The Game Theorist's Guide to Parenting

Book excerpt: As every parent knows, kids are surprisingly clever negotiators. But how can we avoid those all-too-familiar wails, "That's not fair!" and "You can't make me!"? In The Game Theorist's Guide to Parenting, journalist Paul Raeburn and game theorist Kevin Zollman pair up to highlight tactics from the worlds of economics and business that can help parents break the endless cycle of quarrels and ineffective solutions. Each chapter opens with a common parenting dilemma, such as determining who started a fight or who gets a bedtime story first. Then they show how carefully concocted schemes involving bargains and fair incentives can save the day. Delightfully witty, and refreshingly irreverent The Game Theorist's Guide to Parenting looks past the fads to offer advice you can put into action today.