Freakonomics

I finished reading freakonomics. After all the buzz in the media [e.g see channel advertisement with a copy of the book coming out of the model's bag], the blog and quite a bunch of people talking about it I just couldn't resist getting me a copy, which I read in about a week (the whole thing could be eaten in a weekend though).



I think it is a good book, funny and sharp in general. The most valuable thing I find is the potential it has in bringing people close to economics. (To me) Economics is exciting because it studies things close to everyday life. That's what the whole thing is about. The authors formulate nice (good) questions on day to day issues, and then try to gain insight using data (econometrics).

My favourite part of the book is perhaps the one on parental care. I'm usually annoyed by obsessive parents. How to feed, lull, sit, punish...your child. The authors' conclusion: it does not matter what you do to raise your kid, what matters is what you are which you unfortunately cannot change by the time you usually become a parent.

Wanna know more about author Steven Levitt? here's his wikipedia entry.

Update:
See criticism by Ariel Rubinstein