Review of the Book: Freakonomics

I just finished reading Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. I have to give this book a ten out of ten. It was interesting, well written, and completely captivating.

Steven D. Levitt is the economist and Stephen J. Dubner is an author and journalist for The New York Times Magazine. Mr. Levitt does not look at the world like most people. For instance, take the chapter in his book "Where Have All the Criminals Gone?" and you will find that legalized abortion is the reason for the drop in crime in the United States (Roe vs. Wade). This is a fascinating conclusion and I have to thank him for coming up with something reasonable because, as we all know, gun control was never the answer however much it has been touted by various government agencies.

In chapter 6, "Perfect Parenting, Part II; or: Would a Roshanda by Any Other Name Smell as Sweet?", he talks about the most common names for children and then divides it up by socioeconomic status such as income and education. Absolutely fascinating! It gives you insight into why certain names are chosen for children. Victoria, Jonathan, and Charles are the three children in my family so after reading the book you will have a good idea of the socioeconomic status of my parents.

I highly suggest visiting the website for the book at http://www.freakonomics.com/. It contains information on the book, the author's blog, and links to their monthly column in The New York Times Magazine.