Next week, after more than four years in hardcover, Freakonomics is being published in the U.S. in paperback. We’ve been asked to go on TV to talk about the effects (if any) the book has had, whether in the realm of crime-fighting or baby-naming or book-writing. We need your help in gathering good examples to talk about. Nothing is too large or too small, in your life or the lives of others. Thanks in advance.
We're Blegging You: How Has Freakonomics Changed the World?
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As a social scientist, it’s helped me to consider how I might “think outside the box” to look at new ways of collecting/analyzing data.
It gave me respect for numbers for the first time. — Tim
Four years later, I’m still referring to “Loser” (later Lou) and “Winner” Williams. I also love reviewing the top baby name lists, broken down by education level. Would love an update to those lists!
While the book has had a huge impact on the way we view things, people, incentives and everyday transactions, I’d argue that the blog has had more of an influence simply because of the continuous stream of ideas, from aptonyms to the provenance of obscure quotations, and pointers to similar ideas across the web.
That being said, Freakonomics has surely made it okay to suffix ANYTHING with ‘-onomics’. c.f. Chic-onomics, Cow-onomics and my favorite, Aaaargh-onomics.
Couple things….
My son’s name is distinctly Middle-Eastern sounding. We talked about him using his first initial, middle name for official documents. He ultimately decided that he would use his first name, and hasn’t yet experienced any major employment problems.
The state education board is considering reform of the education system by rewarding teachers based on students’ successes rather than just tenure/level of education of the teachers. I immediately thought of the sumo wrestler cheating chapter, and it causes me concern that some teachers would fix the tests to insure a raise.
There are so many strange entanglements that “Freakonomics” brought out; I enjoy re-reading the book often.
I changed my major at college to Economics after reading Freakonomics during a summer break. I am now a double major in Math and Economics and sincerely am appreciative of all the walls brought down by Freakonomics; now all types of data are fair game to look at.
After reading this book, I wish I had majored in Economics.
I will definitely take great care in naming my children and not misspelling the original version of the name.
As a banker, the book has helped me think more about incentives.
I also gave my wife the book to read, for two reasons.
1. We are thinking of having children soon, and I wanted her to read the portion on ‘What Makes a Good Parent’ (she’s someone i can easily see as a ‘obsessive’ parent).
2. She is an English teacher at a high school in the south suburbs of Chicago (not in the greatest neighborhood or school district), and I wanted her to read the parts about how parents and schools influence the kids and how it related to testing.