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Freakonomics offers an engaging and thought-provoking look at hidden incentives, trends, and data that shape different aspects of society in often unexpected ways. Through a mix of economic analysis, journalistic storytelling, and wry commentary, authors Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner shed light on topics ranging from cheating sums to crime rates to baby names.
I thoroughly enjoyed the intellectual curiosity and unconventional angles taken in analyzing issues frequently presumed to have cut-and-dried explanations. For example, the authors make a surprisingly convincing case that the legalization of abortion actually caused massive drops in crime rates years later. Such clever unraveling of correlation and causation made arguments that at first seem audacious appear rather sensical by the final page of each chapter.
However, some of the sweeping conclusions at times gloss over nuances or lack proper citation. Additionally, the loose flowing prose that makes the book so readable also allows for logical leaps in argumentation that warrant scrutiny. The authors’ admitted speculative forays do not always pay off.
Overall, Freakonomics succeeds in illuminating the power of data to reveal surprising truths about how the world works. It effectively challenges perceived wisdom on a host of topics relevant to everyday people and policy makers alike. An questions raised linger in the mind long after. For sheer intellectual stimulation and introducing readers to counterintuitive modes of thinking, the book earns its many accolades.
2006