If you like sports and would like to think about the topic in a bit more depth, Knowing the Score is a good place to start. The author, David Papineau, is a philosopher, but more importantly, an avid fan and amateur player of a variety of sports, who finds substance in the subject matter. He begins with a prudent dissection of the neurophysiology of reaction times, described in suitable layman’s terms, and goes on, in subsequent chapters to discuss how planning, pattern recognition, and thinking may play roles in lightning quick maneuvers, and then takes a turn at addressing the meaning of being a fan, team loyalty, and team dynamics. Here is where he upstages decades of decision theory by showing that humans don’t just make decisions based on individual benefits and risks. Team members, professional or amateur, often act selflessly to advance the shared goals of their team and sometimes of those devoted to their sport. How could economists and decision theory experts have overlooked this? Hume says that philosophers never balance between profit and honesty because their decisions are general and neither their passions nor imaginations are interested in their objects. Papineau fortunately ignores this analysis, giving some breathing room to legions of armchair philosophers who do their best to understand things they find of interest. Could he have discussed the cognitive aspects of practice endurance? The elements of what constitutes team chemistry? How coaching enhances performance? The value, and, possible unattractiveness, of being able to root against as well as for a team? Yes, but then what would he do for his next book? By the way, the discussion of yips, although of considerable interest, overlooks the possibility of underlying neurologic dysfunction (dystonia). In any case, a great read, well suited for summer vacation or the interminable lull between seasons of one’s favorite sport.