Freakonomics

Freakonomics is a collaboration between Steven D. Levitt, a much-heralded economist at the University of Chicago, and Stephen J. Dubner, an award-winning author and journalist. Together they take on some very unusual, even “freakish,” questions. What do schoolteachers and sumo wrestlers have in common? Which is more dangerous, a gun or a swimming pool? If drug dealers make so much money, why do they still live with their mothers? How did the legalization of abortion affect the rate of violent crime?

The answers Levitt and Dubner reach show the world to be an intriguing place in which conventional wisdom is often very wrong. Since its original publication in 2005 it has been a smash hit, with more than four million copies sold in 35 languages, and I can understand why.

The audiobook is narrated by co-author Stephen Dubner. He’s no voice actor, but he does a good job. Some people may think he sounds a bit nerdy, but I think it suits the topic.

Thought-provoking, and it has the potential to change the way you look at the world.

I do have a few criticisms. Occasionally the stats became a bit too much (I’m thinking of the lists of baby names in one particular chapter). And while I think it’s great that the conclusions are data-driven, I’d be hesitant to take all the findings as gospel, as there are limitations to Levitt’s methods and data.

Still, it will encourage you to challenge conventional wisdom, and it’s well worth a listen, especially if you like authors such as Malcolm Gladwell.

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