Freakonomics Radio cover image

132. Jane Austen, Game Theorist

Freakonomics Radio

00:00

Why Aren't People Acting Statistically All the Time?

The author of Pride and Prejudice argues that Jane Austen intended to explore the phenomenon, not of game theory per se, but of strategic thinking. Michael Wolraich: I don't have a smoking gun kind of like a letter from Austin saying, hey, I'm interested in strategic thinking. But there are lots of little parables or little sides in the novels, which don't have anything really much to do with the plot or anything you could just take them out and no one would care.

Transcript
Play full episode

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!
App store bannerPlay store banner
Get the app