Games and Decisions: Introduction and Critical Survey

Book Description

Superb nontechnical introduction to game theory and related disciplines, primarily as applied to the social sciences. Clear, comprehensive coverage of utility theory, 2-person zero-sum games, 2-person non-zero-sum games, n-person games, individual and group decision-making, much more. Appendixes. Bibliography. Graphs and figures.

Customer Reviews:

The appendices are the best part.......2006-07-03

I had this book for a number of years before I could appreciate its use. The reading in the main text can be very low yield at times, as he is often simply musing, explaining the implications of certain ideas without much mathematical analysis. This is basically a very long primer on game theory, which ends up often explaining what is intuitively obvious based on his previous expositions.

So why 5 stars? For starters the book is quite comprehensive, but where I found this book really shines is the appendices, which comprise roughly a fourth of the book and are really interesting. They address topics in high yield fashion simply getting to the mathematical methods: A probabilistic theory of utility, The minimax theorem, Geometrical Interpretation of Games, Linear Programming and Games, Methods for solving Games, Recursive Games, and Games of Survival.

A mathematician may not find anything in this book that is new to him other than an explanation of what game theory is and a vocabulary for reading and writing about game theory, but a non-mathematician (like me) will likely find some very interesting topics presented in the appendices.

This was the textbook used by John Nash.............2002-02-12

in his course in Game Theory (M711!) at MIT in the late 1950's.
I took that course; while Nash was unquestionably brilliant, he was getting to be pretty hard to follow at that point. The lecture hall was always jammed to overflowing, because even on a bad day Nash was really something! Nevertheless, the book was subsequently very useful, with lots of ideas about game-theoretic approaches to real-world problems.

Nash didn't think too highly of this book (too much non-mathematical stuff), but thought it the best available at the time not written by his arch-enemy, Von Neumann!

A Great Read.......2000-03-24

This overview of game theory and decisions is a great into the problems and ideas behind game theory. I expect that this book will be most appreciated by non-math Ph.D.'s or grad students. For a math person, Von Neumann and Morgenstern's classic title is perhaps a better place to start. This book is one of those that can be read on a range of levels. I work in a trading and risk management environment and I find this book very useful.

An excellent and easy to read introduction to Game Theory.......1999-07-05

This book covers all the elements of Game Theory, emphasizing intuition over mathematical formalism. The philosophical aspects are also given a thorough treatment. The 8 appendices provide a more formal exposition of several key concepts such as the Minmax Theorem, the geometry of equilibria and Linear programming. The book has not changed much since its publication in 1957, but it is by no means archaic. Even for those who have a modern and more rigorous textbook, "Games and Decisions" is Highly recommended as a supplement. There is something for everyone in it.

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Best critical introduction to game theory, for skeptics

Game Theory: A Critical Introduction
Shaun Hargreaves-Heap , and Yanis Varoufakis
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0415250951

Book Description

Game theory now provides the theoretical underpinning for a multitude of courses in economics worldwide. The speed of these developments has been remarkable and they have constituted something of a revolution. Indeed, the basic tenets of game theory have now begun to colonize other social sciences and its proponents have been unified in claiming its natural basis as a rational theory of society.

But the technical demands of the subject and the lack of clarity of many commentators' explanations have been a problem for many. This second edition of Shaun Hargreaves-Heap and Yanis Varoufakis's classic text strips away the mystique and lets the student make his or her own mind up. This new edition:

* lays bear the philosophy behind game theory and explains all its major concepts

* conducts a clear explanation and careful analysis of all the main 'games', such as repeated games and the prisoner's dilemma, as well as less well-trodden topics such as experimental games and issues of rationality

* introduces and analyses new areas of game theory such as "evolutionary games" and "Psychological games"

Retaining the most popular features from the original edition, this latest version offers improved pedagogy, new questions for discussion, new chapters on the latest developments as well as a host of new examples. A new generation of students of game theory will grow to appreciate this superb text whilst fans of the first edition will eagerly devour this long-awaited update.

Customer Reviews:

Best critical introduction to game theory, for skeptics.......2004-09-24

This is an excellent book. An introduction to game theory for those who approach the field with some skepticism. The book gives you all the important essential elements of non-cooperative and evolutionary game theory but with a much deeper emphasis on understanding its essential methodological and philosophical underpinnings yet without too much formalism. The authors do a superb job of introducing the topics via a tour of important moral, political, and philosophical ideas and debates mentioning Marx, Smith, Hobbes, Habermas, Hume, Locke and others. The book takes several detours to offer useful expositions of terms and debates such as methodological individualism, common knowledge, equilibrium, learning, morality, norms, etc. I'd recommend this book for two types of people: (1) those who plan to read just one book about game theory (because you don't think it's your cup of tea); and (2) those who plan on learning game theory rigorously (so that you can get a picture of the forest before getting lost in the trees).
This is not just one of my favorite books amongst the several books that I have read on game theory and mechanism design, but also one of the most thumbed book in my entire book collection.

Game Theory 2nd Edition: A Critical Introduction

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Game Theory 2nd Edition: A Critical Introduction
Shaun Heap Hargreaves
Manufacturer: Taylor & Francis, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MUXDCA

Book Description

Studies show that recognizing employees for their good work is one of the most effective ways to motivate them. So why don't more managers say "thank you" or give praise?

This assessment measures beliefs and expectations, past and current experiences, and organizational variables that influence your managers' use of recognition. It will help your organization clarify why your managers use or don't use recognition and help your managers better understand their strengths and weaknesses in this often-overlooked area.

Create a baseline for creating and sustaining a culture of recognition

The 54-statement, self-scoring assessment provides feedback in six dimensions that have a significant influence on why managers use or don't use recognition:

Impact on performance
Beliefs about recognition
Ability to do recognition
Passion for recognition
Organizational support for recognition
Organizational context for recognition

Includes examples and exercises for applying the information in the real world to motivate employees, increase their performance, provide practical feedback, make it easier for them to get the work done—and build a more positive and productive work environment.

Use Organizational Recognition Assessment for Managers in a group or individually. Either way, you'll foster the skills that will inspire even the most difficult employees to do their best.

Bob Nelson is a motivational specialist and author of 1001 Ways to Reward Employees and 1001 Ways to Energize Employees.

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Marine Resource Management: Conflict and Regulation in the Fisheries of the Coromandel Coast
Maarten Bavinck
Manufacturer: Sage Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 8170369452

Book Description

Conflicts over both the access to and use of natural resources have become increasingly common throughtout the world. These conflicts are often very difficult to resolve because they typically involve a plethora of issues and numerous claimants while the state seldom intervenes effectively.

Book Description

This is the first of a 4-volume module that is an introduction to the study of cell chemistry and physiology. It is not intended to be encyclopedic in nature but rather a general survey of the subject with an emphasis on those topics that are central to an understanding of cell biology and those that are certain to become of increasing importance in the teaching of modern medicine.
We have followed what appeared to as to be the logical divisions of the subject beginning with proteins. Allewell and her colleagues stress the point that proteins fold spontaneously to form complex three-dimensional structures and that some of them unfold with the help of proteins called chaperones. Michaelis-Menten kinetics are shown by Nelsestuen to describe the behaviour of enzymes in the test tube. The formalism is particularly useful in the search for agents of therapeutic value, as exemplified by methotrexate. Uptake by mammalian cells of substrates and their metabolic conversions are discussed by van der Vusse and Reneman. However, both Welch and Savageau expound the view that the cell is not simply a bagful of enzymes. The biologist is urged by Savageau to abandon Michaelis-Menten formalism and apply the Power Law. The biologist is also told that the approach to arriving at a theory of metabolic control would have to be one of successive approximations requiring the use of the computer. Information gained from comparative biochemistry is shown by Storey and Brooks to have shed new light on mechanisms of metabolic rate depression and freeze tolerance, and to be applicable to organ transplantation technology. We are reminded that enzyme adaptation is partly the result of the presence of a hydrating shell of vicinal water that stabilises conformation of the enzyme. Vicinal water, according to Drost-Hausen and Singleton, lies adjacent to most solids and protein interfaces. The kinks or breaks observed in the slope of the Arrhenius plot are attributed to structural changes in vicinal water. Regulation of cell volume is shown by Hempling to involve regulation of cell water. It could be that the osmo-receptor or volume detection system is a protein that links the cytoskeleton to specific K and C1 channels. Additionally, it is interesting that aquaporins, which are water channel-forming membrane proteins, are now known to exist in both renal and extra-renal tissues. One of the renal porins is affected by vasopressin.
We then pass on to protein synthesis (Rattan) and other important topics including protein glycosylation (Hounsell), methylation (Clarke), ADP-ribosylation (Pearson) and prenylation (Gelb). Among the four types of lipids attached to membrane proteins are the prenyl groups. Ford and Gross in their chapter on lipobiology drive home the point that there is an accumulation of acyl carnitine and lysophospholipids during myocardial infarction.

Customer Reviews:

Good way to cell chemistry.......2003-01-28

This book has some good title and context about ion transport across the cell membrane. Understanding of ions transport is very essentail way to study of cell membrane functions and its responses to stimuli. It is very good for any biological and medical students that have well known information about ionic events in and out of the cell. Some students don't suppose how ions act and transport across the cytoplasmic membranes. This book make better idea for ions function and ionic behavior in cells. Chapers of the book have well arrangement and good figures. I recommend it for study.

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Pushing the Frontier of Hiking Guides

100 of the most scenic, strenuous hikes

Great hikes with accurate descriptions

Great Hikes

Great Hikes

The Best Hikes of Pisgah National Forest
C. Franklin, III Goldsmith , Shannon E. G. Hamrick , and H. James, Jr. Hamrick
Manufacturer: John F. Blair Publisher
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Accessories:

Rayovac SPHLTLED 3-in-1 LED Head-Lite

ASIN: 0895871904

Customer Reviews:

Pushing the Frontier of Hiking Guides.......2006-01-21

Cutting a long, diagonal swath through the mountains of western North Carolina, Pisgah National Forest offers some of the finest mountain hiking in the eastern United States. Covering the entire national forest, this guide will help you find a great trail to hike regardless of what your definition of great is.

This guide describes 112 national forest trails ranging from a flat, easy 0.5 mile loop to a rugged 12-mile hike one-way through Linville Gorge. The guide is organized around the major hiking areas in the national forest including Black Balsam Knob, Max Patch, Mt. Mitchell, Davidson River Valley, Linville Gorge, and Avery Creek. Each area features an excellent, detailed map copied from a USGS Topo map, driving directions (including landmarks) to the trailheads, and a detailed description of the trail. Additionally, the authors of this guide give GPS coordinates to designate trailheads, major intersections, and points of interest. With the increased popularity and availability of GPS navigation systems on the trail, the GPS coordinates add a nice touch that most guides still do not offer. This feature places this guide on the cutting edge of all hiking guides.

Perhaps the strongest point of this guide is its versatility. In addition to the GPS feature mentioned above, this guide describes both individual trails and possible routes for loop hikes. These day loop hikes are given in addition to descriptions of the longer backpack trails in the forest, namely the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and the Art Loeb Trail. Hikes located near the Blue Ridge Parkway are listed separately along with a list of hikes suitable for children and a list of easier trails suitable for the elderly. All of these features and the pocket-small size of the book add up to a guide that can be used by everyone no matter what kind of hike you desire in the Pisgah National Forest.

In summary, I have a bookshelf full of hiking guides, and this guide is perhaps the best guide I have ever encountered. If you are planning a hiking trip to western North Carolina, this is the guide you want in your pocket or in your backpack.

100 of the most scenic, strenuous hikes.......2001-02-16

The national forest's trails and wonders are revealed by authors who've hiked the trails most of their lives. 100 of the most scenic, strenuous hikes are described in a guide which requires strong walking skills and access to North Carolina wilderness region.

Great hikes with accurate descriptions.......2000-09-07

This is an execellent book that provides helpful descriptions of each trail and how to find them. Especially helpful that it uses USGS maps instead of printing their own. I highly recommend this book.

Great Hikes.......2000-08-30

This book details some wonderful hikes in the North Carolina mountains. Experienced hikers and casual strollers alike will find ample adventures mapped out in this excellent book. The authors, all natives of NC, have certainly put much time and energy into creating a book that would reflect their love of the outdoors and their special fondness for the western section of NC. I highly recommend this guide. Enjoy!

Great Hikes.......2000-08-29

Book Description

35,000 entries and 6,000 color images from the arts, science, nature, industry and more.

Do you know what that comb with the uneven teeth is called? Do you know the Spanish name for it? With The Firefly Five Language Visual Dictionary, finding and translating the names of thousands of objects, animals, and plants in five major languages is fast, simple and fun.

The Firefly Five Language Visual Dictionary is an unparalleled reference to the world around us. Six thousand color illustrations are labeled in the five languages showing in color what other dictionaries can only describe in text. All the clear, concise illustrations are organized into a series of fully indexed sections.

Each key word and phrase is connected to the detailed illustrations making identification and translations quick and accurate.

The scope and depth of this reference are immense, covering an incredibly detailed range of terms for:

Astronomy and Earth
Flora, fauna and humans
Food, kitchen and around the house
Gardening, clothing, articles
Arts and architecture
Communications, transport and machinery
Energy, science and society
Sports and games.

This edition is ideal for anyone learning Spanish, French, German and Italian or those learning English as a second language.

Customer Reviews:

Great Purchase.......2007-10-18

This book is one of that you keep your entire life. It's the best book to assimilate subjects from others languages in a simple way. It's not the best gift for your son, but no doubt, is the most useful.

An ocean of nouns for the aspiring polyglot, but not for the faint of heart..........2007-07-31

I am a teacher of foreign languages and own a number of visual dictionaries, including the Firefly Five Language Dictionary, the Firefly Spanish/English Dictionary, the Firefly Mini Spanish/English Dictionary, and the DK Five Language Visual Dictionary. I prefer the Firefly dictionaries because they tactfully include the gender of words as a superscript after the word rather than as an indirect article, as in the DK dictionary. The latter has the ill-effect of creating ambiguous genders in instances where the indirect article is truncated:

For example: garlic - l'ail - der Knoblauch - el ajo - l'aglio

The size of this hardcover edition make it more appropriate for use as a desk dictionary rather than a pocket edition. The Firefly Five Language Dictionary contains almost twice as many pages and words as the Firefly Spanish/English Visual Dictionaries. Given that the image layouts used in all of the Firefly dictionaries are from a common master, the page count is a very good indication of the word count. The faint of heart may want to consider getting a bilingual version in order to avoid confusion between languages. Although words are consistently listed in the five languages in the same order, it can still be overwhelming and confusing at times when words are very similar across languages.

As with any visual dictionary, this one focuses on nouns. Students of the Spanish will still want to have a quality pocket bilingual dictionary.

Bring back the previous edition!.......2007-06-15

The current edition is such a disappointment. The book itself is smaller (instead of being 8x11) and the type is much smaller. It is very difficult to read especially since the page is cluttered with five languages rather than just English. Please lobby the publisher to bring back the previous larger edition with its clean layout. It *could* be such a great teaching tool but is too frustrating for beginning readers in its present state. I wish I had bought it before it went out of print :(

Astonishingly good book.......2007-05-14

This book is awe inspiring. I have never been so amazed by a purchase before. The two most amazing things about it are: it's astonishingly high quality, and it's astonishingly reasonable price. If you want to see beautiful, highly detailed, full-color pictures of nearly all the every-day objects in our world, from parts of the body to types of fishes, animals and birds, sumo wrestlers, fire fighters, household items, manufacturing machinery, computers, clothes ... these are just random selections from over 900 pages. Each picture is labeled in all 5 languages, most pictures are further analyzed into parts, which are also labeled. What it is NOT: it is not lightweight; it is not a travel companion; It is not for people who just want to learn one or two hundred words of a foreign language. It IS for people who really like to know the names of lots of detailed items (many of which I don't even know yet in English) in English, Spanish, French, German, and/or Italian. 5 stars isn't enough. This is a *spectacular* buy.

A Good Visual Guide for Everyone.......2007-01-04

This is a must-have for those who are willing to know the correct name of things instead of giving that always extemporized description that, sometimes, goes nowhere. Excellent book for the children, for the language learner and for anybody who looks for an educational yet fun way to improve vocabulary. It is very well organized into topics and its respective variations and has crystal-clear pictures as well, which is a plus in comparison to other visual dictionaries that is based mostly on drawings. Worth the money.

Book Description

Did you know that cats are related etymologically to caterpillars? Or that Thomas Edison played a key role in popularizing the use of the greeting "Hello"? Or that muscles were originally mice, since a flexed biceps looks like a little rodent scurrying under the skin?

Word Histories and Mysteries provides a panoramic view of the unique richness of English, uncovering the origins of five hundred everyday words whose surprising and often amusing stories offer insights into the history of humankind. Arranged in convenient alphabetical order, the notes are written in a lively and entertaining style perfect for browsing. The reader can learn how some of the most recent words, such as the computer term wiki, were coined, or trace the origins of English back to the Indo-European language spoken long before the invention of writing.

A short introduction outlines the techniques linguists use to trace the history of words, and a handy glossary explains the linguistic terms that describe the ways in which language changes over time. Photographs and drawings help familiarize the reader with the ancient objects or cultural practices from which our words have sprung.

Fascinating and fun to read, Word Histories and Mysteries is an ideal gift for high school or college students interested in language and for anyone who wants to know more about the curious sounds we make to communicate every day.

Customer Reviews:

I would like to say that it's a little bit dissapointing .......2005-05-30

This paperback compendium of articles on the origins of words has been compiled by the editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Among the oddities revealed by its writers are that average derives from an Old French word meaning "damage to shipping", that caprice comes by a devious route from an old Italian word for a hedgehog, that in medieval times deer was the name for any creature, that in Middle English dinner could mean breakfast, that fawn and fetus are etymologically connected, that garage is from a French word whose first sense in that language was a place where one moors one's boat, that junk originally meant old rope ... and so on. Its writers have not shied away from discussing features of some of the most common words, such as a, it and they.
You will also be painlessly introduced to some of the terminology and ideas of etymology, such as back-formation (a word mistakenly formed from another by removing what looks like an ending), folk etymology (popular legends about word origins), metanalysis (a shift in the division between words, as a napron became an apron, metathesis (in which sounds are transposed inside a word, as wops turned into wasp), and melioration (in which over time a word becomes more elevated or positive in meaning). Though not all these terms are explained in the text, there is a glossary at the end of the book.

A very fine linquistic survey .......2005-02-08

How do new words enter the English language and dictionaries - and where did some older oddities come from? Plenty of 'word origin' titles are published; the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries answer numerous questions about what influences word changes and popularity, providing the stories of over 400 words from all areas of the vocabulary. Word Histories And Mysteries: From Abracadabra To Zeus is a very fine linquistic survey which is especially recommended for 'word origin' fans.

Word Histories and Mysteries: From Abracadabra to Zeus

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Word Histories and Mysteries: From Abracadabra to Zeus

Manufacturer: Tandem Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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ASIN: 1417717661

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Word Histories And Mysteries: From Abracadabra To Zeus
American Heritage
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OD8QC2

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