Seven Games: A Human History

Seven Games: A Human History
Author :
Publisher : W. W. Norton & Company
Total Pages : 327
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9781324003786
ISBN-13 : 1324003782
Rating : 4/5 (782 Downloads)

Book Synopsis Seven Games: A Human History by : Oliver Roeder

Download or read book Seven Games: A Human History written by Oliver Roeder and published by W. W. Norton & Company. This book was released on 2022-01-25 with total page 327 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice "Beguiling, mesmerizing, and utterly charming." —Stefan Fatsis, author of Word Freak A group biography of seven enduring and beloved games, and the story of why—and how—we play them. Checkers, backgammon, chess, and Go. Poker, Scrabble, and bridge. These seven games, ancient and modern, fascinate millions of people worldwide. In Seven Games, Oliver Roeder charts their origins and historical importance, the delightful arcana of their rules, and the ways their design makes them pleasurable. Roeder introduces thrilling competitors, such as evangelical minister Marion Tinsley, who across forty years lost only three games of checkers; Shusai, the Master, the last Go champion of imperial Japan, defending tradition against “modern rationalism”; and an IBM engineer who created a backgammon program so capable at self-learning that NASA used it on the space shuttle. He delves into the history and lore of each game: backgammon boards in ancient Egypt, the Indian origins of chess, how certain shells from a particular beach in Japan make the finest white Go stones. Beyond the cultural and personal stories, Roeder explores why games, seemingly trivial pastimes, speak so deeply to the human soul. He introduces an early philosopher of games, the aptly named Bernard Suits, and visits an Oxford cosmologist who has perfected a computer that can effectively play bridge, a game as complicated as human language itself. Throughout, Roeder tells the compelling story of how humans, pursuing scientific glory and competitive advantage, have invented AI programs better than any human player, and what that means for the games—and for us. Funny, fascinating, and profound, Seven Games is a story of obsession, psychology, history, and how play makes us human.


Seven Games: A Human History Related Books

Seven Games: A Human History
Language: en
Pages: 327
Authors: Oliver Roeder
Categories: History
Type: BOOK - Published: 2022-01-25 - Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company

GET EBOOK

A New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice "Beguiling, mesmerizing, and utterly charming." —Stefan Fatsis, author of Word Freak A group biography of seven
New Game! Vol. 1
Language: en
Pages: 0
Authors: Shotaro Tokuno
Categories: Comics & Graphic Novels
Type: BOOK - Published: 2018-03-27 - Publisher: National Geographic Books

GET EBOOK

A GAMER GIRL’S DREAM JOB! Suzukaze Aoba may look like a middle schooler, but she’s actually fresh out of high school and starting a new job on the character
The New Game of Life and How to Play It
Language: en
Pages: 250
Authors: Florence Scovel Shinn
Categories: Business & Economics
Type: BOOK - Published: 2012-09-04 - Publisher: Simon and Schuster

GET EBOOK

Presents a modern interpretation of Florence Scovel Shinn's text on prosperity and fulfillment.
A Whole New Game
Language: en
Pages: 265
Authors: John P. Rossi
Categories: Sports & Recreation
Type: BOOK - Published: 2015-11-16 - Publisher: McFarland

GET EBOOK

Bismarck once said that God looked after drunkards, children and the U.S. of A. Some say that baseball should be added to the list. It must have been divine int
Game Changer
Language: en
Pages: 0
Authors: Matthew Sadler
Categories: Artificial intelligence
Type: BOOK - Published: 2019 - Publisher: New In Chess,Csi

GET EBOOK

Presents the story behind the self-learning artificial intelligence system with its stunning chess skills