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Think Like a Freak

Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

320 pages

A playful, data-driven toolkit for looking at the world sideways and outsmarting conventional wisdom.

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What it feels like

Reading this book feels like sitting next to the most interesting, slightly contrarian guest at a dinner party. It moves at a brisk, conversational clip, effortlessly weaving bizarre anecdotes from competitive hot-dog eating to rock band contracts into profound lessons on human behavior and problem-solving. The mood is relentlessly curious and playful, stripping away the heavy jargon of economics in favor of a breezy, accessible prose style that makes you feel instantly smarter. It dismantles your preconceived notions without ever feeling condescending, replacing them with a refreshing, data-driven optimism. Perfect for fans of Malcolm Gladwell or Dan Ariely, this is a book for anyone who delights in the hidden mechanics of the world and loves a good aha moment.

Mood
  • intellectually stimulating
  • playful
  • curious
Tone
  • wry
  • inquisitive
  • conversational
  • provocative
  • optimistic
Pace
brisk
Themes
challenging conventional wisdom · the hidden side of everything · power of incentives · problem solving · cognitive biases
The writing
Breezy, anecdotal, and sharply observant, translating complex data into highly digestible, entertaining narratives.
The arc
Moves from a playful dismantling of deeply held assumptions to an empowering sense of intellectual clarity and curiosity.
Who it's for
Curious minds who love Malcolm Gladwell and enjoy having their preconceived notions flipped upside down over a cup of coffee.

About the book

"Con su mezcla de narracion cautivante y analisis no convencional, Steven D. Levitt y Stephen J. Dubner nos llevan dentro de su proceso de pensamiento y nos ensenan como pensar de una forma un poco mas productiva, mas creativa, mas racional. Los temas van desde los negocios a la filantropia a los deportes a la politica, todo ello con el objetivo de re-entrenar su cerebro, "--Amazon.com.

The Freakonomics books have come to stand for something: challenging conventional wisdom; using data rather than emotion to answer questions; and learning to unravel the world's secret codes. Now Levitt and Dubner have gathered up what they have learned and turned it into a practical toolkit for thinking differently -- thinking, that is, like a Freak. Whether you are interested in the best way to improve your odds in penalty kicks, or in major global reforms, here is a blueprint for an entirely new way to solve problems. Along the way, you'll learn how the techniques of a Japanese hot-dog-eating champion can help you, the reason an Australian doctor swallowed a batch of dangerous bacteria, why Nigerian email scammers make a point of saying they're from Nigeria, and why Van Halen's demanding tour contract banning brown M & Ms was really a safety measure. You'll learn why sometimes it's best to put away your moral compass, and smarter to think like a child. You will be given a master class in incentives -- because for better or worse, incentives rule our world. And you will learn to quit before you fail, because you can't solve tomorrow's problem if you aren't willing to abandon today's dud.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 213-248) and index.

In Spanish. En español.

Description from Open Library.

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