The Art of Strategy: A Game Theorist's Guide to Success in Business and Life

by Barry J. Nalebuff and Avinash K. Dixit

Book Overview

Game theory means rigorous strategic thinking. It's the art of anticipating your opponent's next moves, knowing full well that your rival is trying to do the same thing to you. Though parts of game theory involve simple common sense, much is counterintuitive, and it can only be mastered by developing a new way of seeing the world. Using a diverse array of rich case studies--from pop culture, TV, movies, sports, politics, and history--the authors show...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393337170
• ISBN13: 9780393337174
• Release Date: January 2010
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 512 Pages
• Weight: 0.94 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 5.4" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

The Art of Strategy: A Game Theorist's Guide to Success in Business and Life

It's nice to see that some things you learn in school can be taken with you later. //The Art of Strategy// shows that all of that math has practical value. //The Art of Strategy// explores how game theory applies to business and life in general. Suffice it to say that means dealing with a lot of math. However, dealing with that math, and some relatively obscure math at that (at least for us non-mathematicians) does have some great payoff in that we learn a lot about how interrelated things can be; even the most obscure relationships are explored, and how they can affect your life and business. It's fun to explore those relationships, and the book is fun to read for as much math as there is. In that regard it's great that this book was written with great enthusiasm, and is one of those few academic books written with respect for its audience. //The Art of Strategy// is one of those books that you will read and probably let your friends borrow; this book will definitely be one you want on your shelves to be re-read every so often. Reviewed by Jamais Jochim

Brilliant

Wide ranging and written with exceptional clarity. This is by far the best lay man's book about game theory I have come across. A worthy successor to "Thinking Strategically."

Engaging, Inspiring, and Practical

Nalebuff is a genius that not only studies and teaches strategy, but applied it himself to build an international beverage company (Honest Tea) recently acquired by Coca-Cola. Any chance to learn from him is well worth it, including this outstanding book with myriad applications to anyone's work and day-to-day life.

Business libraries and general-interest holdings will find it a winner

THE ART OF STRATEGY: A GAME THEORIST'S GUIDE TO SUCCESS IN BUSINESS AND LIFE follows a successful best-selling book on game theory, applying it to everyday life and business situations to move beyond the gamer's realm. Chapters use real-life examples and case studies to pair game theory with business interactions and personal goals, covering key principles of game theory, how to change and play the game to maximum advantage, and how to employ strategy in decision-making processes. Business libraries and general-interest holdings will find it a winner.

Game Theory For Work AND non-Work Situations

If you like "game theory" -- or want to know what game theory is -- this could be the best book out there. Certainly there are more scholarly pieces on game theory, but this book is an A+ for its accessible writing, its use of examples that are interesting and a clear approach to point out how game theory comes into play every day for every person, whether we realize it or not. This book helps you understand the decision process in cooperative and competitive situations. It is better to know the "game" and how it is being played, than having the game played on you unwittingly. Highly recommended. Also highly recommended, but more specifically for business applications, is Co-opetition, co-authored by Barry Nalebuff who is a co-author of The Art of Strategy.