The Evolution of Cooperation

Author: Robert Axelrod

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Description

"For anyone involved in settling disputes" (Richard Dawkins), a famed political scientist offers a classic argument for how to achieve a more cooperative world

We assume that, in a world ruled by natural selection, selfishness pays. So why cooperate? In The Evolution of Cooperation, political scientist Robert Axelrod seeks to answer this question. In 1979, he organized the famed Computer Prisoner's Dilemma Tournament, which sought to find the most effective strategy for the ubiquitous prisoner's dilemma, a model of strategy problems in the nuclear age. The expectation had been that some complicated scheme of competition would win the day. Instead, a simple, cooperative program called Tit for Tat did. The effects of that victory continue to reverberate today, from college campuses to the Situation Room.

A vital book for leaders and decision-makers, The Evolution of Cooperation reveals how cooperative principles help us think better about everything from military strategy to political elections to family dynamics.

Critic Reviews

"A fascinating introduction to the theory of cooperation, and written in a clear, informal style that makes it a joy to read."
--Times Literary Supplement
"Axelrod's approach is our best hope."--Duncan Luce, New York Times
"Our ideas of cooperation will never be the same."--The Wall Street Journal
"When I read The Evolution of Cooperation in draft form, I scribbled all over my copy: 'Incredible!' 'Amazing!' 'Weird!' 'Fascinating!' 'Elegant!' 'Great!' I guess that tells you what I genuinely think of this book."
--Douglas Hofstadter, author of Gödel, Escher, Bach

About the Author

Robert Axelrod is professor of political science and public policy emeritus at the University of Michigan. A MacArthur fellow, he is a leading expert on game theory, artificial intelligence, evolutionary biology, mathematical modeling, and complexity theory. In 2014, he received the National Medal of Science, "the nation's highest honor for scientific achievement and leadership." He lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan.