Description

People have been gambling, in one form or another, for as long as history itself. Why? Money, entertainment, escape and a desire to win are all traditional explanations. Arguably, however, these are secondary considerations to a higher order purpose: a craving for control. Gambling offers a means of gaining authority over the unknown, granting us a sense of control over uncertainty. Almost always that sense is illusory - gambling, including betting and investing, is essentially random - yet for many it is nonetheless profoundly rewarding. This book attempts to explore the reasons why.

Along the way, it examines:

  • The science of probability and uncertainty
  • Why gambling is often condemned
  • The difference between expectation and utility
  • The irrationality of human beings
  • Evolutionary perspectives on gambling
  • Luck and skill
  • Market efficiency and the wisdom of crowds
  • Why winners take all
  • Cheating
  • Why the process matters more than the outcome

Squares and Sharps, Suckers and Sharks: The Science, Psychology and Philosophy of Gambling

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£26.96

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Usually despatched within 4 days
Paperback / softback by Joseph Buchdahl

1 in stock

Short Description:

People have been gambling, in one form or another, for as long as history itself. Why? Money, entertainment, escape and... Read more

    Publisher: Oldcastle Books Ltd
    Publication Date: 19/05/2021
    ISBN13: 9780857304841, 978-0857304841
    ISBN10: 0857304844

    Number of Pages: 352

    Non Fiction , Hobbies, Games & Quizzes

    Description

    People have been gambling, in one form or another, for as long as history itself. Why? Money, entertainment, escape and a desire to win are all traditional explanations. Arguably, however, these are secondary considerations to a higher order purpose: a craving for control. Gambling offers a means of gaining authority over the unknown, granting us a sense of control over uncertainty. Almost always that sense is illusory - gambling, including betting and investing, is essentially random - yet for many it is nonetheless profoundly rewarding. This book attempts to explore the reasons why.

    Along the way, it examines:

    • The science of probability and uncertainty
    • Why gambling is often condemned
    • The difference between expectation and utility
    • The irrationality of human beings
    • Evolutionary perspectives on gambling
    • Luck and skill
    • Market efficiency and the wisdom of crowds
    • Why winners take all
    • Cheating
    • Why the process matters more than the outcome

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