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Freakonomics
- A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything
- Narrated by: Stephen J. Dubner
- Length: 7 hrs and 50 mins
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Summary
Brought to you by Penguin.
Assume nothing, question everything.
This is the message at the heart of Freakonomics, Levitt and Dubner's rule-breaking, iconoclastic book about crack dealers, cheating teachers and bizarre baby names that turned everyone's view of the world upside-down and became an international multi-million-copy-selling phenomenon.
Critic reviews
"Prepare to be dazzled." (Malcolm Gladwell)
"A sensation...you'll be stimulated, provoked and entertained. Of how many books can that be said?" (Sunday Telegraph)
"Has you chuckling one minute and gasping in amazement the next." (Wall Street Journal)
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What listeners say about Freakonomics
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall
- Marcus
- 18-11-05
Micro economics for all
Brings micro economics to life and makes statistical analysis interesting and entertaining plus thought provoking. Very American in its orientation. Although 3 stars, a must.
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27 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Paul Hudson
- 01-10-06
Well presented and fun - buy it now!
I've bought 20 or so audiobooks now, and this one is my favourite by a long way. Part of its appeal is the excellent content: yes, it's about economics, but you won't hear complicated algorithms or boring spreadsheets being discussed. Instead, Freakonomics points out problems - 'how can we find out whether teachers fudge the numbers on their students exams?' or 'if drug dealers make so much money, why do most of them with their mothers?' - then discusses how the problem was solved using a mixture of cunning, inspiration and skill.
You find yourself laughing at the weird and wonderful results the authors found, because it's truly fascinating stuff. Of course, it also helps that it's very well-presented (an excellent reading, sparky music, fun chapter breaks that focus on people as well as problems, etc), which means this is one of the very few 'must buy' audiobooks out there. I just hope there'll be a sequel soon!
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15 people found this helpful
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Overall
- David
- 15-01-08
Extremely enjoyable!
Well-written, pacey account of some of Leavitt's research and interests. A little of everything is here: whether it is uncovering how teachers can (and sometimes do) fiddle test scores, or studying how drug gangs operate internally. Not so much a study of economics as a window on the motivations that drive society at the start of the twenty-first century. Very thought-provoking.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Richard
- 08-08-06
Crazy statistics
Great examples of how statistical analysis can be used in more obscure situations not just macro-economics!
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4 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 31-03-20
an anthology of interesting happenings
There is no central thesis to this book, but a series of very interesting studies
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Welsh Mafia
- 28-06-08
Great Fun - yes, it's economics......
One of those popular science books that comes along now and again and threatens to change the way you look at life for ever but falls a little short of that. The kids really enjoyed it and perhaps that's where this book really belongs in the 'I was a teenage Noam Chomsky' section - or perhaps that's really where Noam Chomsky belongs.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Dell
- 19-05-08
Thought provoking and inspiring
This book is like having an in depth debate about the complexities of life with a best mate. The fact that there really insn't a theme apart from getting you to think is even more exciting. A thoroughly enjoyable listen particulary on those long motorway drives.
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2 people found this helpful
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- GNcsh
- 26-03-24
Started out good but descended into a baby naming guide
Good narration and an interesting subject. How the authors didn’t realise the baby naming section was the single most boring collection of words ever put to paper should maybe be the subject of their next book.
Actually gave up on the book after I’d heard more baby names than I ever needed to hear.
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- Anonymous User
- 22-03-24
Captivating!
Captivating story, covering multiple intriguing questions! Latter part of the book is rather long, but overall a great read!
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- Ben Mayer
- 13-02-24
Some interesting thoughts, but could also be called „everything you didn’t need to know about child names“
Some stories are interesting and thought provoking, but some stories and points that are made are ridiculously in-depth and long winded, like the hour of child names that are being read out in the final chapter. Definitely not a must read.
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