|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
Frequently Bought Together
Product Details
|
Product Description
Review
"Steven Levitt has the most interesting mind in America. . . . Prepare to be dazzled." -- Malcom Gladwell -- Review
Book Description
In the summer of 2003, The New York Times Magazine sent Stephen J. Dubner, an author and journalist, to write a profile of Steven D. Levitt, a heralded young economist at the University of Chicago. Levitt was not remotely interested in the things that interest most economists. Instead, he studied the riddles of everyday life--from cheating to crime to child-rearing--and his conclusions turned the conventional wisdom on its head.
Levitt and Dubner then collaborated on Freakonomics, a book that gives full play to Levitt's most compelling ideas. Through forceful storytelling and sharp insight, it reminds us all that economics is, at its root, the study of incentives--how people get what they want or need, especially when other people want or need the same thing. Among the questions it answers: Which is more dangerous, a gun or a swimming pool? If drug dealers make so much money, why do they still live with their mothers? What makes a perfect parent? And, of course: What do schoolteachers and sumo wrestlers have in common? (Answer: they both cheat.)
Now this cultural blockbuster comes to trade paperback with exclusive extras: including a new preface, five Freakonomics columns from The New York Times Magazine, an exclusive author Q & A and a sneak preview of Superfreakonomics.
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most helpful customer reviews
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Eh, it's okay.,
By
This review is from: Freakonomics (Paperback)
The book was okay. The author had some interesting thoughts, but I think he didn't present them well at all. He basically says "It's common knowledge that this is right, but is it? No it isn't, my way is!". Which would be fine if he was better at actually giving real facts and explaining why he thinks his way is right. Mostly it was just "My way is right because I think it is".While saying the common way of thinking is wrong even though there's lots of studies surrounding it, he will input his own way with no data or studies, somehow thinking it has more probability of being right and more credibility. I especially liked how he would cite certain articles to prove his point, but when you look at the articles, they're really saying the opposite of what he's saying. Did he even read what he cited? Amazing. I'm not saying this book is TERRIBLE, but it lacks a lot to give it credibility. It is still a semi-entertaining read. Definitely a light read.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A look at things through the eyes of an economist,
This review is from: Freakonomics (Paperback)
This book is a general interest book- and it certainly is interesting. The book, for anyone looking for an entertaining read, will like it. In a nutshell, the book takes a look at all sorts of things in society, from crack gangs to parenting, and then attempts to make sense of them by applying econonmic principles. According to the book, economics is really the study of incentives, and so using this kind of angle, the book comes up with answers to why things work the way they do.A book that's hard to put down, I'm sure many readers will enjoy it. Also recommend The Sixty-Second Motivator for a more simplistic explanation of what motivates people and gives them incentives to do what they do.
5.0 out of 5 stars
it is an interesting book,
This review is from: Freakonomics (Paperback)
the authors view things in a different way from most people, that leads to many interesting coclusions. Many opinions are supported by data, which must be a great work. I really enjoyed reading and appreciate the work the authors did.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
Most recent customer reviews |
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
