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Not as good as the first one. Fewer contents .
Interesting worth-noting chapter on Global Warming.
Interesting worth-noting chapter on Global Warming.
SuperFreakonomics uses the same analytical style of Freakonomics, but applies it to different topics. So, in general, if you liked the first book, you'll probably like the second; if you didn't, you probably won't.
That said, I did like Freakonomics, and SuperFreakonomics was not a disappointment. I love how Levitt and Dubner manage to tip over a bunch of sacred cows and really make you think about things. They readily admit that the point isn't whether you believe them, the point is that you're thinking. And this book inspires thinking in spades.
Some of the more memorable ideas, at least for me, were:
- Suicide bombers should buy life insurance (because it tricks the profilers when they're looking at their bank records)
- Friends don't let friends walk drunk (because deaths by walking drunk are five times more likely, per mile, than deaths from driving drunk)
- Child safety seats in cars might be no more effective for children over the age of two than simple seat-belts
- The solution to global warming might be simple, cheap, non-damaging, and already available (though people may still hate it) -- just like doctors washing their hands made infant mortality plummet in the 19th century
- The solution to devastating hurricanes may be equally simple, cheap, and available (the supplies may be available at Home Depot)
- Many of the "altruism" studies that I've internalized over the years (the Prisoner's Dilemma, Ultimatum, etc.) may not work nearly as well outside the laboratory, in the real world
- A team of scientists are working on a laser beam to assassinate mosquitos (to fight malaria)
- Monkeys can be led to prostitution (I swear I'm not making this up)
If any of these ideas sound interesting to you, I highly recommend SuperFreakonomics. You may not agree, but I guarantee it'll get you thinking.
That said, I did like Freakonomics, and SuperFreakonomics was not a disappointment. I love how Levitt and Dubner manage to tip over a bunch of sacred cows and really make you think about things. They readily admit that the point isn't whether you believe them, the point is that you're thinking. And this book inspires thinking in spades.
Some of the more memorable ideas, at least for me, were:
- Suicide bombers should buy life insurance (because it tricks the profilers when they're looking at their bank records)
- Friends don't let friends walk drunk (because deaths by walking drunk are five times more likely, per mile, than deaths from driving drunk)
- Child safety seats in cars might be no more effective for children over the age of two than simple seat-belts
- The solution to global warming might be simple, cheap, non-damaging, and already available (though people may still hate it) -- just like doctors washing their hands made infant mortality plummet in the 19th century
- The solution to devastating hurricanes may be equally simple, cheap, and available (the supplies may be available at Home Depot)
- Many of the "altruism" studies that I've internalized over the years (the Prisoner's Dilemma, Ultimatum, etc.) may not work nearly as well outside the laboratory, in the real world
- A team of scientists are working on a laser beam to assassinate mosquitos (to fight malaria)
- Monkeys can be led to prostitution (I swear I'm not making this up)
If any of these ideas sound interesting to you, I highly recommend SuperFreakonomics. You may not agree, but I guarantee it'll get you thinking.
Enjoyable read. Reminds me of Malcolm Gladwell's style of using several data points to weave interesting stories into a surprising result.
If you liked the first one, you'll definitely like this one too. Again, it's a quick read and will make you laugh the way these guys look at everything through the lens of economics.
Удивително е колко много от основополагащите и спасяващи идеи и решения на най-различни сериозни проблеми, пред които човечеството се е изправяло през вековете и сега, се оказват не само гениално прости, но и удивително евтини. Просто някой е трябвало да се сети къде е ключа за палатката.
Автомобилният колан струва само 70$ бройката, а намалява смъртността при катастрофи с над 80%. Първата ваксина в света, тази срещу дребна шарка, не е струвала нищо и е спасила живота на милиони, a днес ваксините са невероятно евтини спрямо ползите, които допринасят. Миенето на ръцете може да изглежда дребно нещо, но едно време даже хирурзите не са го правели... докато някой не се е сетил, че пациентите умират не от "лош въздух" след операциите. Примерите са безброй.
Може да се каже, че именно "Евтино и просто" (cheap&simple) е червената нишка, която минава през SuperFreakonomics - продължението на Freakonomics. В нея авторите продължават да развиват "икономическия светоглед", наблюдавайки и анализирайки различни явления през призмата на статистиката и икономиката, достигайки понякога до твърде удивителни открития относно феминизма в селска Индия, най-древната професия при маймуните и разкриване на терористи със статистически анализ на банкови данни на милиони потребители.
Особено внимание е отделено на любимата ми тема - глобалното затопляне и как просто и евтино да се преборим с него. Оказва се, че методи за това вече има, при това не един. Прости са, не еко-религиозни, а чисто инженерни, и спасението на Земята с най-скъпия от тях ще струва по-малко от едногодишните разходи за реклама на Ал Гор.
Доста евтино, нали? А да знаете колко е просто...
Автомобилният колан струва само 70$ бройката, а намалява смъртността при катастрофи с над 80%. Първата ваксина в света, тази срещу дребна шарка, не е струвала нищо и е спасила живота на милиони, a днес ваксините са невероятно евтини спрямо ползите, които допринасят. Миенето на ръцете може да изглежда дребно нещо, но едно време даже хирурзите не са го правели... докато някой не се е сетил, че пациентите умират не от "лош въздух" след операциите. Примерите са безброй.
Може да се каже, че именно "Евтино и просто" (cheap&simple) е червената нишка, която минава през SuperFreakonomics - продължението на Freakonomics. В нея авторите продължават да развиват "икономическия светоглед", наблюдавайки и анализирайки различни явления през призмата на статистиката и икономиката, достигайки понякога до твърде удивителни открития относно феминизма в селска Индия, най-древната професия при маймуните и разкриване на терористи със статистически анализ на банкови данни на милиони потребители.
Особено внимание е отделено на любимата ми тема - глобалното затопляне и как просто и евтино да се преборим с него. Оказва се, че методи за това вече има, при това не един. Прости са, не еко-религиозни, а чисто инженерни, и спасението на Земята с най-скъпия от тях ще струва по-малко от едногодишните разходи за реклама на Ал Гор.
Доста евтино, нали? А да знаете колко е просто...
Have you read their first book, Freakonomics? It's incredible. This one is written in a similar vein, but is a little more on the scientific/technical side. I might have liked it more had I read it instead of listened to it on CD (Thanksgiving road trip!), but it was still good food for thought. Spoiler alert: You will never look at drunk driving, prostitution, or global warming the same after reading this book!
More mind bendingly surprising helpings of the bloody obvious with the benefit of understanding and hindsight.
My favourite is right at the end with examples of money being put yo good use by monkeys.
A decent read and useful too if you want to train yourself to be less likely to fool yourself.
My favourite is right at the end with examples of money being put yo good use by monkeys.
A decent read and useful too if you want to train yourself to be less likely to fool yourself.
Ugh! Read my highly critical review here:
http://onsummit.blogspot.com/2009/11/superunderwhelmed.html
In fairness, they made some interesting points. The problem was I was so put off by the tenor of the book that I literally couldn't enjoy it.
http://onsummit.blogspot.com/2009/11/superunderwhelmed.html
In fairness, they made some interesting points. The problem was I was so put off by the tenor of the book that I literally couldn't enjoy it.
I liked Freakonomics, which had a lot of neat anecdotes and correlations, but this second opus is, in my opinion, a failure. It starts well, and after half of the book or something, they start talking boring nonsense about climate. Didin't like it.