Freakonomics
This was one book I had been wanting to read for a while. My gf happened to notice the book on the walk-in shelf of the local library. Walk-in stuff is only issued for 7 days and can not be renewed. Also, late fee is hefty $1 a day. To my surprise, book turned out to be only 206 pages and I ended up finishing it in next 28 hours :)
Book has no theme and stresses on looking at things in a different way. Conventional wisdom is not always right. Levitt has drawn on some interesting examples and studies to make his unconventional explanations and points. My favorite was his crime-drop explanation. But, I would say that after reading all those fantastic reviews, I had come to expect more out of it. May be because I was an unconventional thinker already :) Moreover, the book seem to be more US focused than international. It has one too many examples based on Blacks' social position/history in US. International readers not very familiar with Blacks' American history may find it difficult to understand author's points. Overall, book makes an interesting read, and I would recommend you to check it out if you have not already done so.
My favorite quote from the book: If morality is how the world should work, economics is how the world actually works.
Book has no theme and stresses on looking at things in a different way. Conventional wisdom is not always right. Levitt has drawn on some interesting examples and studies to make his unconventional explanations and points. My favorite was his crime-drop explanation. But, I would say that after reading all those fantastic reviews, I had come to expect more out of it. May be because I was an unconventional thinker already :) Moreover, the book seem to be more US focused than international. It has one too many examples based on Blacks' social position/history in US. International readers not very familiar with Blacks' American history may find it difficult to understand author's points. Overall, book makes an interesting read, and I would recommend you to check it out if you have not already done so.
My favorite quote from the book: If morality is how the world should work, economics is how the world actually works.
IT'S ON MY READING LIST...
Posted by
Marina |
July 5, 2006 at 7:29:00 PM EDT
I too read it a few months back and I absolutely loved it. If you liked this then try undercover Economist as well.. It is more heavy but still it is good.
Posted by
Anuj |
July 7, 2006 at 10:59:00 AM EDT
I thought that Freakonomics was a letdown after all the hype surrounding it. I found it too unstructured without a central unifying theme. Some of the points that Levitt makes are interesting, but somehow I ended up feeling disappointed once I was through with it.
Posted by
FSM |
July 9, 2006 at 5:24:00 PM EDT
Hey, remember I told u a few days back that even I was asked to retake GMAT by a school? Well, make that two now. I just concluded a feedback session with another school and guess what? They too want me to retake the damn GMAT! How can they brish off a 720 like that? :( :( :(
What are you doing about it?
oh btw, I am posting under my pseudo name now :)
Posted by
Hobbes |
July 20, 2006 at 3:40:00 PM EDT
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Posted by
JatWarrior |
August 3, 2006 at 12:06:00 AM EDT