First Impression:
I usually don’t binge read books, but I finished this little nugget in about two days—a record, even by my standards. I read Freakonomics, the first economics book in this duos’ trilogy, and I enjoyed it very much. This book does not disappoint either; it offers practical advice and entertaining stories, not just stone-cold numbers and dull statistics. The writing style in the novel was witty and completely relatable; the ease with which I breezed through the book indicates its lack of pompous phrases and complicated wordage. However, instead of being put in the category of “Economics,” I thought this book was more of an advice/career book that was not heavily steeped in numbers (at least compared to their first book, Freakonomics). Nonetheless, it was a pleasant summer read that I gleaned valuable life lessons from (i.e. it’s okay to quit and admit that I’m wrong).
Sentence that Summarizes the Book:
Trying to outwit your competitors, admitting that you’re not an expert, and knowing when to quit are the ingredients for success and having a fulfilling life.
Important Events and a Quick Summary:
The stories told in this book tended to go all over the place, but they were united by a common theme: they taught unconventional lessons that many people have a hard time swallowing. To begin, thinking like a “Freak” means that one must circumvent traditional views and ask different and sometimes controversial questions. Often times, the questions may be blaringly simply, yet adults are so trained to revere complexity that simple solutions are often overlooked. The second chapter discussed why it is so hard for adults to utter “I don’t know.” Whether they are afraid of being ridiculed or genuinely believe that bs-ing is the key to eventual success, adults rather come up with a wrong answer than admit their ignorance. One of the most instructive stories in this chapter was the wine tasting anecdote. After an experiment was carried out, it was determined that previous knowledge and other people’s comments influence what people think is a “good wine,” and anyone can win a cheesy restaurant wine award if the wine on their menu is expensive enough (lesson: pomp and pretension pays). The third chapter discussed the problem with phrasing questions incorrectly. If the right question is asked, then perhaps it has a better chance of actually getting answered correctly the first time. The story told in this segment of the lean, mean, Asian hot dog eating machine was gross yet fascinating. Although the “power of poop” tale was memorable, I thought the story about stomach ulcers was fascinating. Are pharmaceutical companies and doctors so hungry for money that they will put the well being of their patients after that of money? The book obviously mentioned the important adage “everyone responds to incentives,” but it also delved into the topic of using brain power to separate the guilty from the innocent. The examples of David Lee Roth (Van Halen) and King Solomon (as well as the medieval ordeals) were particularly effective. Finally, the book closed with saying that quitting is okay, if done for the right reasons, and that quitting is never really a failure. Any experience is a good one because it teaches you information that you didn’t have previously.
Overall Message:
This book was somewhat scattered, but the most important lessons learned were (1) thinking unconventionally is okay, (2) asking the right questions and getting to the root of a problem is imperative, (3) incentives are the greatest weapon of humanity (figuratively), and (4) quitting doesn’t equate to weakness or failure.
Verdict:
I am predisposed to like these authors (I greatly enjoyed Freakonomics), so my response may be a tad biased. The information in the book was valuable and truly helped me see situations with a different perspective. I also think stories/case studies are captivating, even if the results or even the study itself do not pertain to me. Out of 10, I would wager this book an 8 because it was a quick yet useful read.
Other Book by These Authors?
Together, the two men have written Freakonomics and Superfreakonomics. Find their work here and here. They have different publications separately, but they are most famous for their unconventional economic thinking.
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