Book club discussion freakonomics

Find resources for your book club, whether it meets in your living room or across cyberspace. Combine the book reading with a regularly scheduled discussion meeting to double the impact of the book. A place where all goodreads members can work together to improve the goodreads book catalog. As i read, i wrote down questions as they occurred to me, based on the superfreakonomics questions in the chapters. Freakonomics doesnt always get it right, but its provision of a new tool for ones mental toolbox makes it worth getting into. When the group completes the book, select the next book. I hope you all get something from this book like i did, even if it doesnt make you scared. The purpose of this discussion is to alert you to the major factors. Like the storied butterfly flapping its wings in china, dramatic effects often have. After reading freakonomics, do you think that cheating is more prevalent or less prevalent than you thought it was before you read the book. The book also explores the changes in afganistan from the fall of the monarchy to the fall of the taliban. Why does reddit tend to dislike books like blink and. The best book club questions for every kind of discussion. If morality represents how we would like the world to work, then.

Looking for an easy way to share information and develop employees at work. Dubner is an awardwinning author, journalist, and radio and tv personality. Freakonomics study guide contains a biography of steven d. Study questions, project ideas and discussion topics based on important themes running throughout freakonomics by steven levitt. Freakonomics addresses current social questions that students will enjoy arguing about both in the classroom and over coffee in the student union. Because this book is targeted at an audience that likely has little experience in the field of economics, it is important for levitt to draw his readers in with eyecatching subjects. Freakonomics revised and expanded edition steven d. If youre not squeamish about writing in the margins, try taking notes and underlining passages as you go along. A rogue economist explores the hidden side of everything by steven d.

Learn how to make smarter decisions with the authors of freakonomics duration. I am able to assess others in a fair and accurate way. Freakonomic s is a 2005 nonfict ion b ook by economist steven levitt and journalist stephen j. Book clubs for every genre and discussion groups around every literary topic imaginable. When you sell a man a book you dont sell just twelve ounces of paper and ink and glue you sell him a whole new life. He quit his first careeras an almost rock starto become a writer. I also watched the movie and read its summary on blinkist. A nationwide book club bringing readers together to discuss some of the most compelling books being published. After enjoying delicious food, well settle in for an hour of discussion about the story, its characters, the author, and more. A rogue economist explores the hidden side of everything with a discussion of the point where the dependability of data meets the randomness of life, the perfect summation of their theme. Book clubs book fairs scholastic education classroom magazines.

Inside youll find 30 daily lessons, 20 fun activities, 180 multiple choice questions, 60 short essay questions, 20 essay questions. Nonlibrarians are welcome to join the group as well, to comment or request changes to book records. With their trademark blend of captivating storytelling and unconventional analysis, they take us inside their thought process and offer a blueprint. In the superfreakonomics virtual book club, we invite readers to ask questions of some of the researchers and other characters in our new book. Delve deeper into the books making the charts, and get tips for keeping your reading group engaged. He has since taught english at columbia, worked for the new york times, and published three non freakonomics books. Many books have premade book club discussion guides online.

The discussion of american crime continues in the fourth chapter, which. Ive found that the best book club discussion questions are ones that are openended and that get people to share their personal opinions. If youre ready to start a book club, heres 40 of the best book club questions, for fiction and nonfiction alike. The book has been described as melding pop culture with economics. Dubner is available at book stores, your local library, and other book sources. Youll also find printable book club questions at the end of this post to bring to. One of the strangest social phenomena of modern times has been the declining crime rate of the 1990s. Dubner, an awardwinning journalist and radio and tv personality, has worked for the new york times and published three non freakonomics books. Our first guest was university of chicago economist emily oster, whose research, coauthored with robert jensen, formed the basis of the section where we discuss how the introduction of television turned out to be an unlikely boon for rural indian women. He is also a founder of the greatest good, which applies freakonomics style thinking to business and philanthropy.

Sep 20, 2011 he is also a founder of the greatest good, which applies freakonomics style thinking to business and philanthropy. Freakonomics by steven levitt plot summary litcharts. It is true that readers of this book will be armed with enough riddles and stories to last a thousand cocktail parties. The book is set mostly in afganistan and the united states. Reading guide for freakonomics by steven levitt, stephen j.

Apr 12, 2005 i assumed freakonomics would be a book that used statistics to debunk various societal hysterias and fearmongering in a semihumorous way. Jan 28, 2010 in the superfreakonomics virtual book club, we invite readers to ask questions of some of the researchers and other characters in our new book. Dubner wed love you to buy this book, and hope you find this page convenient in locating a place of purchase. Think like a freak book club archives freakonomics freakonomics. My book club my boys, ages five and seven would meet each night eager to discuss the hilarious effects of whizzpoppers or their distaste for snozzcumbers. The kite runner by khaled hosseini is a powerful novel that explores sin, redemption, love, friendship, and suffering. The duo that brought freakonomics with answers to why drug dealers live with their mothers and how the name that your parents gave you can determine which job you end up getting have now given us superfreakonomics. It was published on april 12, 2005, by william morrow. Through forceful storytelling and wry insight, levitt and coauthor stephen j. Form an employee book club see success stories in which a group of employees voluntarily read the same book. Choose one question at a time and toss it out to the group. Dubner for fiction we read black hills by dan simmons today well discuss superfreakonomics. Levitt, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary.

How do levitt and dubner argue that conventional wisdom is established. In a book filled with bold logic, such backpatting veers freakonomics, however briefly, away from what levitt actually has to say. The naming issue they raised in the first book is verified in other social science studies not just those done by the quantitatively obsessed. This book, then, has been written from a very specific worldview, based on a few fundamental ideas. Form an employee book cl ub see success stories in which a group of employees voluntarily read the s ame b ook. By beginning their book with a discussion of the crime rate of the 90s, levitt and dubner, the two authors, create a mystery in need of a solution. If morality represents how we would like the world to work, then economics represents how it actually does work. Book club will meet for lunch and discussion on sunday, may 17th, at panera bread 1624 e. In this book, they set out to explore the hidden side of everything. I quickly realized what i was in for when early in the book when the authors gave their background as harvard jews and profiled a guy that infiltrated the kkk for the adl. Freakonomics topics for discussion steven levitt this study guide consists of approximately 71 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of freakonomics. Freakonomics establishes this unconventional premise. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The specific claims made in freakonomics are questionable.

Most people think of economics as a dry subject matter concerning monetary and fiscal matters. He is the host of freakonomics radio and tell me something i dont know. After reading freakonomics by steven levitt and stephen dubner with your high school students, use the following discussion questions to help. A rogue economist explores the hidden side of everything. Find groups in columbus, ohio about book club and meet people in your local community who share your interests. Freakonomics is one of the best books on human psychology ive ever read. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics.

You may want to come up with consistent book club discussion questions to use every time your group meets to discuss the application of the book s contents within your organization. Last week we opened up the questioning for claudia goldin and lawrence katz, labor economists and experts on the malefemale wage gap. Simply read the book and come to the next book club meeting at joseph bethbooksellers in lexington. Freakonomics a rogue economist explores the hidden side of everything. Ask one employee to lead the discussion about the weeks assigned chapter or two. So this wrapped up month one of the worlds strongest book club. Then you can purchase a copy at josephbeth and receive a 10% discount just by mentioning weku. Combin e the book reading with a regularly sc heduled discu ssion meeting to double the impa ct of the book. I suspect with both books, its the beach book feel that sells and appeals to the mass markets.

This book has the same lifechanging capability the paradox of choice does. Introducing freakonomicsbooks youghourta benali medium i am a big fan of freakonomics podcast, i think it is the only podcast that i have listened to all of its episodes more than 300. Theres also a you are not so smart podcast, its good. Superintendents book club discussionoutliers part 1. I love that reddit can sometimes be a book club of nice people. Overall, the book argues that our perception of risk is skewed. Freakonomics is a 2005 nonfiction book by economist steven levitt and journalist stephen j. Based on the argument that broke out at our last meeting when i merely mentioned the. While a comprehensive fact check of the claims of the book might be of some value, in light of the book s apparent aims, it would seem beside the point. For nonfiction we read superfreakonomics by steven d. A rogue economist explores the hidden side of everything is the debut nonfiction book by university of chicago economist steven levitt and new york times journalist stephen j. In each chapter, the authors analyze a different social issue from an economic perspective.

Freakonomics share book recommendations with your friends. Dubner have written their most revolutionary book yet. My book club is reading freakonomics as our selection of the month and were meeting on wednesday. See the books website for information about the book. Connect and share ideas around your favorite subjects.

Inside youll find 30 daily lessons, 20 fun activities, 180 multiple choice questions, 60 short essay questions, 20 essay questions, quizzeshomework assignments, tests, and more. Read free book excerpt from freakonomics by steven levitt, stephen j. Think of a piece of conventional wisdom about chicago. A rogue economist explores the hidden side of everything 352. These book club discussion questions solicit the best thoughts of your participating employees. In freakonomics, they set out to explore the hidden side of. Its my selection, so im responsible for bringing 10 questions thatll prompt discussion about the book. View entire discussion 34 comments more posts from the books community. Jan 27, 2009 a reader named jacquilynne schlesier writes. Freakonomics is a groundbreaking collaboration between levitt and stephen j. Heres a firstyear book that encourages critical thinking and sparks discussion. This sparked so much discussion of so many topics, including saramagos style of writing, government response to. For those of you with a library book, author elise williams rikard shared a trick with.

The henna artist opens a door into a world that is at. Freakonomics, by steven d levitt and stephen j dubner. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of freakonomics by steven levitt. The kite runner by khaled hosseini discussion questions.

So much to learn about making good decisions in here. Levitt, is a book on modern economics that provides key insight into our society as well as clarifying the difference between causation and connectivity, and discussing situations were people have confused the two. It follows the lives of two best friends as global politics and family drama come together to shape their destiny. Whether you are a current book club member or are looking to start a book club of your own, this is the place to go for great book recommendations your club is sure to enjoy. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Dubner show that economics is, at root, the study of incentives how people get what they want, or need, especially when other people want or need the same thing. I found this book interesting, frustrating, fascinating and infuriating mostly at the same time. In fact, the story was so captivating that my book club would also meet at the breakfast table to reflect on the horrific fleshlumpeater or to discuss whether we might actually. These enlightening chapters are separated by effusive passages from dubners 2003 profile of levitt in the new york times magazine, which led to the book being written. Covid19 advisory for the health and safety of meetup communities, were advising that all events be hosted. A rogue economist explores the hidden side of everything levitt, steven d. Lennits is the living definition of the phrase think outside the box he is not a typical economist, he even states it in the books introduction, im not good at math, i dont know a lot of econometrics, and i also dont know how to do theory. How does the view of parenting in freakonomics jibe with your own view.

My book club is reading freakonomics as our selection of the month and were meeting on. These selfperceptions are challenged by leading psychologists mahzarin r. The new york times bestselling freakonomics changed the way we see the world, exposing the hidden side of just about everything. Besides the below book club questions, remember, the easiest way to be a participant at the book club is to be an active reader. Freakonomics revised and expanded edition a rogue economist explores the hidden side of everything. The book is a collection of essays exploring how fundamental economic theories can be used to analyze a diverse array of social phenomena. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. When youre starting a digital book club, all the standard book club rules apply.

How to plan a zoom book club from the comfort of your cozy. The freakonomics lesson plan contains a variety of teaching materials that cater to all learning styles. They set out to explore the inner workings of a crack gang, the truth about real estate agents, the secrets of the ku klux klan, and much more. Freakonomics challenges conventional wisdom and makes for. This study guide consists of approximately 71 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of freakonomics. Select a number of questions, write each on an index card, and distribute.

Jul 01, 2010 i enjoyed superfreakonomics although not as much as i enjoyed freakonomics. The discussion of american crime continues in the fourth chapter, which is about the remarkable decline in. Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of penguin. Freakonomics argues that morality represent the way wed like the world to work, whereas economics can show how the world really does work.