When to Rob a Bank: ...And 131 More Warped Suggestions and Well-Intended Rants

· Harper Collins
4.2
104 reviews
Ebook
400
Pages
Eligible
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About this ebook

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the landmark book Freakonomics comes this curated collection from the most readable economics blog in the universe. It’s the perfect solution for the millions of readers who love all things Freakonomics. Surprising and erudite, eloquent and witty, When to Rob a Bank demonstrates the brilliance that has made the Freakonomics guys an international sensation, with more than 7 million books sold in 40 languages, and 150 million downloads of their Freakonomics Radio podcast.

When Freakonomics was first published, the authors started a blog—and they’ve kept it up. The writing is more casual, more personal, even more outlandish than in their books. In When to Rob a Bank, they ask a host of typically off-center questions: Why don’t flight attendants get tipped? If you were a terrorist, how would you attack? And why does KFC always run out of fried chicken?

Over the past decade, Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner have published more than 8,000 blog posts on the Freakonomics website. Many of them, they freely admit, were rubbish. But now they’ve gone through and picked the best of the best. You’ll discover what people lie about, and why; the best way to cut gun deaths; why it might be time for a sex tax; and, yes, when to rob a bank. (Short answer: never; the ROI is terrible.) You’ll also learn a great deal about Levitt and Dubner’s own quirks and passions, from gambling and golf to backgammon and the abolition of the penny. 

Ratings and reviews

4.2
104 reviews
Adrian Toh
July 17, 2018
The variety of stories plus their brevity was what I liked best about the book. Despite the condensed articles, the theories and opinions were very thoughtful and insightful. I found the authors to be brilliant, candid and humble people. This was what made reading the book so enjoyable! The part about giving advice to a woman's son who was graduating high-school was really praiseworthy. I definitely recommend this book.
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Jairo McMican
April 10, 2016
I first heard about Freakanomics about 12 years ago. I am still astonished by what I have been able to learn from these books. I am even more inspired to think from different view points.
1 person found this review helpful
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Andrea Peckham
January 24, 2016
Loved The Walk, and others
8 people found this review helpful
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About the author

Steven D. Levitt, a professor of economics at the University of Chicago, was awarded the John Bates Clark Medal, given to the most influential American economist under forty. He is also a founder of The Greatest Good, which applies Freakonomics-style thinking to business and philanthropy.Stephen J. Dubner, an award-winning journalist and radio and TV personality, has worked for the New York Times and published three non-Freakonomics books. He is the host of Freakonomics Radio and Tell Me Something I Don't Know.

Stephen J. Dubner is an award-winning author, journalist, and radio and TV personality. He quit his first career—as an almost rock star—to become a writer. He has since taught English at Columbia, worked for The New York Times, and published three non-Freakonomics books.

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