Freakonomics: A Contrarian Economist Discovers the Hidden Side of Almost Everything

Economics is generally not considered the sexiest science. Steven Levitt puts an end to that reputation. Levitt does not discuss the stock market, interest rates or import tariffs. He focuses on questions and problems that do not seem immediately obvious, such as the effect of reading aloud at a young age on the performance of students. In Freakonomics, Levitt shows how complex structures do not have to be so mysterious - if you ask the right questions. Each chapter contains an intriguing social problem, followed by a surprising economic analysis. For example, Levitt shows that the organization of a drug gang in Chicago is not much different from that of a large company like McDonald's, where the bosses make the money while the underlings remain poor. Drug dealers live at home, he says, because they do not even earn the minimum wage. And, he argues in another chapter, does the decline in crime rates not have everything to do with a well-functioning economy?
Levitt and his co-author Dubner discover all sorts of surprising truths through their unbiased, smart and in-depth look at the facts. Their research and conclusions are empirical, original, often politically incorrect and above all: important. Without shying away from controversy, they simultaneously support their claims with facts and figures.
Freakonomics is the most fun, insightful, and provocative economics book you can imagine. A fantastic mix of essential facts and compelling storytelling that will forever change and sharpen our view of the modern world.