The Theory of Games, after establishing itself as the modern foundation of economics, now aims to unify all social sciences. From the small problems of society (e.g. auction design) to our big philosophical puzzles (e.g. Ethics and the role of the State), the Theory of Games has an opinion. It embeds itself in the phenomena it is called to explain. Unlike other approaches in social science, the Theory of Games assumes that no one does things they wouldn't do if they knew it! Ordinary people appear in it as theoreticians and theoreticians as ordinary people. Original. Beautiful. Humanistic. But perhaps also arrogant?

The problem with the Theory of Games is that its mathematical language excludes many discussions from which no one should be absent. Those who are more interested in the social significance of the Theory of Games are usually repelled by its mathematics. And those who possess the necessary techniques often have no interest in their political and philosophical significance.

Yanis Varoufakis' book is addressed to everyone: It presents all the important concepts using simple arithmetic to those who do not possess the techniques. To the rest, it reveals the social significance of the techniques. To economists, it presents the most thorough method of analyzing their subject, but also an opportunity for reapproaching philosophy, psychology, and political science. To social scientists, it offers useful tools for critically evaluating the Theory of Games. To the general public, it reveals the weaknesses of all interpretations of a good and just society that are based solely on liberal individualism.

The book does not proselytize. On the contrary, it maintains a strongly critical stance on every page. It combines the completeness of a good handbook with the critical stance of a subversive text:
- It explains in detail all the basic concepts of the Theory of Games (e.g. Nash equilibria, the solution to the bargaining problem) and its philosophical assumptions (e.g. about rationality).
- It includes chapters on the latest achievements of the theory, e.g. evolutionary, psychological, and experimental games.
- At the end of each chapter, it offers original problems and exercises with extensive solutions and comments.