Reviews from Amazon

Dr Strangelove's Game

We all have our ideas on how to put the world to rights, in particular on how money should be distributed. Various economic ideas have taken hold over the centuries, with differing degrees of success. In Dr Strangelove's Game Paul Strathern tells the stories of some of the originators of these economic theories.

He tells of the early ideas of people such as John Graunt and John Law, and of how Adam Smith put economics on a firm footing. In the 19^th century there are thinkers such as Jeremy Bentham and Karl Marx, and in the early 20^th John Maynard Keynes and Thorstein Veblen. This leads to 'Dr Strangelove' himself John von Neumann and on the the more recent game theoretic ideas of John Nash.

I felt that Strathern let his politics colour his writing a bit too much, for instance in his criticism of Adam Smith, and indeed in the identification of von Neumann with Dr. Strangelove. Also the title suggested to me that it would be a book about 20^th century economics and game theory, when in fact it's mostly about earlier economists. But it provides a useful overview of how economics has developed over the centuries, expecially for those who don't want to get into the technical details. Also, to come up with original economic ideas you need to be someone who stands apart from the crowd, and the stories of such people are always interesting.

Amazon.com info

Paperback 352 pages
ISBN: 0140299866
Salesrank: 3286085
Weight:0.56 lbs

Published: 2002 Penguin Books Ltd

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Amazon.co.uk info

Hardcover 336 pages
ISBN: 0241141346
Salesrank: 735169
Weight:0.97 lbs

Published: 2001 Hamish Hamilton Ltd

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Amazon.ca info

Paperback 352 pages
ISBN: 0140299866
Salesrank: 864336
Weight:0.56 lbs

Published: Penguin UK

Marketplace:New from CDN$ 70.92:Used from CDN$ 67.39

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Easy, fun read on economics. ****
This is an entertaining book with lots of stories, history and general interest. It's a weekend read, with a good story type pace. If you enjoy it, also try Butterfly Economics by Paul Ormerod that really picks-up where this book ends.

Easy, fun read on economics. ****

This is an entertaining book with lots of stories, history and general interest. It's a weekend read, with a good story type pace. If you enjoy it, also try Butterfly Economics by Paul Ormerod that really picks-up where this book ends.

The History of Money ****
This was a great book for me. I'm a Management major and it was interesting to find out where certain ideas and methods that we just take for granted came from. Things like double entry accounting or paper money, things they talk about in school but rarely discuss the history of. The book is somewhat informal in that it doesn't reference at the end of each chapter with footnotes but it does provide a quick pace and makes for a more enjoyable leisurely read. Paul Strathern has an incredible grasp of the subject, covering a broad period of history, and is a vast fountain of knowledge. I especially appreciated some of his personal insights. I suspect that I will want to learn more about some of the great economic thinkers of the past, this book certainly has wet my appetite. However I thought that there could be more on game theory since the title would kind of suggest that, don't expect an indepth explanation of various theories or techniques, but do expect to find out who, where and when they came from.

The History of Money ****

This was a great book for me. I'm a Management major and it was interesting to find out where certain ideas and methods that we just take for granted came from. Things like double entry accounting or paper money, things they talk about in school but rarely discuss the history of. The book is somewhat informal in that it doesn't reference at the end of each chapter with footnotes but it does provide a quick pace and makes for a more enjoyable leisurely read. Paul Strathern has an incredible grasp of the subject, covering a broad period of history, and is a vast fountain of knowledge. I especially appreciated some of his personal insights. I suspect that I will want to learn more about some of the great economic thinkers of the past, this book certainly has wet my appetite. However I thought that there could be more on game theory since the title would kind of suggest that, don't expect an indepth explanation of various theories or techniques, but do expect to find out who, where and when they came from.

Good introduction to economics for the layman ****
As an intorduction to economics you could do a lot worse, it certainly highlights the oddness and comic aspects of some economic theories (and theorists). One small annoyance is that he repeats the largely discredited story of how Fredrick Engles raised Karl marx's illegitimate progeny as his own. While there is some tantalising evidence to support this idea (and it's a nice used of imagery) its largely based on supposition and the testamnony of people who wouldn't have been there at the time. interesting though it is, the ballance of evidence would suggest that it never happened.

Good introduction to economics for the layman ****

As an intorduction to economics you could do a lot worse, it certainly highlights the oddness and comic aspects of some economic theories (and theorists).

One small annoyance is that he repeats the largely discredited story of how Fredrick Engles raised Karl marx's illegitimate progeny as his own. While there is some tantalising evidence to support this idea (and it's a nice used of imagery) its largely based on supposition and the testamnony of people who wouldn't have been there at the time. interesting though it is, the ballance of evidence would suggest that it never happened.

It's not economics it's fun! ****
This is NOT a book about economics, but rather a series of mini-biographies of people and characters who bacome entranced by the concpt of money. Includes a wonderful bit on John Law, the fugitive scotsman and reckless genius who once effectively ran France and was the worlds richest man. Reading this book makes you realise how driven the "dismal science" is by puzzlingly wierd charcters and actually succeeds in making economics interesting. The book is written in an informed witty style and makes for a great light read in between heavier tomes on Money Supply and Comparitive Economics. Enjoy.

It's not economics it's fun! ****

This is NOT a book about economics, but rather a series of mini-biographies of people and characters who bacome entranced by the concpt of money. Includes a wonderful bit on John Law, the fugitive scotsman and reckless genius who once effectively ran France and was the worlds richest man. Reading this book makes you realise how driven the "dismal science" is by puzzlingly wierd charcters and actually succeeds in making economics interesting. The book is written in an informed witty style and makes for a great light read in between heavier tomes on Money Supply and Comparitive Economics. Enjoy.

top book ****
I'm not trying to be witty or impressive with the wording of this review - I just want to share my discovery of a fantastic book. It helped me to put current (arrogant) world economics in perspective and consider possible alternatives. It's also curious how little we seem to have learned from past economic mishaps and how (in my opinion) human greed and hunger for power is a reoccurring influence that restricts the quality of life of the majority population. Don't let the subject matter of economics mislead you. This book is not dry book to read - it's peppered with interesting and often humorous anecdotes about historical characters and the times in which they lived. Eg: During a gold shortage, the dutch govt agreed in the 1670's to a proposal to turn the sand of its coastline into gold via alchemy. The 1st futures market arose in the Netherlands - based on options to buy popular tulip bulbs. Individual bulbs were selling for as much as 3,000 gold florins (one bulb was swapped for a brewery) and a sailor visiting a rich merchant's house once mistook one of these invaluable bulbs for an onion and ate it. This book is educational, thoughtful and entertaining.

top book ****

I'm not trying to be witty or impressive with the wording of this review - I just want to share my discovery of a fantastic book. It helped me to put current (arrogant) world economics in perspective and consider possible alternatives. It's also curious how little we seem to have learned from past economic mishaps and how (in my opinion) human greed and hunger for power is a reoccurring influence that restricts the quality of life of the majority population.

Don't let the subject matter of economics mislead you. This book is not dry book to read - it's peppered with interesting and often humorous anecdotes about historical characters and the times in which they lived. Eg: During a gold shortage, the dutch govt agreed in the 1670's to a proposal to turn the sand of its coastline into gold via alchemy. The 1st futures market arose in the Netherlands - based on options to buy popular tulip bulbs. Individual bulbs were selling for as much as 3,000 gold florins (one bulb was swapped for a brewery) and a sailor visiting a rich merchant's house once mistook one of these invaluable bulbs for an onion and ate it.

This book is educational, thoughtful and entertaining.

A Great Introduction to Economic Thought ****
This concise book is well written and reads well. Taking the reader through a selection of the most important thinkers that the world has seen, the author also adds interest by contextualising the thoughts of the economic thinkers he studies. The reading list at the back of the book is particularly useful as the author does seem to rely on other books quite heavily in some chapters (notably Francis Wheen's superb biography of Marx). Overall though this is exactly what it says on the tin - and all the better for it - an intriguing and informative read

A Great Introduction to Economic Thought ****

This concise book is well written and reads well. Taking the reader through a selection of the most important thinkers that the world has seen, the author also adds interest by contextualising the thoughts of the economic thinkers he studies.

The reading list at the back of the book is particularly useful as the author does seem to rely on other books quite heavily in some chapters (notably Francis Wheen's superb biography of Marx). Overall though this is exactly what it says on the tin - and all the better for it - an intriguing and informative read

Enjoyable insight into those who shaped economic thought *****
The book offers very interesting insights into the personalities and events that have shaped the science / psychology of economics. I recommend this book to anyone, especially those working in the financial services industry. It is both humourous and easy to read.

Enjoyable insight into those who shaped economic thought *****

The book offers very interesting insights into the personalities and events that have shaped the science / psychology of economics. I recommend this book to anyone, especially those working in the financial services industry. It is both humourous and easy to read.