Freakonomics- Review

True to its title, Freakonomics searches answers for freaky questions. The answers provided by Stephen B. Levitt sound plausible, but very odd reasoning. For example,
 

1. The crime rate fell drastically in US of A in late 1990’s and 2000. This had been most discussed case study ever, yet Levitt answer was pointing to a girl in some distant place who won a case against government for legalizing abortions. He argues that this reduces the birth of lot of kids in economically disadvantaged background, those termed as would-be criminals birth were avoided permanently by legalizing abortion. Logic goes similar to example quoted in Chaos. A butterfly fluttering its wings in Cuba caused the cyclone in the Indian ocean
2. How can we prove that people naturally trained to cheat others? Levitt took the case study of school teacher’s attitude in Chicago public school and sumo wrestlers in Japan. Interesting and racy read. But I doubt whether it will add any value to your knowledge
3. How money plays role in shaping politician victory? Why do drug peddlers always live with their mom? Why real estate agents don’t act in your favor? Interesting questions are strewn plenty in this book

The book is definitely an interesting read. But I doubt whether it will add any value to us or not. New York Times magazine goes a long way in finding out and publishing best seller books. Freakonomics is one among them with an attempt to build a hero worship around Stephen B Levitt.

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