Freakonomics and Super Freakonomics - Book Report/Review Example

Book Review Frekonomics Economist Steven D. Levitt and journalist Stephen J. Dubner join forces once again to co-author a sequel to their first book “Freakonomics”. Their new book “Superfreakonomics” provides insight to people’s way of life by analyzing different fields such as psychology, sociology and behavioral economics. The themes addressed in the book imply that the promise of future incentives influences the decisions made by people (Levitt & Dubner 5). The book tackles certain issues in its five chapters. In the first chapter, the two compare realtors to pimps in Chicago. This would seem rather unconventional because of the labels people attach to the two professions. The authors wittily defy the norms by explaining why these professions are similar to each other. They advance that both a pimp and a realtor provide the same primary service of marketing of their goods to potential consumers. They further claim that a pimp’s services are of more value than those of a realtor. A pimp is hands on when marketing his product unlike a realtor who uses the internet as a marketing strategy. The authors also adopt the use of humor in most of their comparisons. Superfrekonomics suggests that both the prostitutes and their clients are rational thinkers. Rationality is crucial in sustaining the entire business which also operates on the laws of supply and demand (Levitt & Dubner 25). The authors address patterns and details that exist in different facets of life. For instance, they examine the upbringing of terrorists. The author’s provide some comic relief with their suggestion that suicide bombers ought to buy life insurance. Backed by plenty of indisputable research findings, the two posit that these terrorists do not have life insurance because the policies do not cover suicide bombing as a cause of death. They further suggest that if terrorists were to buy life insurance that covered such a fatality then the numbers of suicide bombers would decrease (Levitt & Dubner 45). The book also challenges conventional wisdom when it tackles health issues such as analyzing the skills possessed by hospital doctors. The seniority of the doctor assigned to a patient in the (ER) Emergency Room does not result in the patient’s recovery. To the two, adopting straightforward solutions can avert tragic problems. For example, the simple act of washing of hands frequently by doctors played a vital role in the prevention of diseases in traditional societies before the discovery of Louis Pasteur’s germ theory. This chapter also sheds some light on other issues such as patterns in the ages of soccer players and issues affecting the health of unborn children of Muslim women during Ramadan. The third chapter mainly focuses on altruism. To the authors altruism only occurs because of the existence of an incentive. For example, research by the authors showed that in Iran incentives motivate people to donate organs such as kidneys. Altruism is almost non-existent in most communities because many people tend to do things that attract rewards such as recognition and praise (Levitt & Dubner 60). This serves to explain why the whole world operates within a profit-making mentality. Doctors are continuously administering chemotherapy even when it will not save lives just because they want to make profits. Psychological studies back the claims made by these authors showing the authentic nature of the information they provide. They further attribute increased criminal acts to watching of television programs filled with violent acts when children are young. The fourth chapter talks about unintended consequences and easy fixes. The authors analyze the use of seatbelts and child seats in preventing injuries during accidents. Their research brought some fundamental aspects to light. They discovered that child seats might not work for children older than two years of age. This discovery has helped to review road safety requirements by most people who had blindly used child seats as expected by the authorities. The fifth chapter in the book is on global warming. This has interfered with the reactions of many people who have read the book. The authors view on global warming has sparked mixed reactions all around the global sphere. That authors advocate for the eradication of the problem by throwing sulfur dioxide in the air (Levitt & Dubner 78). They do not encourage people to use environmentally friendly energy sources that will reduce global warming. Of all the chapters, chapter five has seen the book receiving negative reviews from qualified people from different fields. Critics have discredited the authors’ propositions claiming that they are misleading. The epilogue concludes the entire book’s lessons by addressing microeconomics. In this, the authors propose that capuchin monkeys might demonstrate similar human being behaviors when given monetary incentives. They also propose that there is a pressing need to limit these incentives to prevent the monkeys from engaging in too much sexual activity. The authors have gone beyond their discussions found in the previous book boldly articulating their suggestions after well done research. They have provided insightful information that is mind-blowing and sure to captivate any reader. Works cited Levitt Stephen, Stephen Dubner. SuperFreakonomics. New York: William Morrow, 2009 Read More