This book is not exactly a new release, but its one I've read about three times (because of how much I enjoyed it, not due to reading comprehension issues). This is one of those rare books that I think anyone could take something out of, regardless of your profession.To sum up its premise without going too much into detail, it takes conventional cause-and-effect theories and challenges them. Well, more like he smacks them around for awhile. For example, crime decline in the past decade: due to strict gun control, or increased sentences for violent crime? Not according to Steven Leavitt, one of the authors. His calculated theory on this decline, although brow-raising at first, will have you immediately challenging your own thought processes. How is a Real Estate Agent subtly inclined to NOT work in your best interest? What do crack dealers and sumo wrestlers and high school quarterbacks all have in common? I wouldn't do the book justice in attempting to digest these responses, so I'll recommend you flip through the book to find out what they are.
This is also a book that you can take your time with. Read one chapter, think about it for a few days, then go onto the next. You may also find yourself reading the chapters out of sequence, the book allows for that. Which is a good thing, with a wife, two kids and a few mistresses, I don't exactly have large allotments of time that I can dedicate to sitting down with a good book.
Another thing I recommend is to not google Freakonomics before you've had a chance to read it. There are a few opinions expressed that have drawn the ire of a few groups with vested political interest. But I found it helpful to have read the book FIRST before reading the media's response. There's some topics like abortion, crack-dealing, and other items that get some people into a lather.
As I say, this is a book for everyone. But read with an open mind, and sober (if possible) . After a steady diet of IT books, it's totally refreshing to read something like this.
Anyone else read it?
5 comments:
I know something about Freakonomics. Its when I come back from 6 months of travel and check my credit card balance. So, can I borrow your copy...
Actually, to be honest, I didn't actually read it, I "listened" to it, quite a few times as I mentioned. I have the audiobook. It's clumsy to say that I listened to a book, so I just say that I read it. Can you read with your ears? Or am I just a compulsive liar?
I think you are a compulsive liar and I am astonished that you have mislead us in this way. What else have you been lying about? Being an ex-Navy seal, a Hot Air Balloon Pilot for ReMax and a comedian that worked the Yuk Yuk's circuit? What are we to believe? Personally, I did find the comedian story to be a bit of a stretch.
tell me your CD player is not in the bathroom... I beg of you.
What is this "CD player" you speak of? For music and audiobooks, I'm stricly about mp3's mostly in the iPod.
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