Superfreakonomics
by Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner · first published 2009
28% recommend48% neutral24% critical
The New York Times bestselling Freakonomics was a worldwide sensation, selling more than four million copies in thirty-five languages and changing the way we look at the world.Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner return with Superfreakonomics, and fans and newcomers alike will find that the freakquel is even bolder, funnier, and more surprising than the first.SuperFreakonomics challenges the way we think all over again, exploring the hidden side of everything with such questions as:How is a street prostitute like a department-store Santa?What do hurricanes, heart attacks, and highway deaths
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…http://www.amazon.com/Evolution-First-Four-Billion-Years/dp/... All are full of up to date information about biology, which, as Thedosius Dobzhansky said, only makes sense in the light of evolution. SuperFreakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner http://www.amazon.com/SuperFreakonomics-Cooling-Patriotic-Pr... is enjoyable and thought-provoking, sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, for all the usual reasons…
on “Ask HN: Great books you read in 2009?” ↗…Stanier - I liked this one a lot, motivational The Power of Less by Leo Babauta - no surprises here, I enjoyed the book, it reads like you would expect it to. Some new insights that aren't on the blog Superfreakonomics by Stephen Levitt and Dubner Blink, The Tipping Point and Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell (I liked The Tipping Point the best out of those 3) Free by...Chris Anderson (?) I forget. Very interesting. Team…
on “Ask HN: Great books you read in 2009?” ↗…reading "Outliers" by Gladwell, and it's a great read! I'll probably try and pick up a copy of his "Tipping point" next. Another good psychology/behaviour/economics book is "Freakonomics", and it's sequel "SuperFreakonomics". Both interesting reads. If you haven't read "Fooled by randomness" yet though I'd definitely recommend that first!
on “Ask HN: Good books?” ↗You should read the section of SuperFreakonomics devoted to him before dismissing him as a patent troll. If that book is to believed (and I'll take the word of Levitt and Dubner, distinguished authors who visited his lab, over that of Michael Arrington…
on “Nathan Myhrvold unveils massive cookbook for science geeks” ↗If you haven't read SuperFreakonomics and you're interested in this comment, get a copy of the book: the first chapter is about how the "decline" of the education system is linked to rising professional opportunities for women. It used to…
on “It Pays to Hire Women in Countries That Won't” ↗There's a whole chapter in Levitt's SuperFreakonomics that covers this and a lot more about the economics of prostitution. Good reading.
on “Why do high-end prostitutes make so much money?” ↗Also, the Superfreakonomics chapter on that: http://freakonomics.com/books/freakonomics/chapter-excerpts/...
on “Perceptions haven't caught up to decline in crime” ↗…notable programmers. The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work by Alain de Botton - really interesting perspective on "work" and various types of careers and people that find happiness in them/work itself. Superfreakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner - even if you don't agree with their arguments or think that the authors are all fluff, I think that their writing style is exceptionally clear and easy to understand.…
on “Ask HN: Great books you read in 2009?” ↗This is not true. The book you cite, 'SuperFreakonomics,' by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner, apparently misquotes the original research on which they base their claim. Here's a quote from the book[1]: "Even the 'locavore' movement, which encourages people…
on “My Empire of Dirt” ↗Eating local is expensive and time-consuming, which is why this consumerist movement will not easily trickle down into mass society. And it's bad for the environment too based on the studies Superfreakonomics quoted. Why? It turns out transportation is a minor contributor to food related emissions: Transportation represents only 11 percent of food emissions, with delivery from producer to retailer representing…
on “My Empire of Dirt” ↗…Zynga.) Myhrvold's clearly interested in being some sort of public icon of brilliance, given his cooking books, appearance on the Colbert Report, and Intellectual Ventures inclusion in the (not so good) SuperFreakonomics book. Take that away from him. Or, at least, make the patent trolling stuff such a giant part of his public persona that the other stuff won't override it. So every article prints his name as "Nathan…
on “Patent Troll Forced To Settle Frivolous Lawsuit Against One-Man Business” ↗…confusing at best. But, there must be better books/resources to make economics make sense and actually be useful. Some books I've seen recommended on HN and elsewhere include: - Economics in One Lesson - SuperFreakonomics (or the original Freakonomics) - Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science If you had to purchase just one economics book, which would you find most useful and why? Any suggestions are appreciated…
on “Ask HN: Best Books on Economics” ↗Reminds me of this chapter in Superfreakonomics: http://books.google.com/books?id=_Gy-McfqgYgC&lpg=PA26&#...
on “Facebook Now Responsible for 25% of Hooker Hookups” ↗The chain begins with Joseph Romm telling Caldeira that he had read SuperFreakonomics and “I want to trash them for this insanity and ignorance.” Romm adds that “my blog is read by everyone in this area, including the media” and tells Caldeira that “I’d like a quote like ‘The authors of…
The one at the back of Superfreakonomics is weird. I thought that suddenly I was reading a different book. It honestly doesn't feel like the same authors. Could it be a kind of ad? Can you approach a powerful publisher and buy yourself a chapter…
on “Superfreakonomics: Superplug for Intellectual Ventures” ↗