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 The Hidden Side of Some Things May 9, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
According to the authors of this book, Freakonomics is the ability to ask sensible questions about the world and deal with uncomfortable answers. At all times, one most not take any moral stand and simply judge the figures, the conclusion, with impartial eyes. It's philosophy disguised as economics, with a heavy reliance on figures and data to back up the questioning.
Freakonomics is really one theory - that abortion legalization in the U.S. in the 70s caused a drop in crime in the 90s - propped up with other less controversial theories in order to create a tome long enough to be printed and sold. It's still a fairly slim book, a quick read that reflects the lack of support to the ideas inside. That's not to say that the ideas are bad; but there's a lack of meat to the bones, a palpable sense that conclusions were drawn hastily in some instances in order to fit the authors' views. Also, eventhough the book presumes to explore the hidden side of everthing, it's mainly a compilation of questions put forward by white middle-class Americans, curious about abortion, black & white poverty, and the failure of the American education system in some states. Anyone living outside America might find it hard to care, unless they have a passing interest in America (mafioso Sumo wrestlers not withstanding).
Freakonomics is not very useful when investigating the future. There are no predictions in this book about the approaching collapse of the world's financial system, the looming Great Depression that will smack America (and everyone else) in the face. I would have been more impressed if they had tackled this subject.
 Fun discussion for non-experts March 8, 2008
Most of the contents of the book have been discussed in other reviews, so I won't repeat it. I got this book as a present and it isn't the sort of thing I would usually read, but I'm really glad I did. It's a fun description of a number of studies that use tools from economics to examine real-world problems. There is little technical content but there is enough explanation to make a non-economist understand the basic idea behind the work. The conclusions are even more interesting and I would definitely recommend that you read them for yourself. My one criticism is that one particular study keeps resurfacing throughout the book and it gets a bit tiresome after it has been explained two or three times, but it is a major study for which one of the authors is famous, so I can forgive that.
 The cover says it all - a great book! October 30, 2007
First must state that this reviewer is not an economist, and usually find such books can often be boring. Must admit that this book kept me up far too late one recent weekend reading it through to the end. It was hard to put down.
Another reader/reviewer emailed me, noting that Malcolm Gladwell had said that Steven Levitt "has the most interesting mind in America," and since I had found Gladwell's "Blink!" hard to put down, I might find "Freakonomics" interesting. This was an understatement.
Then another friend loaned me a copy of the book, so I felt obligated to read it. Now I'll have to get my own copy, for it's worth a second read.
As noted above, the cover says it all. "Freakonomics" is not only humorous in places, it's fascinating, an out of the ordinary way of looking at economics for those who normally don't venture into what is often perceived as a boring subject. Like Gladwell's writing, this reviewer found this book to be a springboard to other ideas.
The authors define economics as "the study of incentives" early in the first chapter, which is not exactly as I remember the conventional definition from college courses. But maybe analyzing how to motivate people to do or not do a particular things is a better way or looking at the reality of economics.
"Freakonomics" was co-written by the noted journalist Stephen Dubner ("Confessions of a Hero-Worshiper"), and seems to have drawn as much criticism as it has received praise from reviewers and other commentators. The authors repeatedly state that there's no consistent theme. Others have noted that it appears to be an assembly of magazine articles and columns, edited and put together in an appealing but not particularly interrelated manner.
But this reader found that it does have a theme, and that theme is that established conventional wisdom is not always right. Things that we perceive to be related just might not be. Maybe there's no connection at all, and maybe some are simply coincidence.
Liberals and conservatives in our society will find some of Levitt's thoughts to be controversial. This reader found much of the book to fly in the face of "conventional wisdom," and found that this is what made it so fascinating. For example, don't miss Levitt's discussion regarding abortion, for whether or not you agree with his viewpoint, it is thought provoking.
There are many other thought-provoking concepts that this reader found fascinating, such as the authors' thoughts on how education and actual knowledge in our public school systems has been replaced by standardized testing preparation. This then leads to the encouragement of cheating just to get the statistics where those in charge of the systems need them to be. To comment further on this would be akin to plot spoiling. But don't miss Levitt's comments on the bizarre trends of naming babies, which this reviewer found to be hilarious in their absurdity.
Some have commented that this book is more of a basic text on sociology more than economics, but this reader found that it's all connected, and makes one want to look further. Levitt is a writer to watch, and he does let the numbers talk for him in an interesting if often offbeat fashion.
Criticisms? Initially had been happy to find this book to be comfortable 256 pages, but after finishing it, wished there had been more. It's definitely not boring, and that can't be said about many works related to economics. Might even be a good gift for someone, as almost anyone can read it and frequently have a good laugh.
I thoroughly enjoyed "Freakonomics" and heartily recommend it: 5 stars without a doubt.
Econimically enlightening October 11, 2007
I am an economics student and theis book really helped me to get a good insight into economics. I loved the approch from a different angle to solve the scenarios in the book.
Laughing Points. July 31, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
'Freakonomics' is a witty, irreverent book for individuals who have never been and will never be Economics theorists. It's at once hilarious and serious about applying principles of Economics to real life scenarios, and it's just so much fun to read!
Let's start by saying, don't let the title scare you. I know most people pretty much despise anything to do with Economics, and anyone with a "respectable" connection to Economics would turn a nose up at this book. But with chapters like: The Ku Klux Klan and Real Estate Agents; Schoolteachers and Sumo Wrestlers; and Drug Dealers Living with Their Moms- I mean how awful can it be? Steven D. Levitt teaches Economics at the University of Chicago, so he is absolutely qualified to make the relational comparisons he makes, thus actually giving we Economics neophytes something to chew on. In other words, if my Economics classes in college were like this, I might have actually learned something! But seriously, 'Freaknomics' delves into how things actually are all intertwined, no matter how absurd. It's premise is that conventionally held beliefs may not always be what they seem, and many things that seem wholly apart from each other are inter-related. Other than just laughing and enjoying the witty banter of the authors, I feel like I truly learned some things, and it gave me food for thought on other issues. The chapter entitled "A Roshanda by Any Other Name" was just pitch perfect, and the chapter on parenting makes you realize that we really don't need all those parenting books after all.
'Freakonomics' is deftly written for novices and easy to read, with each chapter being basically a lesson unto itself. It's not a full-tilt Economics lesson; it's little vignettes that show us how Economics is incorporated into our everyday lives and the impact therein. You can put the book down and pick it up a month later, and there's nothing to hold you back from enjoying the next chapter. Whether you love fiction, non-fiction or poetry, you'll love this book. It is a delightful, interesting, and well thought out read.
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