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Freakonomics October 16, 2005
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My favorite part of the book, for example, was the chapter on the optimistic new graduate student who was sent into housing projects by his Econ professor to interview destitute Black people about how they feel about being destitute Black people. Within minutes of wandering around an area that probably looked like a sound stage for Escape From New York, the grad student stumbles into a group of teenage gang members, several of which just want to shoot him. He lamely (and absurdly) tries to get them to take his survey until the gang's local leader shows up, befriends (in a way) the young graduate student, and eventually teaches him how the drug-selling gang's org chart looks almost exactly like that of a McDonald's franchise.
Some of what Freakonomics has to say is a jagged little pill to swallow. One of the authors, for example, is infamous for demonstrating how legalizing abortion led to a nationwide reduction in violent crime (not including, of course, violence against fetuses; that went up). And then there's the chapters on what about a parent does and doesn't matter in terms of their childrens' future success. The authors, though, remain surprisingly objective through all the rough spots, and they even manage to view issues from various perspectives when needed.
So this is easily a great book. Chances are you'll find five or more things that surprise you just inside the first hundred pages. I know I did.
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Tags: Book Review, Nonfiction
Comments
Posted by Kathy O'Neal on November 7, 2005 9:49 AM:
Hey, I forgot to mention a thanks for the recommendation of Bryson's "History". I liked his writing so much I've listened to 2 more of his books on CD.
Posted by Jamie on November 7, 2005 9:52 AM:
You're welcome. I keep meaning to pick up some of his others as well. They all seem to come pretty highly recommended.