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488 reviews for:
Think Like a Freak: The Authors of Freakonomics Offer to Retrain Your Brain
Steven D. Levitt
3.7 AVERAGE
488 reviews for:
Think Like a Freak: The Authors of Freakonomics Offer to Retrain Your Brain
Steven D. Levitt
3.7 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
(audiobook) Those Freakonomics guys tell some more interesting stories--like the one about the Japanese hot dog eating champion--and challenge the reader/listener to think about problems in different ways (admit you don't know, ask different questions, don't be afraid to fail, and so on)
Like its predecessors, this was entertaining and easy to read, but (more so than the others) a bit on the superficial side. Not including end notes, it clocks in around 211 pages.
funny
informative
inspiring
relaxing
informative
Fairly good book, I feel like it is similar to Malcolm Gladwell books with less detail
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
The "Steves" are getting freaky once again. However, this book more explores the how of what they do. Like Macaulay's book above, their work helps the reader get outside himself/herself and their own biases (in so much as we can) and how to flex the mind around problems people encounter in their lives. It's a great toolbox book that can help some think differently and if not solve a problem, then at least find different ways of thinking about and dealing with it.
The examples in the book are all excellent, and the book should be read for that. This is not a self-help book and does not advocate any thinking techniques. It would have been even better if there were more scenarios and stories.....
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
A fun and interesting read. The authors begin by saying that their previous book (SuperFreakonomics) and some conversations they'd had with companies and individuals had resulted in controversy. Probably just irrational bastards I thought to myself... and then within moments, they dissed the NHS (National Health Service) and I (a Brit) found myself slightly rankled. They kinda made a good point, but it would take much more to convince me that free health services should NOT be available to all.
I don't hold their NHS comments against them though (they're North Americans). Move straight into the book, one filled with fascinating (and one devastating) anecdotes - ideal for dinner parties/small talk chat if you're into that sort of thing. Anecdotes to remember: hot dog competition, salt lick, transpoosion - stomach ulcers, charity fundraising - promise to stop sending letters, David Lee Roth's brown M&Ms, abortion legalisation and crime rate drop
Their go-getter attitude in terms of setting up experiments to test various ideas is also inspiring, although not something I see myself imitating in the near future, unfortunately.
Another downside: not sure how much of their advice I will actually remember/act on in future... one the one hand the advice is too easy/obvious (e.g. I think I'm already good at saying 'I don't know') and on the other I think I'm simply too lazy (e.g. thinking about the right questions to ask, creating a fake restaurant website to suss out a scam wine award etc)
I don't hold their NHS comments against them though (they're North Americans). Move straight into the book, one filled with fascinating (and one devastating) anecdotes - ideal for dinner parties/small talk chat if you're into that sort of thing.
Their go-getter attitude in terms of setting up experiments to test various ideas is also inspiring, although not something I see myself imitating in the near future, unfortunately.
Another downside: not sure how much of their advice I will actually remember/act on in future... one the one hand the advice is too easy/obvious (e.g. I think I'm already good at saying 'I don't know') and on the other I think I'm simply too lazy (e.g. thinking about the right questions to ask, creating a fake restaurant website to suss out a scam wine award etc)