Book Review: "Game-Changer"
"Game-Changer: Game Theory and the Art of Transforming Strategic Situations", by David McAdams, is one of the better books on game theory I've read to date. To his acumen, David is a professor of business and economics at Duke University, where he teaches the subject professionally. I've read a few others, text books on game theory, but this one gave it practical uses and showed how co-operation can win out over competition in many real world situations. I listened to the book on audible at ~$15 for ~7 hours, which was intertwined with easy to understand game theory, interesting stories, and thought provoking quotes. I give the book 7 out of 10 stars, for being the most insightful, practical, and applicable book on game theory I have read to date. I recommended the book to anyone who is interested in strategy, competitive scenarios, and even social dynamics. Check out the chapters of the book below:
Prologue
Introduction
Part One: The Game-Changer's Toolkit
Chapter 1: Commit
Game-Theory Focus 1: The Timing of Moves
Chapter 2: Invite Regulation
Game-Theory Focus 2: Strategic Evolution
Chapter 3: Merge or "Collude"
Game-Theory Focus 3: Equilibrium Concepts
Chapter 4: Enable Retaliation
Chapter 5: Build Trust
Chapter 6: Leverage Relationships
Summary: How to Escape the Prisoner's Dilemma
Part Two: The Game-Changer Files
File 1: Price Comparison Sites
File 2: Cod Collapse
File 3: Real Estate Agency
File 4: Addicts in the Emergency Department
File 5: eBay Reputation
File 6: Antibiotic Resistance
Epilogue: The Triumph of Game-Awareness
Acknowledgements
Notes
Index
David gives the readers a plethora of game theory strategies, such as harnessing both deals or fines in long term relationships, in an effort to guide other players strategies. I especially liked the covering of Nash Equilibrium and the many strategies provided to escape such fates. Further, I liked how Tragedy of The Commons was covered as a Prisoner's Dilemma, and by adding regulation it could be transformed into a co-operative venture. I also thought it was pretty cool that a "tit for tat" strategy turned out to be the most generally effective strategy for punishing aggressive behavior while also being forgiving, thus promoting co-operative strategies over competitive ones from other players. The book then ran many practical examples to ground, showing how a real world ecosystem could be manipulated for sustainability and co-operation as opposed to competitive ecosystem that has less total yield. The book also comes with it's own companion site, which has tons of supporting materials and docs on game theory. And it's not just me that thinks this is a pretty good book on game theory, check out some of these other reviews. Let me know what you think about this game theory book versus other ones you've read in the comments below!
Prologue
Introduction
Part One: The Game-Changer's Toolkit
Chapter 1: Commit
Game-Theory Focus 1: The Timing of Moves
Chapter 2: Invite Regulation
Game-Theory Focus 2: Strategic Evolution
Chapter 3: Merge or "Collude"
Game-Theory Focus 3: Equilibrium Concepts
Chapter 4: Enable Retaliation
Chapter 5: Build Trust
Chapter 6: Leverage Relationships
Summary: How to Escape the Prisoner's Dilemma
Part Two: The Game-Changer Files
File 1: Price Comparison Sites
File 2: Cod Collapse
File 3: Real Estate Agency
File 4: Addicts in the Emergency Department
File 5: eBay Reputation
File 6: Antibiotic Resistance
Epilogue: The Triumph of Game-Awareness
Acknowledgements
Notes
Index
David gives the readers a plethora of game theory strategies, such as harnessing both deals or fines in long term relationships, in an effort to guide other players strategies. I especially liked the covering of Nash Equilibrium and the many strategies provided to escape such fates. Further, I liked how Tragedy of The Commons was covered as a Prisoner's Dilemma, and by adding regulation it could be transformed into a co-operative venture. I also thought it was pretty cool that a "tit for tat" strategy turned out to be the most generally effective strategy for punishing aggressive behavior while also being forgiving, thus promoting co-operative strategies over competitive ones from other players. The book then ran many practical examples to ground, showing how a real world ecosystem could be manipulated for sustainability and co-operation as opposed to competitive ecosystem that has less total yield. The book also comes with it's own companion site, which has tons of supporting materials and docs on game theory. And it's not just me that thinks this is a pretty good book on game theory, check out some of these other reviews. Let me know what you think about this game theory book versus other ones you've read in the comments below!