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

This is totally my kind of book - easy to read (well, don't get the wrong idea!), filled with lists and data. I especially like two of the chapters. One talks about parenting and what matters and what doesn't matter. Dragging your young children to a lot of museums doesn't "help" (with future achievement, etc.); cultivating an intellectually rich home environment does help(specifically having a lot of books in the house, presumably books that are actually read).

Then I loved the chapter on names. I loved that chapter! Basically it is giving lists that associate parental income and education with naming choices. It demonstrates that sort of upper class names trickle down to middle and lower classes and then become out of favor. Forgive my quick, imperfect synopsis.

Anyhow, great book, interesting unconventional take on economics, highly recommended!