Superfreakonomics

Superfreakonomics Superfreakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner lures the reader into finding a new way of looking at everyday situations from an economical standpoint. From linking prostitutes to seasonal mall Santa Clauses to discovering a cure for cancer, anyone looking to gain a new perspective or find pure entertainment should read Superfreakonomics because of its strategy of intertwining humor with the hard statistics found through hours of research. Although the research provided was somewhat limited, it helped to support the overall argument of the world being like a marbled cake, blended and unclear. Levitt and Dubner used limited research, particularly with the “women working at the most expensive brothel in Chicago” (Levitt and Dubner 43) to prove their point of how people tend to make more money working for a more organized group rather than working as an individual; it was limited because the same may not be necessarily said for a prostitute working in a different city, like Las Vegas. Despite the arguable flaw in their research, Levitt and Dubner grab the reader with titles like “Why should suicide bombers buy life insurance?” or “What do Al Gore and Mount Minatubo have in Common?” which they later expand on as they lead the reader through their twisted, yet rational logic. One of the most popular debates on the arguments of Superfreakonomics sparked the questionability of Levitt and Dubner’s suggestions to growing problems, especially global warming. Levitt and Dubner proved that the best solution does not necessarily have to be the most expensive. “Seat belts are a simple technology; they have saved many lives since their introduction in the 1950s” (Levitt and Dubner 231) yet previously, car manufacturers spent thousands of dollars attempting to cushion the dashboard and steering wheel. Levitt and Dubner’s suggestion to global warming seems almost too good to be true; a simple “chimney to the sky” emitting sulfur dioxide to the top