Harper Academic

Freakonomics Rev Ed

A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything

by Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner

On Sale: 11/21/2006

Price: $36.50

Freakonomics Rev Ed

Enlarge Book Cover

Freakonomics Rev Ed

A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything

by Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner

On Sale: 11/21/2006

Format:

Price: $36.50

About the Book

Here’s a first-year book that encourages critical thinking and sparks discussion. Freakonomics addresses current social questions that students will enjoy arguing about both in the classroom and over coffee in the student union:

• Which is more dangerous—a gun or a swimming? 
• Why do drug dealers still live with their mothers?
• What makes a perfect parent?

These may not sound like typical questions an economist asks, but Levitt is not your typical economist. He studies the mysteries of everyday life—from cheating and crime to sports and child rearing—and his conclusions regularly turn conventional wisdom on its head, helping students develop a critical eye to many things that are presented as fact.

Freshman Common Read: Appalachian State University, Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Louisville

Critical Praise

“Provocative… eye-popping.” — New York Times Book Review: Inside the List

“If Indiana Jones were an economist, he’d be Steven Levitt… Criticizing Freakonomics would be like criticizing a hot fudge sundae.” — Wall Street Journal

“The guy is interesting!” — Washington Post Book World

“The funkiest study of statistical mechanics ever by a world-renowned economist... Eye-opening and sometimes eye-popping” — Entertainment Weekly

“Steven Levitt has the most interesting mind in America... Prepare to be dazzled.” — Malcolm Gladwell, author of Blink and The Tipping Point

“Principles of economics are used to examine daily life in this fun read.” — People: Great Reads

“Levitt dissects complex real-world phenomena, e.g. baby-naming patterns and Sumo wrestling, with an economist’s laser.” — San Diego Union-Tribune

“Levitt is a number cruncher extraordinaire.” — Philadelphia Daily News

“Levitt is one of the most notorious economists of our age.” — Financial Times

“Hard to resist.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Freakonomics is politically incorrect in the best, most essential way.... This is bracing fun of the highest order.” — Kurt Andersen, host of public radio's Studio 360 and author of Turn of the Century

“Freakonomics was the ‘It’ book of 2005.” — Fort Worth Star-Telegram

“An eye-opening, and most interesting, approach to the world.” — Kirkus Reviews

“An unconventional economist defies conventional wisdom.” — Associated Press

“A showcase for Levitt’s intriguing explorations into a number of disparate topics…. There’s plenty of fun to be had.” — Salon.com

“One of the decade’s most intelligent and provocative books.” — The Daily Standard

“Freakonomics challenges conventional wisdom and makes for fun reading.” — Book Sense Picks and Notables

“The trivia alone is worth the cover price.” — New York Times Book Review

“An easy, funny read. Many unsolvable problems the Americans have could be solved with simple means.” — Business World

“Economics is not widely considered to be one of the sexier sciences.... Steven D. Levitt will change some minds.” — Amazon.com

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Product Details

  • ISBN: 9780061245138
  • ISBN 10: 0061245135
  • Imprint: William Morrow
  • On Sale: 11/21/2006
  • Trimsize: 6.000 in (w) x 9.000 in (h) x 0.990 in (d)
  • Pages: 496
  • List Price: $36.50
  • BISAC1 : SOCIAL SCIENCE / Popular Culture
  • BISAC2 : SOCIAL SCIENCE / Sociology / General
  • BISAC3 : BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Economics / General
  • BISAC4 : BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Economics / Theory