Instruct: Classify an Amazon review as either positive or negative.
Query: What role does this book serve?

Overall, this is a well-written book. It covers a variety of topics, from preference maximization through existence and stability of eq'ia, to optimal control and growth models.However, I'm not sure what its niche is -- what this book provides that others don't, or that it covers more thoroughly. If you want math, read Simon and Blume or a math book. If you want micro theory, read Mas-Collel or Silberberg. If you want neoclassical macro theory, read Sargent. For optimal control, read Kamien/Schwarz or Seierstad/Sydsaeter. This book covers selected topics from each. Though it covers them well, much is left out.Noticeably absent from the book is any uncertainty, randomness, or probability. There is also no game theory. These seek huge omissions for a book which seeks to show the usefulness of mathematical techniques in economic analysis.Notation is also a bit unusual. I was a bit confused by some of the author's own notation for partial orderings and Cartesian products.