Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner
Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything (2005)
Author: Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner
Genre: Nonfiction (Inside encounter/Sociology and Economics)
Book Summary:
Freakonomics combines pop culture with economics in a wide range of subject matter that is both surprising and revealing about American culture. This collection of articles by Levitt covers issues such as how teachers and sumo wrestlers cheat, why real estate realtors keep their own houses on the market 30 days longer than the average citizen, why drug dealers still live with their mothers, and many more topics. Using economic theory in a creative way, Levitt and Dubner give an interesting perspective on economics and society.
Geographical Setting: The United States
Time Period: Contemporary (2005)
Appeal Characteristics:
Levitt's surprising and original take on combining popular culture with economics will appeal to readers seeking alternative narrative nonfiction on the subject of economics. Levitt's writing style is concise and simple, in this fast-paced quick read. The book is light and witty, with a humorous tone. Combining sociology with economics provides for insightful ways to view modern day life and how it affects and is affected by economics. Levitt does a great job of combining many subjects such as how children are named to how teachers help children cheat on tests. Anyone interested in how economics work in connection to sociology will enjoy this read.
Read-alikes: For readers who enjoy the light humorous tone and adaptation of a potentially dry subject in an unconventional way as found in Freakonomics, should try The Stuff of Thought by Steven Pinker. Pinker's book relates how language relates to how we think, similar to Levitt's study of economics with the study of societal behaviors. Readers should also try Crimes Against Logic by James Whyte for its similarity in fast pace, brevity, witty and humorous depiction of economics, probability, statistics and business with society. Undercover Economist: Exposing Why the Rich are Rich, the Poor are Poor by Tim Harford is a good choice for readers who enjoy exposing economists trends in popular culture and society in another fast paced and compelling narrative nonfiction. Wisdom of Crowds by James Surowiecki is similar for its rethinking of social phenomenon and writing style in this study of American behavior. Hidden Order: The Economics of Everyday Life by David Friedman is also similar for its accessible and relatable approach to discussing the everyday of economics in a light read. Nickel and Dimed: on (Not) Getting by in America by Barbara Ehrenreich is similar for its unique and alternative approach to the subject of minimum wage life in a similar way that Levitt approaches economics and culture. This title is also a quick read with interesting revelations much like Freakonomics.
Red Flags: There does not seem to be much information about Levitt's methodology and you can't believe everything you read but you can enjoy this interesting point of view.
|top|
|
