Daryl's uniquely honest tone and focus on real-world economics is very refreshing. Hate the Game breaks down some of the thorniest decisions young people have to make in today's economy, and it meshes practical real world examples with solid economic theory. The country needs more economists like Daryl.

I absolutely loved this book! As a woman economist and a woman of color, Daryl Fairweather brings a refreshing and unique perspective to the field of economics. Her voice is not only insightful but also deeply relatable, making complex concepts accessible to readers from all walks of life.

From the moment I picked up the book, I was drawn to its design—the cover is striking, and the table of contents is so well-organized that I found myself genuinely excited to dive into each chapter. (I never thought I’d say that about a table of contents!)

Fairweather uses game theory as the foundation of the book, but what makes it truly stand out is how she applies it to everyday life. Each chapter is thoughtfully summarized with a "game recap," which ties everything together in a way that’s both clever and easy to understand. She explores the "games" we all face in our careers, relationships, and personal decisions, and she provides practical advice on how to navigate them strategically.

What I found most compelling is how Fairweather makes economics feel relevant and actionable. She shows how understanding the "rules" of these games can give us an advantage in life, whether it’s in negotiating a salary, making career moves, or even enriching our personal lives. Her writing is insightful, engaging, and often riveting—I couldn’t put it down!

Daryl Fairweather is a breakthrough author, and I’m excited to see what she does next. Hate the Game is a must-read for anyone looking to approach life with a strategic mindset and a deeper understanding of the systems that shape our decisions.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy (ARC) of Hate the Game in exchange for an honest review. It was a privilege to read and review this insightful book ahead of its release!

"Hate the Game" is taglined as 'economic cheat codes for life, love, and work.' The writer introduces game theory and some fundamentals of economics. She tries to make us aware of how economics pervades every facet of human decisions and interactions and how we can play, or even not play, every game in our lives to our advantage. She states that though every game in a capitalist structure is rigged to benefit a privileged party, we can use the cheat codes of the economy and try to play it to our benefit up to some extent. In the last chapter, she suggests an easy fix to the capitalist system that could make the games more fair from an economic standpoint.

Finally, an economics book that is useful to everyone! Usually these kind of autobiographical books don't amount to much more than "here's how to succeed if you're in my exact situation." Dr. Fairweather provides useful information for anyone to use when considering major decisions.

I really enjoyed Daryl Fairweather's book about applying economic game theory to major life decisions. It is clear that Dr. Fairweather was a student of Steven D. Levitt (Freakonomics Author). Her style is similar. It is easy to read, informative, and filled with interesting and relatable examples.

Dr. Fairweather points out that many business advice books are autobiographical, like Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg. She shares what worked for her and how to do it yourself. But this book points out that what worked for Ms. Sandberg won't work for everyone all the time. So, I was a little surprised by the autobiographical nature of this book, but it works.

Hate the Game covers most of the concepts taught in an Econ 101 class, in a way that explains the principles but does not feel like a textbook at all. It explains how Dr. Fairweather used economics to make logical decisions about going to graduate school during the global recession, leaving the academic work and taking a consulting job, leaving that job and moving to Seattle, fighting for a promotion, buying a home, managing her marriage, having children, knowing your worth in the job market, selling a home, and optimizing your life.

The idea of thinking about each of these huge and emotional life decisions in a logical way that maximizing your well-being (utility) is an excellent tool for people looking for new ways of thinking. Each of these has an inside and outside option. Your inside option is what you are doing now (working in academia, being married, living in your current home) and the outside option is change (working in the private sector, getting divorce, moving). Looking at each life decision and evaluating the inside and outside options is a great skill.

This book uses economic principles to help understand the costs and benefits of both options. Everything for sunk-cost fallacy to references prices are included. It includes examples from Dr. Fairweather's personal life as well as pop culture references like why Destiny's Child broke up. Each of these examples explains the concept, but also makes the information stick- easy to remember and apply to your life.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC, this review is my honest opinion of the book.

Daryl Fairweather’s Hate the Game: Economic Cheat Codes for Life, Love, and Work is an engaging guide that takes high-level economic concepts like game theory and breaks them down into practical, real-life strategies for navigating adult milestones. Whether it’s deciding between renting or buying, negotiating a salary, or figuring out when to make career moves, Fairweather’s advice feels like a pep talk from a really smart friend who also knows the system is rigged.

What I loved most was how she used personal anecdotes alongside history and pop culture to make the lessons relatable. It’s honest about the struggles of working within a flawed economy but still manages to be empowering. If you’ve ever felt like life’s a game where everyone else knows the rules but you, this book offers a cheat sheet to help you level up. It’s practical, sharp, and surprisingly fun for a book about economics! Perfect for fans of Freakonomics who want something a bit more personal and life-oriented.

A Down-to-Earth Look at Life’s Money Struggles

Reading Hate the Game feels like sitting down with someone who really gets what we’re up against today. Daryl Fairweather, an economist with real-life insights, doesn’t hold back on how capitalism often feels stacked against us. Right from the start, she breaks down ideas like “survivorship bias” and shows how privilege shapes many success stories we see, making this book feel honest and relatable.

Her strategies offer hope without pretending the game isn’t stacked, focusing on how we can make choices that align with our own values, no matter where we’re starting from.

With relatable storytelling and no-nonsense guidance, Hate the Game is a solid pick for anyone who wants to approach life’s financial challenges with a clearer sense of purpose and strategy. This book doesn’t just talk about the game, it helps you play it your way.