Steven D. Levitt Books
Steven D. Levitt teaches economics at the University of Chicago. His unorthodox approach of using the tools of economics to reveal hidden aspects of everyday decisions has triggered debate in the media and academic circles.
Stephen J. Dubner is a former writer and editor at the New York Times Magazine. He is also the author of Turbulent Souls, Confessions of a Hero-Worshiper, and the children's book The Boy with Two Belly Buttons.
Freakonomics
What's Freakonomics about?
Freakonomics (2005) applies rational economic analysis to everyday situations, from online dating to buying a house. The book reveals why the way we make decisions is often irrational, why conventional wisdom is frequently wrong, and how and why we are incentivized to do what we do.
Who should read Freakonomics?
- Anyone interested in human decision-making.
- Managers with an interest in the impact of incentives and risk analysis
- Economists looking for a more creative approach to using the tools of economics
What's Think Like a Freak about?
Think Like A Freak is a blueprint for thinking unconventionally and creatively. It demonstrates the benefits of letting go of conventional wisdoms, and teaches you to dig deeper to find out how things really work. By learning to think like a "freak", you’ll gain access to an entirely new way of solving problems and making sense of the world.
Who should read Think Like a Freak?
- Anyone who likes to challenge conventional beliefs
- Anyone interested in how statistics can help solve problems
- Anyone who wants to learn how to think more creatively and unconventionally
When to Rob a Bank
What's 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.
Who should read When to Rob a Bank?
- Economics students
- Anyone interested in human behavior
- Freakonomics fans
SuperFreakonomics
What's SuperFreakonomics about?
SuperFreakonomics (2009) explains why thinking like an economist can help us understand our modern world. These blinks illustrate key economic principles and the importance of collecting data with colorful stories from human history, and offers surprising solutions for the global problems that we face today.
Who should read SuperFreakonomics?
- Anyone interested in entertaining, statistical facts about human behavior
- Math buffs who believe in the power of statistics
- Anyone curious about a very cheap way to stop global warming