Hidden Games: The Surprising Power of Game Theory to Explain Irrational Human Behaviour

About the Book

'Packed with fresh and clear insights that will change the way you think about the world' Uri Gneezy

'One of those books that you pick up and then can't put down' Steve Stewart-Williams

'This is a book I will come back to again and again' Nichola Raihani

How game theory - the ultimate theory of rationality - explains irrational behaviour.

In Hidden Games, MIT economists Moshe Hoffman and Erez Yoeli find a surprising middle ground between the hyperrationality of classical economics and the hyper-irrationality of behavioural economics. They call it hidden games. Reviving game theory, Hoffman and Yoeli use it to explain our most puzzling behaviour, from the mechanics of Stockholm syndrome and internalised misogyny to why we help strangers and have a sense of fairness.

Fun and powerfully insightful, Hidden Games is an eye-opening argument for using game theory to explain all the irrational things we think, feel, and do and will change how you think forever.

About the Author :
Moshe Hoffman (Author)

Moshe Hoffman is a research scientist at the MIT Media Lab Human Dynamics Group and lecturer at Harvard's department of economics. His research focuses on using game theory to decipher the motives that shape our behaviour.

Erez Yoeli (Author)

Erez Yoeli is a research associate at MIT's Sloan School of Management. Yoeli collaborates with governments, non-profits, and companies to apply the lessons of his research into altruism towards addressing real-world challenges.

Review :
Skillfully wielding the instruments of game theory, Hoffman and Yoeli entertainingly cut away the veneer of social life to expose the Hidden Games underlying our lavish tastes, overconfidence, spin doctoring, philanthropic inclinations, principled commitments and humility. The duo delivers a penetrating look at the cold logic shaping the puzzling patterns that pervade our actions and communities Hidden Games is a fascinating tour of how game theory can explain the intricacies and quirks of human behavior; and Hoffman and Yoeli are expert guides. This is a book I will come back to again and again Hidden Games is a great read. Hoffman and Yoeli show how widespread but puzzling behavior can result from self-interest, explaining subtle, important ideas in a snappy, accessible style In this fascinating book, Hoffman and Yoeli show how the tools of economics can be used to understand a wide range of real-world phenomena. The authors show time and again that many types of human behavior which seem inconsistent with consciously rational behavior can be understood once we realize that those same forces are operating below the surface. Indeed, this book shows the magic of what is hidden from view Hidden Games is a pair of x-ray specs for your mind; it gives you the ability to penetrate surfaces and see what's going on at a deeper level. And the writing is as good as the ideas, which is saying something You'll find the passion for game theory in every page of this brilliant book, which is packed with fresh and clear insights that will change the way you think about the world This is one of those books that you pick up and then can't put down; next thing you know, you've been reading for hours and forgotten to go to bed (true story). Filled with quirky facts and perspective-shifting insights, Hidden Games explains some of human beings' most puzzling behavior with one of the most powerful theories ever devised: game theory Moshe Hoffman and Erez Yoeli do a valiant job of applying game theory to seemingly irrational behavior This important book applies game theory to numerous human social dilemmas from love and marriage to homicide and war