Choices and Decisions

Choices and Decisions

A Book Review on Len Fisher’s, “Rock, Paper, Scissors: Game Theory in Everyday Life”

            First of all, I just want to say that the author, Len Fisher, has been very considerate in writing this book because he wrote it in a manner that is not entirely mathematical and is short but was still able to depict everyday circumstances in which we may have overlook the game theory playing on the sidelines. If you are looking for a good read about strategies on gains, negotiations or deals, or just simply yearning to understand how a situation may result in two or more parties, then, this is the book you are looking for. Written in a light manner, Rock, Paper, Scissors, is a comprehensive and relatable read.

           

            Fisher shows the positive effects of cooperative behavior in certain difficult situations as well as escaping traps set by selfishness. Not many people are willing to cooperate voluntarily. Cooperation may be easy to do once a party is convinced that there is something good in store for them. However, if one person is not so good with arguing, or perhaps devising compelling bargains, what good would be in store for both parties? No deals may probably happen. Thus, the seven deadly dilemmas have been enumerated to help us understand the logic behind situations usually leading us to social dilemmas. These seven deadly dilemmas are as follows: the prisoner’s dilemma, tragedy of the commons, free rider, chicken, volunteer’s dilemma, battle of the sexes, and the stag hunt. Among these mentioned, the most common dilemmas that I see in daily living are the free rider, chicken, volunteer’s dilemma, and the battle of the sexes. The seven deadly dilemmas might appear as just simple things. However, what we sometimes fail to see is that big things come from small beginnings because the applications of these dilemmas range from interpersonal relationships to global issues and connections. It is especially hard to make a wrong move in the global scale --- war may result from it.

            Many, if not all of us, go into conversation with other people by, say, for example, congregating, making bargains &/or deals, fixing time meetings, making state treaties, simply arguing who will pay which in dining hangouts (or if it would be equally divided), etc --- same conversations over and over again. But the manner of how we plan certain things so as to suit ourselves positively varies. We may be or not be good in looking into the future. I, personally, have found a connection with some of the simple, daily examples of the dilemmas in the book. I do not know if I would use the logic behind them in the near future to escape traps, too. One thing is for sure, I have somehow understood how one’s selfishness can control just about everything the person would do, most especially the words that would come out of their mouths. The good thing is that there are ways to counteract such behavior(s). Learning how to play the game effectively is the answer.