Rock, Paper, Scissors: A cheat sheet for the game of life

by: Kissel Cablayda

This book is Len Fisher’s own version of Sun Tzu’s Art of War. It generally revolves around John von Neumann’s game theory and how, we ordinary people, could, would and should solve problems and living in our daily routines. It’s a tip book. It’s a guide book. It is Len’s own version of mathematical bible of solving daily problems through mathematical strategies and interventions. The book provides us several cheat sheets on how to deal with the hardest events in our daily living using the game theory.

Lens expanded his beautiful idea about the theory through the eight chapters of his book. He first introduced in chapter one the story of “Nash’s Equilibrium and the Prisoner’s Dillema.” The author always thought that the Prisoner’s­ Dillema is always with us. We always encounter situations like this. The part where it gets interesting is on the second chapter in which it offers a well written presentation of the idea of minimax and fair division. This is where he tackles the importance of equality and how to avoid inequality issues through cut and choose process.

Chapter three discusses what he called “seven deadly dilemma” where he presented sample problems for each. One of these is the game of chicken problem. The title of the book, “Rock, Paper, Scissors” was presented on the fourth chapter. His ridiculous but a-could-be-useful idea on how big problems can be resolved through using the common game of “rock, paper, scissors” might be quirky for those who are strategy-conscious people. It is because the game itself has no strategy at all, in which case everyone would rely to luck and destiny. Hence, it could be useful for conflict in which no choices are better than the other.

What are most interesting in chapter five are his indentions on the importance of communication, negotiation, coalition, and commitment. It is important to point out the author’s belief on these aspects and how these could build and develop a good teamwork. Hence, his idea of connecting these into a mathematical perspective is one of the most commendable parts of this book. One good example is his calculations of former Pres. John Kennedy’s speaking rate and how he was still able to communicate to the mob.

On chapter six, Len offers the essence of trust. This is the part where he tailored Game theory with other social and psychological explanation of trust. He mentioned several studies from famous researchers and philosophers that explain how and why trust occurs and diminishes. He emphasized that if people give more trust to each other then there is more chance of winning a game or nailing the bar.

Further development on his idea about the science of group cooperation is developed in chapter seven. This is also the part where he emphasizes his idea of avoiding retaliation and counter-retaliation so to have a successful cooperative group in different social situations. In the last chapter, Fisher then introduce new concept of how we can change the game and thus makes situations more controllable. One surprising thing he suggests is to add one discordant person in a group where a certain conflict rises on a situation. He assumes that discordant people helps the members cooperate more as they have the same views about the discordant one, therefore they now have something to think in common, this where cooperation starts.

The book is definitely a good read. Its way of explaining the complex concept of the Game theory is absolutely reader-friendly. The way he associates the concepts to common daily problems surely makes the reader relate to the idea thus making the game theory a more familiar concept they can bring in their daily lifestyle. The words he uses are not technical, thus it is more like conversational. That is why it is simple yet very understandable.

Lens smart way of sharing his childhood story and relating these events to the concepts he wants to present is very effective. This strategy would make the audience feel as if they reading a story book than a complex indigestible academic material. What makes it smarter is that he associates these stories with humor and a sense of elatedness, which is a universal feeling for everyone who reads it. The real-life examples are very effective in keeping intact of the readers to focus and attention.

Overall, the book provides a safety door for those who want to enter to the big castles mathematical ideas. It helps readers slides swiftly and delves into to what was once expected to be hard and incomprehensible Game theory.

What is more important is that because it is easy to read, the more people would understand it. Thus, making more people comprehend and adhere the strategies Lens Fisher wants to teach to common people. Therefore, more people would have a cheat sheet for complicated and delicate life decisions.