Freakonomics

[spacedonkey]

Has anyone read this? Am toying with the idea of buying it ...

I saw a good review in the Guardian on Saturday, and a reasonable review (3 stars) in the Independent on Sunday. I may well read it in the future, but not any time soon.

Yes - really interesting book. Fun chapter on names people choose for their kids. It's also written in a really easy to read style and you can dip into it in small chunks (obviously handy with lo interrupting). I'd recommend it to anyone who just wants to look at things from a different angle.

You might want to look at the web site artices at freakonomics.com

Thanks for the info people

Does the book actually teach you much about economics?

I have bought this to read on holiday - but then I am an economist! You can have a look on Slate, I think there are some articles on there by Levitt, eg \link{http://www.slate.com/id/2116505\baby names} which will give you an idea of the style and content.

I think I'll get it - it looks fascinating!

Not read it, but also toying with getting this, as it sounded interesting from the extracts that the Sunday Times published last year.

read the review on sunday in the culture section - sounds very interesting - will look out for the book.

Yeh! Only read about 50 pages and i can't stop bringing it into pub conversations. Even if you don't agree it really gets your brain talking. I'm starting ( yet again) ( cos i never actually stop) looking into this bollocks media reliant system.
A lot of this book reminds me of mumsnet, especially, who actually told you 8 pints a day was good. I reckon you'l enjoy it x

Ahh this looks great. Loving the baby names. Now trying to persuade dh that we should call our new baby President.

Was already pushing for Lord or Baron but he's having none of it.

Also think Doctor would be hilarious.

obviously guess you not sposed to use defenceless babies as joke punchlines but.....

mmm got to get this book

Did you know the lack of crime is down to abortion?.................

etc.

I read about that one in a review! He claims the pool of potential criminals is smaller owing to abortion law in the US

Oh, so that's where that article on names was from!

I read this online a while ago and was staggered by the predictions US most popular girls' names for 2015.
They say that they're names currently popular with affluent and highly educated Americans and hence likely to rise in popularity as new parents from other areas of society emulate them.

But 70% of those names were current at my (aspirational, academic, private, London day) school in 1989.

So it looks like rich educated Brits are copied by rich educated Americans, who in turn are copied by the rest of the US.

Weird, eh? Will have to buy the book now...