Luck, Logic, and White Lies
The Mathematics of Games

Luck, Logic, and White Lies: The Mathematics of Games by Jörg Bewersdorff
Price: $59.00
Availability: In stock.

Summary

The mathematical underpinnings of games, whether they are strategic or games of chance, have been known for centuries, but are usually only understood by players and aficionados who have a background in mathematics. The author has succeeded in making that knowledge accessible, entertaining, and useful to everyone who likes to play and win. The information applies to such diverse and popular games as Roulette, Monopoly™, Chess, Go, numerous card games, and many more. He reviews the mathematical foundations, probability, combinatorics, and mathematical game theory, the field that won John Nash of A Beautiful Mind the Nobel Prize, and emphasizes the implementation of these techniques so that players can put them to work immediately. An extensive bibliography and sections describing the historical developments are welcome features to put the subject in a broader context

Details

ISBN: 978-1-56881-210-6
Year: 2004
Format: Paperback
Pages: 504
Web Site:
http://www.bewersdorff-online.de/

Reviews

SpringerWienNewYork - Monatshefte fuer Mathematik (PDF)

May 2008

“The author (successfully) addresses a broad audience of readers interested in games.”

Books-On-Line (External Link)

January 2007

“For anyone interested in what’s really going on in games they play, this is an extremely interesting book. ”

The Mathematical Gazette (PDF)

November 2006

“This book is unusual in making the illustrative examples and the more technical and theoretical aspects of probability equally interesting and clear… What I liked particularly was the clarity, yet non-triviality of the examples used, leading to a well-founded understanding of these ideas.”

Zentralblatt MATH (PDF)

March 2006

“It is really good news that J. Bewersdorff’s successful book has now, after the enthusiastic reviews of the previous three German editions been translated into English to reach the worldwide readership it deserves.”

Look Smart (External Link)

February 2006

“Translated (by David Kramer) from German, this book continues Martin Gardner’s tradition of explaining how to play and to win at various mathematical games…”

Mathematics Teacher (PDF)

December 2005

“I would recommend this book to high school and college teachers for their own enrichment, as a resource book for good students, and as a source for classroom activities.”

Lu pour vous (PDF)

October 2005

“Ce Livre est bon… pour un coup d’oeil général sur le domaine, je ne pense pas qu’on puisse mieux trouver.”

L'Enseignement Mathematique (PDF)

August 2005

“He reviews the mathematical foundations, probability, combinatorics, and mathematical game theory, and emphasizes the implementation of these techniques so that players can put them to work immediately.”

E-Streams (External Link)

August 2005

“This book is a must for anyone interested in gaming… Students with an interest in mathematics will find this book to be of interest.”

Musings, Ramblings, and Things Left Unsaid (External Link)

August 2005

“The best book I’ve found for someone new to game math is Luck, Logic and White Lies by Jörg Bewersdorff. It introduces the reader to a vast mathematical literature, and does so in an enormously clear manner…”

EMS NEWSLETTER (PDF)

June 2005

“The book is well-written and can be recommended to all readers with interest in game theory.”

The Midwest Book Review

April 2005

“Written in plain terms, Luck, Logic, and White Lies teaches readers of all backgrounds about the insight mathematical knowledge can bring and is highly recommended reading among avid game players, both to better understand the game itself and to improve one’s skills.”

Acclaimed by Colleagues

April 2005

“A most interesting and unique book, encompassing games of chance and games of perfect and imperfect information, stimulating and thought-provoking both to the sophisticated layman and to the well-informed expert.”
—Aviezri Fraenkel

Musings, Ramblings, and Things Left Unsaid (PDF)

February 2005

This book serves as an introduction to the mathematics of games. It seeks to show to the reader how it is that games have their power–how they manipulate chance, hidden information, and combinatorics…

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