When to Rob a Bank Book Summary - When to Rob a Bank Book explained in key points
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...and 131 more warped suggestions and well-intended rants.

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19 mins

Brief summary

When to Rob a Bank by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner is an unconventional collection of blog posts by the authors, exploring various aspects of economics and society. It offers thought-provoking insights on a wide range of topics, from crime and politics to sports and entertainment.

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    When to Rob a Bank
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    There’s more to a name than you think.

    Every year millions of new parents fret over what to name their bundle of joy. But, personal preference aside, names aren’t all that important, right? Well, in the world of names, there are some strange statistics that indicate quite the opposite.

    For one, you should steer clear of people whose middle name is Wayne. How do we know this? One freakonomics reader, M. R. Stewart, has an unusual hobby. She collects newspaper clippings about crime. This is not too wacky in itself, but all the clippings feature perpetrators who have one thing in common: their middle name is Wayne.

    Author Stephen Dubner was shocked by the sheer number of clippings and strongly doubted whether anyone could assemble a list that long for any other middle name. As a result, he has now forbidden his daughters, even though they are currently only six years old, to date a boy with the middle name Wayne.

    Another strange thing about names is how they catch on. Even the unlikeliest of names can spread like wildfire.

    In 1999, there were eight children in the United States named Nevaeh. In 2005, this number rocketed to  4,457. What happened? The sudden name-craze originated in a single event: A 2000 MTV appearance by Christian rockstar Sonny Sandoval, of P.O.D, and his baby girl, Nevaeh, which is “Heaven” spelled backward. For baby girls, the name Nevaeh is now more popular than Sara.

    But the peculiarities don’t stop there; some names are uncannily fitting. Since the beginning of freakonomics.com, readers have shared some oddly apt names, like one Idaho man who was arrested for public masturbation after being spotted by a police officer in a public restroom. His surname? Limberhand.

    Another reader, who had recently moved away from San Francisco, related how sad he was to leave behind his dentist – Dr. Les Plack.

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    What is When to Rob a Bank about?

    When To Rob a Bank (2015) presents a collection of articles published on the Freakonomics blog at freakonomics.com, which has now been going strong for ten years. Honing in on the unpredictable and downright strange, Levitt and Dubner cover everything from why you should avoid anyone whose middle name is Wayne to why some of us should be having more sex than others.

    When to Rob a Bank Review

    When to Rob a Bank (2015) by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner is a book that challenges conventional wisdom and offers unconventional insights into a wide range of topics. Here's why you should pick it up:

    • Full of fascinating anecdotes and thought-provoking ideas, it takes you on an intellectual adventure that will make you question the world around you.
    • With its unorthodox approach to economics and social issues, the book presents fresh perspectives that challenge your preconceived notions.
    • It's not your typical book about economics. Instead, it focuses on providing entertaining and accessible content that keeps you engaged throughout.

    Best quote from When to Rob a Bank

    When it comes to evaluating risks, people stink for all sorts of reasons – from cognitive bias to the medias emphasis on rare events.

    —Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
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    Who should read When to Rob a Bank?

    • Economics students
    • Anyone interested in human behavior
    • Freakonomics fans

    About the Author

    Steven D. Levitt is Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago. In 2004, he received the John Bates Clark medal for the most influential American economist under forty and, in 2006, was featured as one of Time magazine’s “100 People Who Shape Our World.”

    During the 1990s, journalist Stephen J. Dubner worked for The New York Times Magazine. He is now an award-winning author, best known for the co-writing he has done with Steven D. Levitt.

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    When to Rob a Bank FAQs 

    What is the main message of When to Rob a Bank?

    When to Rob a Bank explores unconventional ideas and thought-provoking insights on a wide range of topics.

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    The reading time for When to Rob a Bank varies depending on the reader's speed, but the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.

    Is When to Rob a Bank a good book? Is it worth reading?

    When to Rob a Bank is a valuable read that offers engaging perspectives and challenges conventional thinking.

    Who is the author of When to Rob a Bank?

    When to Rob a Bank is authored by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner.

    What to read after When to Rob a Bank?

    If you're wondering what to read next after When to Rob a Bank, here are some recommendations we suggest:
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    • The Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz
    • Building Your Money Machine with ChatGPT by Larry Wheeler
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