Art of Strategy (WW Norton & Co)

Brilliantly demonstrated in "Thinking Strategically" [ISBN 978 0 393 31035 1], game theory is bursting with lessons for us all ("The Observer"). Here the authors provide the long-awaited sequel. Game theory means rigorous strategic thinking. It's the art of anticipating your opponent's next moves; knowing that your rival is trying to do the same thing to you. Though parts of game theory involve common sense, much is counterintuitive and it can only be mastered by developing a new way of seeing the world. Using case studies, the authors show how nearly every business and personal interaction has a game theory component to it. The authors look at questions such as whether the winners of reality-TV contests are instinctive game theorists or if big-time investors see things that most people miss and what great poker players know that the average person doesn't. Mastering game theory will make the reader more successful in business and life: this lively book is the key to that mastery.