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natanbcpc's review against another edition
The book is a lot more theoretical than what I assumed, often taking too much time with definitions. I think it's more useful as a reference, but I don't think I'll come back to it so soon.
aandnota's review against another edition
5.0
Easily the best book on game theory that I've read. Easily.
danslimmon's review
2.0
It's clear that the authors are extremely well read. The book is jam packed with different conceptual frames in which to place games. But it never really comes together into a coherent book. It feels more like a brain dump (albeit of two huge brains).
There were several really strong ideas that I thought could've been books, or units, to themselves. In particular, the idea of games as systems of metacommunication (how we signify what is play and what is not) strikes me as fascinating and rich. The chapter on narrative was also very good: the distinction between what games represent and how games themselves are represented is a powerful one.
The authors don't seem to understand information theory very well. I found it disappointing that such a germane topic received only one brief and confusing chapter.
Overall, I thought this book lacked focus. I have no doubt that the authors could write several excellent books on games between them if they stuck to more circumscribed areas of investigation.
There were several really strong ideas that I thought could've been books, or units, to themselves. In particular, the idea of games as systems of metacommunication (how we signify what is play and what is not) strikes me as fascinating and rich. The chapter on narrative was also very good: the distinction between what games represent and how games themselves are represented is a powerful one.
The authors don't seem to understand information theory very well. I found it disappointing that such a germane topic received only one brief and confusing chapter.
Overall, I thought this book lacked focus. I have no doubt that the authors could write several excellent books on games between them if they stuck to more circumscribed areas of investigation.
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