The Evolution Of Cooperation

Name: The Evolution Of Cooperation
Brand: Hachette Audio
Availability: InStock
Author: Robert Axelrod
ISBN: 9781668648155

Author: Robert Axelrod

Narrator: Roger Wayne

Unabridged: 6 hr

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Basic Books

Published: 05/06/2025

Categories: Nonfiction, Business & Economics, Mathematics, Psychology

Synopsis

A famed political scientist's classic argument for 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 1980, he organized the famed Computer Prisoners Dilemma Tournament, which sought to find the optimal strategy for survival in a particular game. Over and over, the simplest strategy, a cooperative program called Tit for Tat, shut out the competition. In other words, cooperation, not unfettered competition, turns out to be our best chance for survival.

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.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Andrew on September 19, 2014

It’s not overstating the case to say that Robert Axelrod’s The Evolution of Cooperation is literally the most important book of the last 100 years and will change the course of human history. Um, Andy, I think you need to revisit the definitions of certain words, like “literally” and “overstating.” OK......more

Goodreads review by Jurgen on January 07, 2016

Evidence that cooperation comes from selfishness.......more

Goodreads review by Lucas on February 24, 2019

This book is phenomenal, it is in the same vein as and even reuses studies from Richard Dawkins’ Selfish Gene. If you don’t have time or would rather not purchase this book, check out Axelrod’s paper “The Evolution of Norms”......more

Goodreads review by Augusto on December 04, 2022

In a world where a book sells for its cover, it is easy to grab a book titled "The cure for cancer" and read a love story about a dying girl. It is easy to underestimate this book by its title. Don't. A mathematical formula, expressing that cooperation increases with the number of interactions, is ap......more

Quotes

"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

"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