{"id":24683,"date":"2014-10-25T22:40:04","date_gmt":"2014-10-26T02:40:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=24683"},"modified":"2014-10-25T22:40:04","modified_gmt":"2014-10-26T02:40:04","slug":"review-of-think-like-a-freak-by-steven-d-levitt-stephen-j-dubner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=24683","title":{"rendered":"Review of Think Like a Freak, by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"think_like_a_freak_large\"<\/a>Think Like a Freak<\/p>\n

The Authors of Freakonomics Offer to Retrain Your Brain<\/em><\/p>\n

by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner
\nread by Stephen J. Dubner<\/p>\n

HarperCollins, 2014. 5 \u00bd hours on 5 compact discs.
\nStarred Review<\/p>\n

I reviewed Freakonomics<\/a><\/em> back in 2005. It presented a different way of looking at problems than common \u201cwisdom\u201d suggests. In this book, Think Like a Freak<\/em>, the authors not only show you problems they have solved, but they offer tips and suggestions for how you can solve problems the Freakonomics way.<\/p>\n

As well as giving problem-solving tips, they also give you advice on persuading people who don\u2019t want to be persuaded. One piece of advice is to tell stories. And this book abounds with stories and examples for every principle given. Even if you don\u2019t take their advice, you\u2019ll find the stories entertaining. But I\u2019m guessing that you will also find them persuasive.<\/p>\n

For example, to go with the tip of having gardens weed themselves, we\u2019re told why Nigerian scammers are actually smart to mention Nigeria. It weeds out all but the very most gullible people.<\/p>\n

In light of the principle that we should get rid of the idea that quitting is always bad, the authors tell about a huge experiment they ran, offering to make people\u2019s decisions for them with a coin flip. <\/p>\n

Those are just a few of the entertaining and informative examples, which are presented in an engaging way and may get you looking at the world differently. Unlike many authors, this one\u2019s voice is as mellifluous as an actor\u2019s. I found myself looking forward to my commute to hear more of what he had to say.<\/p>\n

freakonomics.com<\/a>
\nharperaudio.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Nonfiction\/think_like_a_freak.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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