Game Theory in Popular Culture: A no-math guide to strategic decision making through TV and movies

There are entire books written on solitary game theory problems, but these can be daunting for those who don’t want to confront heavy math.

That’s a pity, because game theory is a useful tool for understanding why people do things and how to get what you want. Whether in negotiating your salary, buying a house or car, winning your fantasy football league, or understanding the news, game theory can help understand the motivations of people in your lives and how you can get to the best solutions for yourself and the people you care about.

This book takes a different approach. There will be no equations and no math. Instead, we’ll look at classic game theory conundrums through the lens of popular culture. You might be surprised at how much game theory you already know from watching Batman, James Bond, WarGames, and even the occasional romantic comedy.