Freakonomics by Stephen J. Dubner, Steven Levitt (2005, Hardcover)

Freakonomics offers a fresh new perspective on how the world works. Although Dubner's and Levitt's arguments aren't completely without flaws, they offer compelling arguments, evidence, and points of views to some interesting societal questions. Through the use of data and applied (i.e. practical) economics, Dubner and Levitt debunk conventional wisdom, providing answers that are sometimes controversial, but always interesting and well-supported.

If you're looking for a fresh, new perspective on how the world works, this book is for you. Have you been interested in questions such as: 'How is the Ku Klux Klan like a group of real-estate agents?', 'What do schoolteachers and Sumo wrestlers have in common?', 'Why do drug dealers still live with their moms?', 'Why did the crime rate drop so much in the 1990s?', and 'What makes a perfect parent?'? If so, this is the book for you. Although you may not agree with some of the arguments and conclusions this book puts forward, it offers an interesting view in how the world works. If nothing else, you'll leave the book armed with a new way to look at the world.

If you're a hard core economic theorist seeking the application of traditional theory, this book is likely not for you. However, if you're looking for a quick read that provides an interesting new perspective on how things work in the world, this is the book for you!