#03 Freakonomics

Who knew that it would take 20 years to fall in love with my major in college?  If only they had let me know that economics can be about finding the true cause and effect of everything around us, I may not have fallen asleep during discussions of the Laffer Curve.  I was actually pretty fascinated by this book because was enough psychology as well to pique my other interest, which was also to be my minor had I not gone overseas and lost out on the 2 more classes I needed.  No regrets.

The book is presented in a series on focused, yet meandering chapters, that set out to make a single point through seemingly incomparable circumstances.  For instance, comparing the incentives of KKK members to real estates agents to show that they both derive their advantages from information control.  A particularly entertaining chapter on the life effects associated with the name you give your child reveals that the name really has nothing to do with a child’s success or failure, the parents do.  In one case, a parent name one child Winner and one Loser only to have Loser become a successful businessman and Winner ended up in jail.  The sobering fact was that a bad parent is more likely to yield a bad child no matter the name.

Now, I realize that the propositions set forth in this book are the theories of one man, yet whether they are completely accurate or not present a fascinating different perspective on many subjects.  A very quick and easy read that is entertaining despite the subject matter.

I will leave you with this tidbit that may be enough to make you want to know how this could be connected….the biggest theory in the book is that the precipitous drop in crime in the 1990’s can be traced to one woman: Norma McCorvey.  Look her up, you know her by another name.