Rock Paper Scissors: A Book Review

                Rock Paper Scissor is a book written by Len Fisher wherein he talks about Game theory and its application in our daily lives. The first time I heard about Game theory was way back in high school when our Physics teacher in third year high school told us about how he used game theory against a habal-habal driver in order to lessen his fare. When I was reading this book I remembered the phrase he said after sharing us his experience, and it goes like this “In every situation one must find a way for both parties to compromise through cooperation”. At first I thought that this Game theory is applicable to simple things (like what my teacher told us), but as I was reading the book it struck to me that in every dealings, no matter how big or small the circumstance is, Game theory is applicable.

                I had fun reading the book because in every scenario that the author presents I can’t help but put myself in the situation of one of the parties involved. I thought about what will happen if I choose this option or this option, what will happen to me if the other party would choose this as well or what if he/she chose the other option? These thoughts kept me occupied and absorbed by the book.  I really like the examples presented by the author in the book though those examples are pretty simple, it was magnified and was related with global issues like war. I also liked the way how the simple game of rock, paper, and scissors was scrutinized. It was mentioned that this game has no pure dominant strategy that can be used in order to win in every match as there is always a 1/3 chance that you and your opponent will draw out either rock, paper, or a scissor. And that in whatever of the three options you decide to draw there is always the possibility of winning, losing or ending up with a tie (I think I don’t have to explain the technical or the mechanics of the game since I know that all of us knows how to play this game right?).

                Though the book was about Game theory, I didn’t have the chance to feel nauseous or any head ache since the book is very user friendly. The book was able to present such complicated concept of game theory in a humorous and interesting manner. Based on how I understand the book, it discusses more on how can we achieve trust, reason out with another party and bargain effectively with regards to the situation most desirable for the opposing parties in order to prevent the so called “traps” in our daily lives. After all no man is an island.