Short description
Looks at the thread of opposition and conflict that runs through human relationships, from the striking of a bargain to the clash of war. The author discusses poker, game theory as it applies to games and business, the strategies of buyers and sellers, and military and other applications.
Long description
Looking at the thread of opposition and conflict that runs through human relationships, from the striking of a bargain to the clash of war, the author discusses poker, game theory as it applies to games and business, the strategies of buyers and sellers, and military and other applications. Whether to improve skill at card games, or to put together a political coalition, this humorous study aims to instruct readers in an approach to strategy.
Review
The ludicrously interpretative illustrations by Robert Osborn are quite deceptive for this is a serious discussion of the theory of games whose lead off article, on poker, is used as a fundamental of these theories in operation in business, military, economic and political fields. Here is instruction in and analysis of deception and counterdeception, of strategical situations, of mathematical theory which will narrow the gamble to a point where it is irrational to act otherwise, and the application of strategy in all problems. With poker as the laboratory of man's experience, concepts of strategy are drawn from all possible sources - Sherlock Holmes, Rockefeller, and examples of military chronicles, etc., etc. A portion of the text and certain illustrations come from Fortune articles and the book will make a specialty sale for an audience ready for intellectual exercise. (Kirkus Reviews)