Competition The Birth of a New Science

What do chess-playing computer programs, biological evolution, competitive sports, gambling, alternative voting systems, public auctions, corporate globalization, and class warfare have in common? All are manifestations of a new paradigm in scientific thinking, one that the author calls "the emerging science of competition." Drawing in part on the pioneering work of mathematicians such as John von Neumann, John Nash (ofA Beautiful Mindfame), and Robert Axelrod, James Case explores the common game-theoretical strands that tie these seemingly unrelated fields together, showing how each can be better understood in the shared light of the others. Not since James Gleick's bestselling bookChaosbrought widespread public attention to the new sciences of chaos and complexity has a general-interest science book served such an eye-opening purpose.Competitionwill appeal to a wide range of readers, from policy wonks and futurologists to former jocks and other ordinary citizens seeking to make sense of a host of noveland frequently controversialissues.

James Case holds a PhD from the University of Michigan, has taught at a number of universities and worked in private industry, and is the regular book reviewer for SIAM News of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics.