Puzzle Theory

Life is full of uncertainty. You don't know what lies ahead. But you can learn to control the controllable by using logic and reason. With the help of this book, you'll discover new ways to think about - and solve - problems more efficiently than ever before. Discover how strategic games model real-life behavior.

Brian Clegg was always fascinated by Isaac Asimov’s classic Foundation series of books, in which the future is predicted using sophisticated mathematical modeling of human psychology and behavior. Only much later did he realize that Asimov’s "psychohistory" had a real-world equivalent: game theory. Originating in the study of probabilistic gambling games that depend on a random source—the throw of a dice or the toss of a coin—game theory soon came to be applied to human interactions: essentially, what was the best strategy to win whatever you were doing?

Games are everywhere: Drivers maneuvering in heavy traffic are playing a driving game. Bargain hunters bidding on eBay are playing an auctioning game. The supermarket's price for corn flakes is decided by playing an economic game. This Very Short Introduction offers a succinct tour of the fascinating world of game theory, a groundbreaking field that analyzes how to play games in a rational way. 

Should you watch public television without pledging? Exceed the posted speed limit? Hop a subway turnstile without paying? These questions illustrate the "prisoner's dilemma", a social puzzle that we all face every day. Though the answers may seem simple, their profound implications make the prisoner's dilemma one of the great unifying concepts of science. Watching poker players bluff inspired John von Neumann to construct game theory, a mathematical study of conflict and deception.

The second half of the 20th century witnessed a scientific gold rush as physicists raced to chart the inner workings of the atom. The stakes were high, the questions were big, and there were Nobel Prizes and everlasting glory to be won. Many mysteries of the atom came unraveled, but one remained intractable-what Frank Close calls the "Infinity Puzzle."

In this new kind of introduction to ethical theory, Daniel Muñoz and Sarah Stroud present fifty of the field's most exciting puzzles, paradoxes, and thought experiments. Over the course of eleven chapters, the authors cover a huge variety of topics, starting with the classic debate between utilitarians and deontologists and ending on existential questions about the future of humanity.

An audio tour of the structures and patterns we call "math" This is an audiobook about math, but it contains no numbers. Math Without Numbers is a vivid, conversational, and wholly original guide to the three main branches of abstract math—topology, analysis, and algebra—which turn out to be...

In the second book of the Conspiracy of Us series, Avery has embraced her role as heiress to a powerful society called the Circle, but soon discovers that the lies and treachery have only just begun. “A fusion of familiar romance, fantasy, and adventure tropes.”—VOYA Love could save her...

The thrilling conclusion to the romantic Conspiracy of Us series where power balances on a knife’s edge, destiny is uncertain, and love is the most terrifying thing of all. “This fine mix of adventure and romance will easily pull readers into a world of just-believable-enough conspiracy...

An intimate portrait of an everyday genius. Alexander Master’s landlord, Simon, lives in the basement of their Cambridge house. Between teetering towers of outdated maps and slagheaps of plastic bags, Simon eats endless meals of tinned kippers and plans trips on the Cambridge public transport...

Spark STEM curiosity during the daily school commute with playful math puzzles and secret number codes. Far from the rigid rules of classroom worksheets, this joyful audio adventure invites young listeners to explore a hidden world where digits have fierce personalities and surprising...

Unlock the hidden patterns of mathematics and master number theory through plain-language explanations of prime numbers. Whether you are leveling up your logic skills during your daily commute or satisfying an intellectual curiosity, this accessible educational journey transforms abstract...

Dive into a captivating historical mystery blending genuine cartography with gripping conspiracy theories. Perfect for an inquisitive commute, this atmospheric journey transforms a forgotten Ottoman manuscript into a battleground of truth and myth. Discover how a single surviving piece of...