Book Review: Freakanomics

Freakanomics is a book by Stephen J. Dubner based on economic articles by Steven Levitt. Subtitled A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything, the book discusses the economics behind why certain things are the way they are. Levitt provides interesting arguments using data for why Sumo wrestlers and school teachers are similar in that both are cheaters, how experts who are meant to help us really help themselves, why it matters more who the parents are as opposed to what they do when it comes to their children's successes, etc. One of the controversial arguments also made, repeatedly, is how legalized abortion played a significant role in reducing crime. I thought it was a plausible theory and if the statistics he used were valid, even better. (Yes, I'm pro-choice.) Anyways, no deep thoughts in this book, but a lot of interesting theory and statistics.