Freakanomics
Funny name, interesting book. From comparing cheating in Sumo wrestling to cheating on standardized tests (by teachers no less) to asking the questions, “why do drug dealers live with their mom?” and “which is more dangerous to your child, a gun or a swimming pool?” Steven D. Levitt takes economics to a strange place; the study of reality. From developing algorithms that find cheating teachers to figuring out how much your real estate agent cheated you when you sold your last home to postulating about where all the criminals have gone Levitt takes a view of reality that some may not want to see and explains it so clearly that even skeptics have to take a second look. The 207 pages were too short and left me wanting more. Luckily, the book contains copious end notes and Freakanomics continues online with studies, stories and - naturally - a blog.
The book is not neatly tied together in the end, indeed we are warned in advance this will not be the case.
This was a great - and fast - read. 
:cool:
