Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything (Freakonomics, #1)
by Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner
Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner holds a well received rating of 3.93 out of 5, based on 524.2K reader ratings. First published in 2005. The book spans 320 pages.
About Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything
Which is more dangerous, a gun or a swimming pool? What do schoolteachers and sumo wrestlers have in common? Why do drug dealers still live with their moms? How much do parents really matter? What kind of impact did Roe v. Wade have on violent crime? Freakonomics will literally redefine the way we view the modern world.These may not sound like typical questions for an economist to ask. But Steven D. Levitt is not a typical economist. He is a much heralded scholar who studies the stuff and riddles of everyday life -- from cheating and crime to sports and child rearing -- and whose conclusions regularly turn the conventional wisdom on its head. He usually begins with a mountain of data and a simple, unasked question. Some of these questions concern life-and-death issues; others have an admittedly freakish quality. Thus the new field of study contained in this book: freakonomics.Through forceful storytelling and wry insight, Levitt and co-author Stephen J. Dubner show that economics is, at root, the study of incentives -- how people get what they want, or need, especially when other people want or need the same thing. In Freakonomics, they set out to explore the hidden side of ... well, everything. The inner workings of a crack gang. The truth about real-estate agents. The myths of campaign finance. The telltale marks of a cheating schoolteacher. The secrets of the Ku Klux Klan.What unites all these stories is a belief that the modern world, despite a surfeit of obfuscation, complication, and downright deceit, is not impenetrable, is not unknowable, and -- if the right questions are asked -- is even more intriguing than we think. All it takes is a new way of looking. Steven Levitt, through devilishly clever and clear-eyed thinking, shows how to see through all the clutter.Freakonomics establishes this unconventional premise: If morality represents how we would like the world to work, then economics represents how it actually does work. It is true that readers of this book will be armed with enough riddles and stories to last a thousand cocktail parties. But Freakonomics can provide more than that. It will literally redefine the way we view the modern world.(front flap)
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner |
| Published | 2005 |
| Pages | 320 |
| Genres | Non-Fiction, Business, Science, Psychology |
| Average Rating | 3.93 / 5.00 |
| Total Ratings | 524,191 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything?
Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything is categorized as Non-Fiction, Business, Science, Psychology. Its primary genre classification is Science.
Is Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything worth reading?
Based on 524.2K reader ratings, Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything has an average score of 3.93 out of 5.00, which is considered "Well Received." Its large number of reviews suggests broad reader appeal.
How many pages is Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything?
Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything has 320 pages.
Who wrote Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything?
Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything was written by Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner. It was first published in 2005.
What is the ISBN for Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything?
The ISBN-13 for Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything is 9780061234000.0.
Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026
