Which is more dangerous, a gun or a swimming pool? What do schoolteachers and sumo wrestlers have in common? Why do drug dealers still live with their moms? How much do parents really matter? How did the legalization of abortion affect the rate of violent crime?These may not sound like typical questions for an econo-mist to ask. But Steven D. Levitt is not a typical economist. He is a … much-heralded scholar who studies the riddles of everyday life—from cheating and crime to sports and child-rearing—and whose conclusions turn conventional wisdom on its head. Freakonomics is a groundbreaking collaboration between Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, an award-winning author and journalist. They usually begin with a mountain of data and a simple question. Some of these questions concern life-and-death issues; others have an admittedly freakish quality. Thus the new field of study contained in this book: freakonomics.Through forceful storytelling and wry insight, Levitt and Dubner show that economics is, at root, the study of incentives—how people get what they want, or need, especially when other people want or need the same thing. In Freakonomics, they explore the hidden side of . . . well, everything. The inner workings of a crack gang. The truth about real-estate agents. The myths of campaign finance. The telltale marks of a cheating schoolteacher. The secrets of the Klu Klux Klan. What unites all these stories is a belief that the modern world, despite a great deal of complexity and downright deceit, is not impenetrable, is not unknowable, and—if the right questions are asked—is even more intriguing than we think. All it takes is a new way of looking. Freakonomics establishes this unconventional premise: If morality represents how we would like the world to work, then economics represents how it actually does work. It is true that readers of this book will be armed with enough riddles and stories to last a thousand cocktail parties. But Freakonomics can provide more than that. It will literally redefine the way we view the modern world.Bonus material added to the revised and expanded 2006 edition.The original New York Times Magazine article about Steven D. Levitt by Stephen J. Dubner, which led to the creation of this book.Seven “Freakonomics” columns written for the New York Times Magazine, published between August 2005 and April 2006.
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This is the kind of book that you read once, and talk about for years. I often find myself telling others of the information I learned from this book years later. I can see the concepts discussed in other issues facing our society. If you like to know about the world around you and the issues that surround our personal decisions, then you will …
This was a great book to read in one sitting. These are some smart guys that give you a pause so think things through.
You have to be somewhat of a geek for this book, but it is very interesting! I can guarantee that you haven’t thought of the different ways we live affect the economy so heavily. I enjoyed this one!
I love how well this book explains social issues and how the economy is the greatest drive of human behavior and long term social change.
Even if you aren’t from the world of economics I urge you to read this book – it’s an eye-opener and mindset changer.
FReakonomics was my first exposure to the world of Behavioral Economics – which is how people make decisions about money in the real world. Each of the Freakonomics books provides insights that most of us never consider. Years ago on the Arsenio Hall show he had a segment about questions that make you go hmmmm. This book is filled with ideas …
A great “back of the toilet” sort of book! This is a book that doesn’t have to be read in one sitting. Great for those who love “useless knowledge”! Who knows, you might end up in Cash Cab!
Thought provoking read as well as entertaining. Makes you think outside the box on some issues and question some accepted or repeated answers.
I thought this was a great book. It provided interesting and often counter intuitive information in a very entertaining way. Read it and learn something.
This is an excellent book. This is an excellent IDEA even for a book. What happens when you take economic principles and apply them to everything? This book brings some surprising explanations to some very interesting stories. It is masterfully told. It is probably not for someone who just likes a cozy story. If you like math, you should …
@FiveThirtyEight Can you recommend any other books similar to Freakonomics?
This week’s question asked what was the strangest book you liked and this is it. I am not a big academic reader but this was recommended with high regards. I really enjoyed how real life principals can be explained through economics. It’s funny and insightful and really opened my eyes to a lot of facts I didn’t know played a role in everything! …
Given how polarized the world is now, I’ve been spending a lot of time lately wondering how decent, intelligent people can come to such wildly different perspectives that they can no longer even have a conversation with each other. I’d already listened to “Understanding Complexity,” which made me almost despair of anyone ever knowing anything. Any …
Offers many examples of how “common knowledge” is often wrong. Don’t let the reference to “economics” scare you away.
Very interesting concepts! Can read sometimes like a textbook so it takes time to absorb the information fully.
I’ve been enjoying the Freakonmics podcast for a few months now, so I thought I’d pick this up. While the podcast is more engaging (perhaps because it’s more current), the book is absolutely intriguing. From questions of teacher cheating to how efficiently crack dealers operate their businesses, it explores interesting topics you might need have …
unique well documented perspective
an economist’s look at our livews and trends
I enjoyed this book. It helps you look at the world from a new angle.
Wow! The real reason why drug dealers still live with their moms….. this book is amazing explaining all sorts of weird economic background. Also funny easy to read and you can’t put it down. Try the follow up book as well.
Interesting interpretation of factual information. Makes sense.