If you haven’t read, or at least heard of Freakonomics — shame on you.
In a nutshell, as put perfectly by the AP, Freakonomics is a book where the authors “crunch numbers about mundane topics to reveal interesting, unexpected conclusions”. For example: What do school teachers and sumo wrestlers have in common? Why do drug dealers still live with their moms? Questions you wouldn’t really think to ask, but they are valid, and if nothing else, beg you to think differently and feed your curiosity. A quirky book that is written basis principles of economics, anyone with an inquisitive mind will enjoy it. I wrote a review of the book about 2 years ago that you can read here. Also, the authors of Freakonomics have a regular blog on the NYTimes and you can follow them on Twitter http://twitter.com/Freakonomics, so do check those links out to get a flavour of their crazy thinking ability.
Now, the success of Freakonomics lead the authors to come up with another such book called “SuperFreakonomics”. You can check out some reviews of it here (WSJ) and here (LA Times).
I haven’t read the book yet (on my priority list to read), but I do have two copies to give away!
So, tell me, in not more that 50 words, why do you deserve to win a copy of SuperFreakonomics?
You can leave a comment here or send me an email at abha.malpani@gmail.com with “SuperFreakonomics” in the subject line. Deadline to send in your comments is November 17, 2009.
Come on then, it’s an easy win! 🙂
Well I would love to read a copy of Freakonomics to satisfy the freaky side within me :).
And anyways, the world is becoming freaky/weird by the day; will become the norm soon! Hence, its time to switch from one F(fortune) to another F ( Freako).
You know, I think the contest changes because both comment entries and email entries are allowed. If entries were comment-only, I bet the number of posts would be lower, but creativity would increase as they accumulated. And that’s why mine’s a comment, not an email.
Kind of Freakonomic-esque, right?
Riddle 1:
What’s the probability that Skylab, the first American space station and I have something in common?
Answer: 1
Riddle 2:
Now, what’s the connection between Skylab, the first American space station and I?
If you answer the question correctly, I’ll give you some thing super exciting in return for SuperFreakonomics, howzat? 🙂
i’ll show you where my chocolate drawer is in the office 😉
bcoz i simply super, dealing with freakingly strange people and to cope with most bizzare moments in this freaknomical world – FREAKYYYYY
I really enjoyed reading Freakonomics so will definitely give this a read but I must say that I’m quite skeptical about how good it will be – especially after all the controversy it got on the whole climate change issue – PR stunt you think?:-).
Besides, the patriotic prostitutes theory has sure got me intrigued! Lol…
A friend of mine lives in Dubai
(for reasons I’m not sure why)
she has a neat book
I’d sure like to look
at flag-waving hookers, oh my!
Hey, I just came across your website through your LinkedIn account, and at first glance of your blog I could tell there are interesting stuff in here (no really I am not sucking up =P). I am not even living in the UAE so I’m sure I won’t be getting the book, but I’ve recently worked on developing a habit of leaving a comment on any article/post I read. And I thought the book review was interesting as I am looking for something to read. I already read the 3 previous works of Malcolm Gladwell, if you haven’t, then believe me YOU SHOULD! He just got a new book out as well… that’s got to be the newest addition to my library, along with SuperFreakonomics.
Thanks for all the comments so far! Winners will be announced Nov 18! 🙂
Manal – you don’t need to be in the UAE to win, so go for it!
Talks about economy,specially when I’m in India, always freak me out,somehow…like our building treasurer saving money by telling the sweeper that his one day salary(from his handsome 1200 Rs a month) would be deducted since he was absent for a day….so,I feel,reading Freakonomics will make me understand the logic behind such freak(y)nomics.:)
So, Abha, who won?