“Games Indians Play: Why are we the way we are?”

Photo courtesy of www.exoticindiaart.com

If you’re of an Indian origin…or Indian, you’ve often asked yourself this question. Or better yet, you’ve wondered why your fellow Indians are the way they are! After all, that is what this book is about - lack of self-regulation and pouring all the obligation on others and not taking responsibility for change. Written by V. Raghunathan, an academic at IIM ( Indian Institue of Management), Ahmedabad for two decades. He uses the props of game theory and behavioral economics to give an insight into this most difficult question: Why are we the way we are?

“Game theory is nothing but economists’ term for what psychologists call the theory of social situations. And behavioral economics is the interaction between psychology and economics that tries to explain how human limitations and complexities affect choice.” In the book, our rationality, irrationality, selfishness, egotism, competition and our aversion to cooperation and collaboration are explored and discussed. He talks about how a little self-regulation can change the face of the largest democracy in the world. Why are we so individually smart and collectively naive?

This is a very interesting book and a quick read which will satisfy the soul such as mine who has always wondered if there was anyone out there that wondered and asked the same question? Well, there is and I am glad! The author discusses why we cut queues, throw garbage in our neighbor’s yard, drive with high beam at night, cut red traffic lights and other interesting queries. Check out the book if you’re curious - it’s available from sellers of Amazon.com!