Steven D. Levitt et al - Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything Books

Pros: Many interesting takes on economic realities; Good debate tool
Cons: Too short; Needs some more research

Economics is considered by many to be a boring subject with too strong of a reliance on numbers and too many political biases to make reading about it worthwhile. It is true that some economics books are very repetitive, too mathematical, and deserving ...

Pros: Some thought provoking and interesting scenarios.
Cons: Too wordy and drawn out at times. Not factually based. "Tricky" at times.

As a gift from my son I received the book Freakonomics for my birthday. This Libra who is well balanced, maybe in his own mind, looked at this book seeking the good and finding some bad. Well, maybe it's not bad it's just that I have some ...

Pros: All too rarely is non-fiction writing both amusing and deeply informative. This succeeds!
Cons: The title is perhaps a little overly grand for the actual content!

Freakonomics is a refreshing, thoroughly enjoyable, easy reading, fast paced, witty and cynical breath of fresh air! Levitt and Dubner offer up a series of pointed, thought provoking essays composed in jargon-free layman's language that are ...

Pros: entertaining, engaging tone and fascinating information
Cons: a few controversial studies that may put off some readers

Economics. A word certain to strike boredom and confusion into the minds of otherwise rational individuals everywhere. Economics is one of those subjects that few people really understand beyond just the surface. I took a college class back in ...

Pros: Funny, controversial, and thought-provoking theories on everything.
Cons: Will provoke a fight with those easily offended.

Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything [2005, William Morris/Harper Collins, 254 pages], by authors Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner will surely engender a response in most readers as it uses economic theory ...

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Economics isn’t really about money. At least, it’s not solely about money. It’s really about what motivates people. People generally want to get the most while giving up the least. That doesn’t always involve cash. That being said, you may ask what ...

Pros: Intelligent, good analysis, thought provoking and incredibly entertaining.
Cons: The shameless plugs at the beginning of each chapter describing what a genius Levitt is.

I've had a number of people recommend this book as a fine read, including my husband. Having read Malcolm Gladwell's Blink and loving it, I was curious how this book measured up to Blink. Was it politically driven? Or is it just another opinionated ...

Pros: Easy to read, interesting, original, controversial
Cons: Writing style, no supportive data, controversial

This was an interesting read for me, particularly because I was a dual major in college -- Economics and English. So, really, I'm all for presenting Economics in a well-written, easy-to-understand way. What's especially interesting about this book (and ...

Pros: Very readable and highly interesting.
Cons: Should we believe the things in this book?

I heard about Freakonomics awhile ago, probably on The Daily Show or The Colbert Report. It sounded interesting to me then, but I finally got around to checking it out. Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of ...

Pros: Clever and clear.
Cons: May be a hate-it-or-love-it book.

This book reminds me of reading America's Test Kitchen cooking magazine, Cook's Illustrated. Or watching Alton Brown on tv. Tools, measurements, cause/effect...science applied to explain end results. A lot of work to show something simple. Pot roasts are ...

Pros: Unconventional wisdom that's entertaining.
Cons: More of a collection of random ideas that a unified book.

This may be my new favorite economics book. Of course, I'm not sure what used to be my favorite economics book. There's not much competition. But that doesn't diminish the accomplishments of "Freakonomics," a book that takes economics and turns the ...

Pros: Interesting observations relating to some common issues.
Cons: Written for the masses - and not terribly well done, at that.

In ‘Freakonomics,’ Steven D. Levitt starts by discussing “conventional wisdom,” what it is, where it comes from, whom it benefits, and the reason conventional wisdom is so often wrong. Then, Levitt takes the reader on a tour and illustrates the fallacy ...

Pros: Interesting stories
Cons: Full of itself, poor logic

Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner's Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything was something of a surprise phenomenon on the bestseller lists a couple years ago. They don't, after all, call economics the dismal ...

Pros: Very accessible, new twist on well-known topics, quick read, relatively inexpensive
Cons: Maybe too quick of a read, light on procedural details

One of the author, Steven Levitt the economist, is one of those people that can look at the same thing as you and I and somehow see it from a different angle and appreciate it in a completely different way. Without this gift, there wouldn't have been a ...

Pros: A light (and some times heavy) hearted twist on an old subject.
Cons: Sometimes a bit difficult to follow. Could be organized better.

First of all, when I turned the last page, the book left me craving for more topics for Levitt to discuss. There are plenty of additional economic subjects that he can write about and I hope that he so does in a sequel. I have to write this review ...