Sunday, November 20, 2005
Freakonomics!
What do Japanese sumo wrestlers and public school teachers in Chicago have in common? They cheat!
Which is a child more likely to die from: a gun or swimming pool? A swimming pool!
Why do drug dealers live with their moms? They don't make enough money to have their own place!
These are just a few of wild and crazy topics that economist Steve Levitt expounds upon in this incredibly interesting book. I know absolutely nothing about economics (except that oil companies gouged us on gas prices over the summer and fall!), but Levitt doesn't really talk about them. Instead, he applied economic theories and tool and applies them to weird stuff (like what do real estate agents do differently when they sell their own house?) that we encounter in everyday life.
When you stop and think about his conclusions, they aren't all that earth shattering. It is just that you would never think about the questions he asks. This is very engaging book that is very easy to read (even for people like me who can barely balance a check book.) If you're looking for something to cleanse your palette, this is a great way to do it.
Overall Rating: 2 Stars
