Why flip a coin? : the art and science of good decisions

Bibliographic Information

Why flip a coin? : the art and science of good decisions

H.W. Lewis

J. Wiley, c1997

  • : pbk

Available at  / 6 libraries

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Note

Includes index

Description and Table of Contents

Volume

ISBN 9780471165972

Description

"It is rare to come across a book that can truly be called fascinating, but here is one."-New Scientist Why Flip a Coin? What's the best way to choose the right spouse? ...How can I increase my chances of winning the office football pool? ...By what process should I choose a candidate in the Senate race? ...Could I possibly make more money playing poker instead of the stock market? Using examples gleaned from everyday life, noted physicist H. W. Lewis explains what science has discovered about the rules that govern good-and not-so-good-decision making. Full of provocative insights into human psychology and behavior, Why Flip a Coin? will leave you laughing-even as you're learning. "Should you read this book or not? If you don't read it you will surely miss out on Lewis's flinty wit and sharp sense of irony. The choice is clear. You needn't even flip a coin."-The Sciences "Lighthearted but far from flippant."-Amazon.com (Science Editor's Recommended Book)

Table of Contents

Basics: The First Cut. The Dating Game. Probability. Gains and Losses. Putting It All Together. Stability: The Social Island. The Prisoners' Dilemma. Competitive Games. A Paradox. Rankings. Voting. Impossibility. Protecting the Future. Public Decisions. Apportionment. War: Lanchester's Law. Fluctuations and Regression. Investing: The Stock Market. Gambling. Sports--Mainly Baseball. The Lady or the Tiger? Law and Juries. Intro Redux. Index.
Volume

: pbk ISBN 9780471296454

Description

"It is rare to come across a book that can truly be called fascinating, but here is one."-New Scientist Why Flip a Coin? What's the best way to choose the right spouse? ...How can I increase my chances of winning the office football pool? ...By what process should I choose a candidate in the Senate race? ...Could I possibly make more money playing poker instead of the stock market? Using examples gleaned from everyday life, noted physicist H. W. Lewis explains what science has discovered about the rules that govern good-and not-so-good-decision making. Full of provocative insights into human psychology and behavior, Why Flip a Coin? will leave you laughing-even as you're learning. "Should you read this book or not? If you don't read it you will surely miss out on Lewis's flinty wit and sharp sense of irony. The choice is clear. You needn't even flip a coin."-The Sciences "Lighthearted but far from flippant."-Amazon.com (Science Editor's Recommended Book)

Table of Contents

  • Basics: The First Cut
  • The Dating Game
  • Probability
  • Gains and Losses
  • Putting It All Together
  • Stability: The Social Island
  • The Prisoners' Dilemma
  • Competitive Games
  • A Paradox
  • Rankings
  • Voting
  • Impossibility
  • Protecting the Future
  • Public Decisions
  • Apportionment
  • War: Lanchester's Law
  • Fluctuations and Regression
  • Investing: The Stock Market
  • Gambling
  • Sports Mainly Baseball
  • The Lady or the Tiger?
  • Law and Juries
  • Intro Redux
  • Index.

by "Nielsen BookData"

Details

  • NCID
    BA33560718
  • ISBN
    • 0471165972
    • 0471296457
  • LCCN
    96029444
  • Country Code
    us
  • Title Language Code
    eng
  • Text Language Code
    eng
  • Place of Publication
    New York
  • Pages/Volumes
    xiii, 206 p.
  • Size
    25 cm
  • Classification
  • Subject Headings
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