I discovered Freakonomics, a few years ago and thought it was a thoroughly enjoyable and enlightening read. It is written by University of Chicago economist Steven Levitt and New York Times journalist Stephen J. Dubner. The book covers a diverse range of topics that are anything but traditional and quite a bit controversial. It does a great job of revealing the warped sense of reality that we have all come to know. Freakonomics compares Teachers to Sumo Wrestlers, the Klu Klux Klan to Real Estate Agents and explains how legalized abortion has reduced crime rates. My two favorite chapters explore the negligible effects of good parenting on education and the socioeconomic patterns of the names we choose for our children.
In the epilogue, the lives of two Harvard graduates is followed. Ted Kaczynski, also known as the Unabomber, came from a privileged background and had the resources that are quite often correlated with success. The second graduate, Roland G. Fryer, an African American, was raised in an impoverished, unstable family environment and is asucessful Harvard economist. The economic theory used to answer his interesting questions turns conventional wisdom upside down. The book is a quick and easy read, and is full of conversation starters.
The two authors have their own popular Freakonomics blog. Todays post on iphone alturism was an interesting read. I also found a post that puts a neat twist on the socioeconomic impact of the names chosen for babies. I was surfing around and found lots of interesting articles, and plan on going back to search for more.
My shot out to Freakonomics is because the sequel Superfreakonomics was released this month. I went online and placed a hold on it at our local library. It looks like it has been ordered and hasn’t arrived just yet…and that I’m first in line for it! Here is a link to the cheapest prices on the internet. I’m looking forward to getting my hands on the new book and seeing what comparisons, connections and discoveries are made. If you haven’t read the first one, I highly recommend it. I’ll be updating you with a Superfreakonomics review just as soon as I can get my hands on it…although I’m fairly certain I will giving it a rave review as well.
