Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything (P.S.) |  | Authors: Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner
Publisher: Harper Perennial
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Rating:  1687 reviews
Sales Rank: 69
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1
Pages: 352
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 8 x 5.2 x 0.7
ISBN: 0060731338
Dewey Decimal Number: 330
EAN: 9780060731335
ASIN: 0060731338
Publication Date: September 1, 2009
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Amazon.com Review
Economics is not widely considered to be one of the sexier sciences. The annual Nobel Prize winner in that field never receives as much publicity as his or her compatriots in peace, literature, or physics. But if such slights are based on the notion that economics is dull, or that economists are concerned only with finance itself, Steven D. Levitt will change some minds. In Freakonomics (written with Stephen J. Dubner), Levitt argues that many apparent mysteries of everyday life don't need to be so mysterious: they could be illuminated and made even more fascinating by asking the right questions and drawing connections. For example, Levitt traces the drop in violent crime rates to a drop in violent criminals and, digging further, to the Roe v. Wade decision that preempted the existence of some people who would be born to poverty and hardship. Elsewhere, by analyzing data gathered from inner-city Chicago drug-dealing gangs, Levitt outlines a corporate structure much like McDonald's, where the top bosses make great money while scores of underlings make something below minimum wage. And in a section that may alarm or relieve worried parents, Levitt argues that parenting methods don't really matter much and that a backyard swimming pool is much more dangerous than a gun. These enlightening chapters are separated by effusive passages from Dubner's 2003 profile of Levitt in The New York Times Magazine, which led to the book being written. In a book filled with bold logic, such back-patting veers Freakonomics, however briefly, away from what Levitt actually has to say. Although maybe there's a good economic reason for that too, and we're just not getting it yet. --John Moe
Product Description
Which is more dangerous, a gun or a swimming pool? What do schoolteachers and sumo wrestlers have in common? How much do parents really matter? These may not sound like typical questions for an economist to ask. But Steven D. Levitt is not a typical economist. He studies the riddles of everyday life—from cheating and crime to parenting and sports—and reaches conclusions that turn conventional wisdom on its head. Freakonomics is a groundbreaking collaboration between Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, an award-winning author and journalist. They set out to explore the inner workings of a crack gang, the truth about real estate agents, the secrets of the Ku Klux Klan, and much more. Through forceful storytelling and wry insight, they 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.
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 1687
 What's all the hype about? November 6, 2009
Casey Walters
This book, one can afford to miss. With all of the other exceptional economic reads, many of which put out by the Mises Institute, by such authors as Hayek, Rothbard, Hazlitt, and Von Mises, I'm not entirely sure why this book receives so much praise, while the true reads receive so little. If you are a young economist or someone looking to understand anything about the market, how it works, the big picture in a meaningful way this book really isn't for you. This book does touch briefly on a couple of interesting topics that aren't commonly found in economic literature, such as the finances of a drug dealer. All in all though, I'm not overly impressed, and the authors have a way of presenting information in a more controversial way, when economic theory is controversial enough. Meaning that they have miss-quoted some of their supposed "sources". If you were my family or friend, I would tell you to, "Pick something else, and optimize your time spent reading."
Interesting, but not great November 5, 2009
ehab_pen_amazon
This is a well-written book that deals with some interesting topics, but it also has many flaws.
First, the good: For the most part, the writing flows well. Except for the chapter on child names (which gets so bogged down with lists that I'm not even sure what the conclusion is), the authors keep the story moving for the reader. Each topic covered is interesting in its own right, and I'm sure each reader will have his/her favorite chapters. Some of the ideas can really make you think.
Now, the bad: The biggest problem is that most of the authors' conclusions simply aren't that interesting. Except for the abortion/crime link, almost everything else is basic common sense. Teachers and sumo wrestlers cheat when their jobs/advancement depend on it. Most drug dealers aren't rich. RE agents would rather sell your house quickly than wait for a better offer. If any of these conclusions surprise you, you should learn to think better.
Also, I do have to take issue (as many other reviewers have), with the authors ignoring their own advice about confusing correlation with causation. They do this repeatedly, especially with the abortion/crime section and the school test scores chapter. They often take correlated data series, add a smidgen of social reasoning, and, voila!, they have a causal connection.
Topic for discussion: During the baby name discussion, the authors mention Madison and say, "Where did *that* come from?" Did neither author see Splash, or are they just teasing the reader?
Do we need evidence based policy making and can these kind of books help? October 24, 2009
Emre Sevinc (Antwerp, Belgium)
This book provides a good case of using data analysis to shake common "wisdom". To put it in other words, like it or not, this is yet another example of hard evidence based analysis which may be considered a panacea against 'expert opinions' (especially about parenting!), empty-headed political speeches, etc. Even though the authors are highly criticized for their next book (and I don't think I'll spend time to read Superfreakonomics) I'll sincerely recommend this book to lots of my friends.
PS: No, of course I won't let my child go and play at a house in which the parents have a handgun or a rifle no matter what authors tell about the bigger dangers of swimming pools. :)
 Excellent! October 22, 2009
Liz E. (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Many of my friends have recommended this book and I finally bought it and read it. I thought it was a very interesting way to look at the world and was a very good read. Highly recommend it!
very interesting look at society October 22, 2009
Irving Michel (Goodlettsville)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Good book which looks at various aspects of society you might not think about in day-to-day life. People seem to either love of hate this one. Some of the information is a bit hard to swallow, so many people disregard it. Even if you're one of those people though, I think this book will give you a different aspect to consider, which I think is always good.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 1687
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