Mathematicians & Logicians - Biography, Computers - History
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Overview
Critical Acclaim forPrisoner's Dilemma
"The real originality of PRISONER'S DILEMMA lies in its colorful synthesis of logical material and historical and biographical narration [which] takes us in parallel lines through cold war history, strategic games of the nuclear age and the life of von Neumann . . . Lively, open and multifaceted."
—New York Times Book Review
"Poundstone deftly intertwines the development of game theory with the biography of its founder, who was considered by many the most intelligent person alive. Poundstone does a superb job of relating the insights of game theory to real-world conflicts."
—Washington Times
"An absolute, mind-blowing page turner . . . Poundstone writes with real verve and he takes very technical concepts and makes them perfectly clear and insightful. PRISONER'S DILEMMA is the latest title from one of the best sciece/contemporary thought writers we have in the English language."
—The Coast Book Review
"Explains game theory lucidly, reveals some hair-raising post-war governmental skullduggery, and brings to life one of history's foremost mathematicians."
—Los Angeles Times
"Very readable . . . Fascinating, thought-provoking, and easily accessible to the layperson."
—Library Journal
A fascinating biography of the dazzlingly brilliant Hungarian mathematician--considered by many to be the greatest genius of the 20th century--Prisoner's Dilemma tells the story of John Von Neumann, the inventor of the digital computer and key player in the invention of the atom bomb. Photographs.
Editorials
Publishers Weekly -
Poundstone's three-dimensional outline of game theory mathematics sketches the life of its inventor, John von Neumann, and his role in Cold War policy-making. Photos. Feb.Library Journal
This very readable book is partly a biography of John von Neumann, partly a nontechnical history of the branch of mathematics known as game theory, and partly a description of some of the paradoxical findings that arise from that theory. Von Neumann was a brilliant mathematician who was the major figure in the Manhattan Project and later an active public figure. Thus, those portions of the book that deal with his life are interesting and informative. Those sections that deal with game theory use no mathematics beyond simple arithmetic and are thus fascinating, thought provoking, and easily accessible to the layperson. For all biography and science collections.-- Harold D. Shane, Baruch Coll., CUNYBooknews
Reprint of the fine biography first published by Doubleday in 1992. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)Book Details
Published
May 25, 2011
Publisher
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Pages
320
Format
Paperback
ISBN
9780307763785