Freakonomics

About “Freakonomics”

Freakonomics is a 2005 nonfiction book by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. It explores unconventional questions about everyday life, such as the relative danger of guns versus swimming pools, the commonalities between schoolteachers and sumo wrestlers, and the reasons drug dealers live with their mothers. The book uses data and analysis to challenge common assumptions and reveal hidden patterns in human behavior. Levitt, an economist, and Dubner, a journalist, examine topics ranging from crime and cheating to real estate and politics. They argue that economics is the study of incentives and that asking the right questions can uncover surprising truths. The book became a global bestseller, selling over four million copies and inspiring a documentary, a blog, and a follow-up book.