Super Freakonomics – More Absurd than Ever
One of the very first posts on TRD was Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. It is one heck of a book. But it was also weird (in a good sense), as it had no obvious overarching theme. It was much more about a style of thinking and approaching problems in an unconventional yet rational way. And it showed how beautiful economics can be (even for non-economists).
Super Freakonomics isn’t much different when it comes to a specific theme compared to its predecessor. It boils down to the same. But that is not why I read the book and it is also not why I think you should read the book.
Dubner and Levitt ask even more ridiculous questions. And I mean extremely ridiculous. Kind of insane and nuts. But awesome at the same time.
So, to bring the Freakonomics series closer to everybody (especially non-economists), I’d like to point out some of the questions that Dubner and Levitt discuss and answer in Super Freakonomics. You will see, they are far from boring, (kind of) useful and weird as hell.
Super Freakonomics: From Oral Sex to Cow Farts to Global Warming
Why did Oral Sex get so cheap?
Alright, this might not be a daily problem of yours, but it is to some prostitutes in Chicago whose business Dubner and Levitt analyzed extensively.
What really accounts for the male-female wage gap?
Super Freakonomics was first published in 2009. And the gender pay gap still exists. It shrinks significantly when controlling for factors like education and experience, but it still remains. The fact that this is a problem we still face today shows you its relevance.
The worst month to have a baby
Wouldn’t it be nice to know what birth month sets your baby up for maximum success? Especially when you want to turn your kid into a pro soccer player? Super Freakonomics might be of some help to you and your partner.
Where does talent come from?
Don’t we all wonder that. Your parents? Genes? Luck? What is it? Or is it the month you were born in?
How to catch a terrorist?
Now that is a good question. Turns out looking at bank account transactions can be of some help
How much good do car seats do?
Less than you’d expect…
What is worse: Car exhaust or cow farts?
Climate change might be the biggest challenge humanity has ever faced. And while Freakonomics didn’t address climate change extensively, Super Freakonomics does – in an unusual and very counterintuitive way.
How to cool the earth
This chapter was very extensive. I had never heard of the approach discussed in this chapter.
Why behavior change is so hard
A nice link to behavioral economics and why human decision making is highly flawed. And especially useful when it comes to changing our reading behavior.
More Questions and More Answers – all Absurd
It might feel unsatisfying for you to be reading all these questions – some extremely important, others less so – without much further detail and context. I understand. But I don’t care. You know where to find some answers…
Enjoy!
