|
Freakonomics |  | Authors: Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner
Publisher: Harper Collins
Category: Book
Buy Used: $5.25
as of 3/17/2010 22:54 PDT details
New (6) from $7.35
Seller: sasbooksellers
Rating:  1750 reviews
Sales Rank: 97640
Media: Perfect Paperback
Pages: 320
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 6.6 x 4.1 x 1
ISBN: 0061242705
EAN: 9780061242700
ASIN: 0061242705
Publication Date: 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
| |
| Also Available In:
|
| Similar Items:
| |
| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 1750
 this is just a read for time pass. walking on the beach will be a better time spent. March 17, 2010
common sense (San Jose, CA)
The book collects statistics and interprets the data by correlating the statistical data with events happening around us. This may be mere coincidence or a good example of "cause and effect" scenario.
For example, the author talks about abortion and how abortion has prevented crime rates in the US. He concludes that abortion in low income group or in not so good neighborhood, has resulted in lower crime rates. According to him, if the aborted fetus were not aborted, the resulting children would have become criminals because of their neighborhood and upbringing. This might be factually correct. Unfortunately, the author purposely or inadvertently conveys that abortion is a solution for lowering crime rates.
I feel that we are fortunate that the author is not an economic adviser to the President. As we all know, the unemployment rate is very high and it will be a political liability for Obama if the unemployment rate doesn't go down before the next election. If the author were to be an adviser to the President, I guess he would advise the President to kill all the unemployed people and that way the unemployment can be reduced to zero. This is similar to aborting the fetus to reduce crime rate.
The point is that there are solutions to solving a problem. There could be a quick and easy solution and there could be a hard and time consuming solution. We need to choose the right solution and take the right approach to solving a problem rather than taking the easy route.
 Deterministic March 11, 2010
Antonio Varela (Monterrey, MX)
Speaking of statistics, one third of the book is made up of what the authors term "bonus material", which comes down to an article on Levitt, columns written by either Levitt or Dubner, and blog entries. All of which add nothing to the already skeptical "hidden side of everything". Of the 188 pages that make up the formal writing of the book, almost one third of the text relates to (directly or indirectly) the notion that legalized abortion, Roe v. Wade (1973) was the real driving force behind crime fall in New York and the rest of the US. In other words, had those baby's been born they would have eventually become criminals.
Whether you agree with this notion or not has really little to do with the fact that Levitt cleverly takes the reader by the hand and convinces rather than proves that his subjective interpretations, of nonetheless real data, are the ultimate cause behind crime drop. In essence the reader is tricked into thinking this trend of thought is actually fact based and above all logical in its process.
One can endlessly debate over this hypothesis, but at one point or another, determinism will come into mind. Try to recall Tom Cruise in his crime "avoiding" investigator role in the blockbuster movie Minority Report. Although he was preconceived to become an assassin, he willingly chose not to kill.
The rest of the stories (if I recall correctly are no more than 6, far from "everything" as the title so boldly states) are somewhat interesting from an entertaining perspective but fall exceedingly short to those of Malcolm Gladwell.
Levitt's greatest flaw is to regard himself (in an attempt to draw attention to himself more than to humbly accept his weaknesses) an incompetent in most areas of economics and everyday life in general but considers himself a revolutionary of conventional wisdom, bold and courageous, and unafraid to explore that which has been considered fact. As the closing remark in his book states, a colleague of Levitt encountered Economics Nobel Prize Winner Thomas Schelling and urged him to consider Levitt as one of his students... Schelling was unmoved.
Thought Provoking March 9, 2010
Marc Emmer (Los Angeles, CA)
Economist Steven Levitt's "Freakonomics" is witty, whimsical and provocative. In the genre of The Tipping Point, Levitt reaches some interesting conclusions about a broad range of socio-economic patterns and trends. From the relationship between school teachers and Sumo Wrestlers to the role of Roe vs. Wade on crime, Freakonomics studies unique relationships in our culture that have important implications for the way we live and work.
 Unique connections March 8, 2010
Kylee Craig
Freakonomics is a book written to inform readers of many interesting, yet surprising facts. The main theme-if there is one in the story-is to show the power incentives have over the population. The book does a great job of drawing two unlikely things together and finding a connection between them. For instance, the chapter that concerns sumo wrestling corruption relates this topic to school teachers cheating. While these two topics seem to be on completely different levels, Levitt and Dubner manage to find unique connections between both. These tremendous connections make the story more intriguing and keep the reader wanting more. The simplicity of the topics helps to keep readers relating pieces of the book back to their own lives. Another part of life that is brought up in the story and that can be overlooked is a name. Ironically, this part of someone can drastically change a person's potential career opportunities. The authors do a wonderful job of connecting aspects of daily life to a bigger picture of how simple actions can affect one's future. The sources present throughout the book are legitimate and show the critical thinking that went into the making of the novel. While there is no definite motif present or an underlying theme, the book leaves readers curious about the inner workings of society.
Gymnastics For the Mind: Viewing from a Different Angle March 2, 2010
Routnom
This book was so well written that I couldn't put it down. One chapter ended with a "tickler" and led logically to the next. Most importantly it invited the reader to consider a broader range of factors that may, or may not, have led to events. Certainly the juxtaposition of materials, previously not considered related, gives one pause.
Being open to the points made creates a kind of gymnastics of the mind that is refreshing at any age. Also, I learned some new facts and quotes.
Loved the hardback from the library but had to buy a copy for myself.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 1750
|
|
|
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME. | | Luxury Vacation Info |
|
Are you ready for your next luxury vacation? Let Travelwizard experts
take care of all the details.
The best available price is our starting point. Then we add value through
complimentary excursions, amenities, or services.
TravelWizard.com can get you the room, or suite, condo or villa you want,
when others can't.
We have tons of money saving specials: free nights, free meals, room
upgrades, and wonderful inclusions such as free golf and spa visits.
Free car with a 7 night stay at 40 different hotels, or receive a
credit of $199 value, and apply it to another car category.
We work with every airline, so you can choose the airline you prefer.
You get frequent flyer miles on most of them.
We can get you discount first class, or
business class tickets.
You can book your activities ahead of time to
assure peace of mind.
How do we do it? Simple. We leverage our
tremendous buying power!
Email this page to a friend
Bookmark this page
|
|
|
|
|
