Prisoner's Dilemma

by William Poundstone

Book Overview

A masterful work of science writing that's both a fascinating biography of von Neumann, the Hungarian exile whose mathematical theories were building blocks for the A-bomb and the digital computer,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385415672
• ISBN13: 9780385415675
• Release Date: January 1992
• Publisher: Doubleday Books
• Length: 290 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.4" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

An Intriguing Look At Human Behavior, History, and the Origins of the Bomb

Game Theory is a social science devised by John von Neuman, one of the 20th centuries most brilliant minds. Basically, game theory is the study of human behavior and rationality when presented with choices. It helps us predict how people will react, given their situation, and what they have to gain/lose through each choice. The book is both an explanation of game theory and a miniature biography of von Neuman's life. Von Neuman worked on the Manhattan Project to build the first atomic bomb during World War II. Most scientists feared the power of the bomb, and knew that even though it was necessary, it would cause a lot more problems than it would solve. However, von Neuman's own beliefs, which were influenced by game theory, were a bit different than most of his colleagues. The book, using interesting examples, gives us a crash course in game theory, with a focus on prisoner's dilemmas. A prisoner's dilemma is a problem where you and an opponent are pitted against each other, and you each must make a choice to either help each other out or turn on the other. It would be most beneficial for both to cooperate. However, if you cooperate and your opponent betrays you, the consequences are the worst. Therefore, it is only rational to betray your partner. This is one of the most interesting books that I've read in a very long time, and it has definitely made me take a second look at how things in my life have in the past and could in the future turn out. If you want to learn something fun and useful, Prisoner's Dilemma is definitely for you.

Von Neumann, game theory, and the Cold War

William Poundstone is in his element when he's writing about stuff like this. If you've read his _Labyrinths of Reason_ or _The Recursive Universe_, you already know he's a terrific expositor of the logical and mathematical brain-benders that have driven both mathematics and philosophy for the past century or so. Well, this book really gives him a chance to shine.You see, it's one big story that consists of several sub-stories. In part it's a biography (intellectual and otherwise) of John von Neumann, one of the greatest mathematicians of the twentieth century. It's also a popular exposition of game theory and some of the decision-theoretic puzzles that arise in it (most obviously the one of the book's title). And it's _also_ a history of the Cold War, at least on its strategic side.You pretty much have to be William Poundstone to weave all this together into a coherent and readable narrative. Fortunately, William Poundstone _is_ William Poundstone, and he pulls it off with panache.There's something here for everybody. My favorite parts are the chapters on the various game-theoretic dilemmas (including a _very_ nice exposition of Robert Axelrod's _The Evolution of Cooperation_ that correctly captures what Axelrod did and did not show in his famous computer tournaments). But the biography of von Neumann is fascinating too; great mathematicians tend to be odd and interesting characters, and von Neumann was one of the greatest. And all the Cold War-era history is riveting in its own right, even apart from its relationship to von Neumann (who may have been at least one of the real-life models for Dr. Strangelove).Poundstone is a fine writer with a real gift for this sort of thing. If even one of the strands in this tale sounds engaging to you, you can rest assured that Poundstone will manage to keep you engaged in the other two as well.Look for his other books too. I especially recommend _Labyrinths of Reason_.

Directly Related To What You Already Know

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.

A good introduction

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.

fun and informative

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.