. Each section contains clever story problems chosen to both re-enforce basic principles and point to potential pitfalls. Also provided are numerous exercises to build the skills necessary to understand game theory. One of the most enjoyable facets of The Compleat Strategyst is J.D. Williams's entertaining writing style. He seems to know the kind of people reading his book (non-mathematicians who think they might be able to apply game theory to their own work - in my case anyway), and the text is taylored to that audience. In addition, while making the subject matter of game theory accessible strictly through arithmatic, the author provides fair reminders that a great deal of actual mathmatics is being swept beneath the rug.
Rating:
Summary: Math entertaining? Yes! An excellent intro to game theory.
Review: The Compleat Strategyst provides an entertaining introduction to the mathematics of everyday decisions, reduced to the form of a game. J.D. Williams, with illustrations by Charles Satterfield, opens up this arcane subject to anyone with the curiosity to read it. A PhD in math is not required!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, entertaining introductory text
Review: This is a superlative introduction to a mathematical concept which, with a lesser writer, could be tedious to learn. Williams includes many entertaining and enjoyable story problems, replete with attractive illustrations, that make learning the subject a joy. He takes an inherently interesting topic and makes it easy and fun to learn. I recommend this book unreservedly.
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