Games Indians Play: Why we are the way we are

by V Raghunathan

‘Raghunathan writes really well . . . there are rare instances where a reviewer thinks; I wish I could write like that. This is one of those rare instances’ —Bibek Debroy in Indian ExpressIn a rare attempt to understand the Indianness of Indians—among the most intelligent people in the world; but also; to a dispassionate eye; perhaps the most baffling—V. Raghunathan uses the props of game theory and behavioural economics to provide an insight into the difficult conundrum of why we are the way we are. He puts under the scanner our attitudes towards rationality and irrationality; selflessness and selfishness; competition and cooperation; and collaboration and deception. Drawing examples from the way we behave in day-to-day situations; Games Indians Play tries to show how in the long run each one of us—whether businessmen; politicians; bureaucrats; or just plain us—stand to profit more if we were to assume a little self-regulation; give fairness a chance and strive to cooperate and collaborate a little more even if self-interest were to be our main driving force.

Genres: India

172 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Detective Deralta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short. Smile. Humorous. Insightful. Slightly lazy.

This is a lovely compilation of musings on why Indians are the way they are. It has nothing to do with sports as the author also mentions. I was in splits with my punny sense of humour matching my book when I read.

This book attempts to combine behavioral economics, game theory and random ideas to try and comprehend why Indians behave the way they do. I would have loved more cultural, historical context to decode this puzzle, but the book leaves it at the 2X2 prisoner's dilemma Matrix and hence comes across as bit lazy.

But that shouldn't deter you from reading. It's an easy, breezy read with hilarious sub points sprinkled occasionally.

I loved the chapter on can competition lead to cooperation with its bot/algo reference of a simple 3 line code.

Each chapter is intelligently titled and often the irony is apparent. But beautifully so.

If you aren't aware of prisoner's dilemma, game theory and such, you might find the book rather insightful and a delight to read.

If you are, you might still find it a lovely, fun read. It might give you framework to look at some of the problems and think more.

Either ways, pick it and finish it at a pace faster than mine.

Thank you, Joyce for recommending this in the form of a lovely surprise in courier. Much love!

Now I must send you a book myself so as to continue this C,C behaviour and not defect?
😎🤓🤗

[Sid · Rating 2 out of 5]

Felt like it was nothing more than a rant from an urban upper-middle-class boomer uncle complaining about real things (of course, I won't deny that they are problems) who claimed that he would answer how the issues came to be in the first place. but didn't bother answering any of them. and he conveniently ignored a lot of other causes for the problems.

[Jasmine Sethi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool concepts that shows why we are they way we are. Impressed.