Freakonomics

Economists may be known for their number crunching, but Steven D. Levitt is an economist who delves into the whys and hows of everyday life. He studies subjects from crack gangs to real estate agents and reaches conclusions that turn conventional wisdom on its head. His collaboration with journalist Stephen J. Dubner produced Freakonomics, a compendium of surprising insights about human behavior. Levitt's studies reveal that incentives can determine who becomes a drug dealer, why sumo wrestlers are fat, and whether schoolteachers cheat. Dubner's lucid storytelling makes these and other deceptively innocent topics engaging and accessible, reshaping the way we look at modern life.