Freakonomics Rev Ed, Steven D. Levitt
310 Rating(s)
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Freakonomics Rev Ed

Bestseller

Unabridged: 7 hr 52 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Harper Audio

Published: 07/10/2007


Synopsis

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.

Reviews

AudiobooksNow review by Evan on 2007-12-05 21:56:21

Interesting enough to hold my interest on the commute. Which is always the primary criterion. But it could be a third as long as it is. Preface is a summary of the book. Including information presented as surprising in the body of the book. Expanded portion of this edition is the original essays that began the authors' collaboration. Essentially, covering the same material again. Conclusions are interesting, but would have preferred more of the reasoning not to mention research citations. For example, conclusions regarding the economics of gun regulation are presented largely without evidence.