About the Author

Steven D. Levitt, a professor of economics at the University of Chicago, was awarded the John Bates Clark Medal, given to the most influential American economist under forty. He is also a founder of The Greatest Good, which applies Freakonomics-style thinking to business and philanthropy.

Stephen J. Dubner, an award-winning journalist and radio and TV personality, has worked for the New York Times and published three non-Freakonomics books. He is the host of Freakonomics Radio and Tell Me Something I Don't Know.

Stephen J. Dubner is an award-winning author, journalist, and radio and TV personality. He quit his first career--as an almost rock star--to become a writer. He has since taught English at Columbia, worked for The New York Times, and published three non-Freakonomics books.

Reviews

"Provocative... eye-popping." -- New York Times Book Review: Inside the List"If Indiana Jones were an economist, he'd be Steven Levitt... Criticizing Freakonomics would be like criticizing a hot fudge sundae." -- Wall Street Journal"The guy is interesting!" -- Washington Post Book World"The funkiest study of statistical mechanics ever by a world-renowned economist... Eye-opening and sometimes eye-popping" -- Entertainment Weekly"Steven Levitt has the most interesting mind in America... Prepare to be dazzled." -- Malcolm Gladwell, author of Blink and The Tipping Point"Principles of economics are used to examine daily life in this fun read." -- People: Great Reads"Levitt dissects complex real-world phenomena, e.g. baby-naming patterns and Sumo wrestling, with an economist's laser." -- San Diego Union-Tribune"Levitt is a number cruncher extraordinaire." -- Philadelphia Daily News"Levitt is one of the most notorious economists of our age." -- Financial Times"Hard to resist." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)"Freakonomics is politically incorrect in the best, most essential way.... This is bracing fun of the highest order." -- Kurt Andersen, host of public radio's Studio 360 and author of Turn of the Century"Freakonomics was the 'It' book of 2005." -- Fort Worth Star-Telegram"An eye-opening, and most interesting, approach to the world." -- Kirkus Reviews"An unconventional economist defies conventional wisdom." -- Associated Press"A showcase for Levitt's intriguing explorations into a number of disparate topics.... There's plenty of fun to be had." -- Salon.com"One of the decade's most intelligent and provocative books." -- The Daily Standard"Freakonomics challenges conventional wisdom and makes for fun reading." -- Book Sense Picks and Notables"The trivia alone is worth the cover price." -- New York Times Book Review"An easy, funny read. Many unsolvable problems the Americans have could be solved with simple means." -- Business World"Economics is not widely considered to be one of the sexier sciences.... Steven D. Levitt will change some minds." -- Amazon.com

Though the idea of listening to an economics text may bring to mind nightmarish visions of incomprehensible facts, figures and graphs, this audiobook is refreshingly accessible and engrossing. Journalist Dubner reads with just the right mix of enthusiasm and awe, revealing juicy morsels of wisdom on everything from what sumo wrestlers and teachers have in common (a propensity to cheat) to whether parents can really push their kids to greatness by buying them Baby Einstein toys and enlisting them in numerous before- and after-school activities (not really). The only section that doesn't translate well to the format is the final one on naming conventions. The lists of "White Girl Names" and "Black Girl Names," and "Low-End" names and "High-End" names can be mind-numbing, though the text that breaks up these lists will intrigue. Overall, however, these unusual investigations by Levitt, the "rogue" of the subtitle, make for meaty-and entertaining-listening. Simultaneous release with the Morrow hardcover (Reviews, Mar. 14). (May) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

"Provocative... eye-popping." -- New York Times Book Review: Inside the List"If Indiana Jones were an economist, he'd be Steven Levitt... Criticizing Freakonomics would be like criticizing a hot fudge sundae." -- Wall Street Journal"The guy is interesting!" -- Washington Post Book World"The funkiest study of statistical mechanics ever by a world-renowned economist... Eye-opening and sometimes eye-popping" -- Entertainment Weekly"Steven Levitt has the most interesting mind in America... Prepare to be dazzled." -- Malcolm Gladwell, author of Blink and The Tipping Point"Principles of economics are used to examine daily life in this fun read." -- People: Great Reads"Levitt dissects complex real-world phenomena, e.g. baby-naming patterns and Sumo wrestling, with an economist's laser." -- San Diego Union-Tribune"Levitt is a number cruncher extraordinaire." -- Philadelphia Daily News"Levitt is one of the most notorious economists of our age." -- Financial Times"Hard to resist." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)"Freakonomics is politically incorrect in the best, most essential way.... This is bracing fun of the highest order." -- Kurt Andersen, host of public radio's Studio 360 and author of Turn of the Century"Freakonomics was the 'It' book of 2005." -- Fort Worth Star-Telegram"An eye-opening, and most interesting, approach to the world." -- Kirkus Reviews"An unconventional economist defies conventional wisdom." -- Associated Press"A showcase for Levitt's intriguing explorations into a number of disparate topics.... There's plenty of fun to be had." -- Salon.com"One of the decade's most intelligent and provocative books." -- The Daily Standard"Freakonomics challenges conventional wisdom and makes for fun reading." -- Book Sense Picks and Notables"The trivia alone is worth the cover price." -- New York Times Book Review"An easy, funny read. Many unsolvable problems the Americans have could be solved with simple means." -- Business World"Economics is not widely considered to be one of the sexier sciences.... Steven D. Levitt will change some minds." -- Amazon.com