Game theory. You may have heard of it (or seen A Beautiful Mind) and wondered how it can help you play the game of life. This book shows you how. Whether negotiating with your six-year-old over when to go to bed, deciding how your firm will respond to a rival’s price cut, or trying to ensure that you’ll stick to New Year’s resolution, each of us faces a myriad of strategic interactions every day. You can muddle through and hope for good luck, or you can become better at recognizing, even anticipating, strategic situations and knowing how to respond. Game theory provides a method for strategic thinking. Put into practice, it is the art of outdoing your adversary, knowing that he or she is trying to do the same to you. It is the art of understanding what others mean based on what they do, not just on what they say. It is the art of anticipating and preempting what others will do or how they will respond to your actions. And, just as important, it is the art of finding ways to cooperate with others, even when they are motivated by selfishness, not benevolence. Through the lessons contained in the book’s pages, you will learn how to outmaneuver rivals, find avenues for cooperation, and become more successful in all your pursuits. And if you want to be fair to your adversaries, share this book with them.

Business