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I spent a long time thinking of what genre to categorize this book into, and the best I could come up with was “pop reference,” a title which I’m pretty sure I just made up. It appealed to the same part of me whose interest is piqued by books such as Why Do Men Have Nipples? and The Darwin Awards. Though I have not read Freakonomics, this book’s predecessor, I am pretty sure it follows the same pattern: a book that answers questions you never even realized you had while giving economic theories a basis in reality (which was good for me, as economics was always one of my absolute worst subjects).
Subjects covered in this book include, among other interesting topics, the empowerment of Indian women and its links to television, the price fluctuations Chicago prostitutes impose on their clients, information banks look at when they try to pinpoint potential terrorists, and how monkeys react when taught how to use money. Altogether, I was fascinated and thoroughly entertained.
My only complaint (as I am, like I said before, not an economics person and pretty easily entertained - I’m sure hard-core economy students can find more things to complain about in this book than I can) is that it felt short. I was only about 60% of the way done on my Kindle when suddenly I was hitting the reference section (I’m guessing there were just a lot of notes about the studies the book referenced; I completely skipped over them because I’m that kind of a person). I guess that’s not too bad, considering it cost me less than $4 and it has a predecessor; I was just surprised.
I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who enjoys useless trivia, social sciences, and general reference books. Obviously, it didn’t change my life (though it did have me questioning my $13/hr job and the steady string of losers I’ve dated when prostitution was brought up - “I could be selling this for $500 instead of paying for my half of the meal at Cracker Barrel?!” - so, actually, I might take that statement back if I decide to change vocations), but I had a good time reading it. I could have totally seen my dad reading this had I gotten it for him for Christmas and a lot of my friends, too. Overall, it was general gift-able and enjoyable reading.
Subjects covered in this book include, among other interesting topics, the empowerment of Indian women and its links to television, the price fluctuations Chicago prostitutes impose on their clients, information banks look at when they try to pinpoint potential terrorists, and how monkeys react when taught how to use money. Altogether, I was fascinated and thoroughly entertained.
My only complaint (as I am, like I said before, not an economics person and pretty easily entertained - I’m sure hard-core economy students can find more things to complain about in this book than I can) is that it felt short. I was only about 60% of the way done on my Kindle when suddenly I was hitting the reference section (I’m guessing there were just a lot of notes about the studies the book referenced; I completely skipped over them because I’m that kind of a person). I guess that’s not too bad, considering it cost me less than $4 and it has a predecessor; I was just surprised.
I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who enjoys useless trivia, social sciences, and general reference books. Obviously, it didn’t change my life (though it did have me questioning my $13/hr job and the steady string of losers I’ve dated when prostitution was brought up - “I could be selling this for $500 instead of paying for my half of the meal at Cracker Barrel?!” - so, actually, I might take that statement back if I decide to change vocations), but I had a good time reading it. I could have totally seen my dad reading this had I gotten it for him for Christmas and a lot of my friends, too. Overall, it was general gift-able and enjoyable reading.
emotional
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
I really wish there was an updated version of these books. I learned a lot and was surprised by some of it (like how solar power actually contributes to global warming) and laughed about some of it (especially about the monkeys in the epilogue). I wanted the book to go on forever because I felt like there wasn't ever going to be an end to how much I could learn from the two writers.
There is one point on which I feel like maybe I could be informative to the authors - they were uncertain whether seatbelts were effective for women as designed. I can tell you that they are not - at least not for shorter women and/or buxom women. I'm pretty short (and getting shorter by the day). Seatbelts never fit me correctly. I either have to use a seat cushion to raise my height, or I have to use a seatbelt adjuster that doesn't necessarily always work. If I use a cushion, I can see over the hood (yeah!), but getting in and out of the car is difficult because the steering wheel has to be low enough for me. Some days, I use the cushion. Most days, I use the adjuster. Sometimes, I'll do both. But I never feel like I'm driving at my optimal safety because cars are designed for taller people with longer legs and flatter chests. If I could even pull the seat up a few inches closer to the dash, that would make such a huge difference (I have to drive with my toes against the pedals instead of my whole foot or even half a foot).
I would say that this is a fun book that I'm glad to have read and will want to read again and again.
There is one point on which I feel like maybe I could be informative to the authors - they were uncertain whether seatbelts were effective for women as designed. I can tell you that they are not - at least not for shorter women and/or buxom women. I'm pretty short (and getting shorter by the day). Seatbelts never fit me correctly. I either have to use a seat cushion to raise my height, or I have to use a seatbelt adjuster that doesn't necessarily always work. If I use a cushion, I can see over the hood (yeah!), but getting in and out of the car is difficult because the steering wheel has to be low enough for me. Some days, I use the cushion. Most days, I use the adjuster. Sometimes, I'll do both. But I never feel like I'm driving at my optimal safety because cars are designed for taller people with longer legs and flatter chests. If I could even pull the seat up a few inches closer to the dash, that would make such a huge difference (I have to drive with my toes against the pedals instead of my whole foot or even half a foot).
I would say that this is a fun book that I'm glad to have read and will want to read again and again.
I wasn't quite as enthralled this time around (I guess the shock of their drunk driver hypothesis couldn't quite compare to the abortion argument in the first book.)
Still, an interesting compilation - I'm particularly intrigued by the proposed hurricane "solution" - would love to see that pursued.
Still, an interesting compilation - I'm particularly intrigued by the proposed hurricane "solution" - would love to see that pursued.
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
though provided interesting content on behavioral economics, i was hoping to gain more theoretical understanding of how to utilize economic understanding in society. The message i was left with is that economic practices are destructive on society.
Insightful. Love their creativity in identifying the connections among motivations and behaviors. Not as intensive as the first, but still amazing.
informative
medium-paced
I'm just going to copy my review of [b:Freakonomics|1202|Freakonomics A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything (Revised and Expanded Edition)|Steven D. Levitt|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1157833345s/1202.jpg|5397] here as well to save space. I liked them both the same, but perhaps because I read this one first, it was more intriguing to me. Much of the material is an expansion of shorter articles in the expanded version of the previous book.
(My review of Freakonomics:) I really enjoyed the application of micro-economics to real world situations. The books is very easy to read, and I really liked the basic premise that careful examination of data can provide unexpected revelations. Basically, it encourages the reader to look at the world from a different perspective, and usually one that is based on facts.
I found some of the chapters/subjects more interesting than others, but overall it was still entertaining and thought-provoking. I actually read their sequel, [b:Superfreakonomics|6402364|SuperFreakonomics Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes And Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance|Steven D. Levitt|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255573655s/6402364.jpg|6591160], first, so a lot of the "Expanded Edition" content was already covered in that book.
A fun, light read that offers interesting insights into underlying forces in the everyday world.
(My review of Freakonomics:) I really enjoyed the application of micro-economics to real world situations. The books is very easy to read, and I really liked the basic premise that careful examination of data can provide unexpected revelations. Basically, it encourages the reader to look at the world from a different perspective, and usually one that is based on facts.
I found some of the chapters/subjects more interesting than others, but overall it was still entertaining and thought-provoking. I actually read their sequel, [b:Superfreakonomics|6402364|SuperFreakonomics Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes And Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance|Steven D. Levitt|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255573655s/6402364.jpg|6591160], first, so a lot of the "Expanded Edition" content was already covered in that book.
A fun, light read that offers interesting insights into underlying forces in the everyday world.
If Freakonomics was an amusing panel discussion, then SuperFreakonomics is the cafeteria gossip session that makes you fake a phone call to escape.