Summary

Divided into short chapters, the authors explore a wide range of topics from illegal industries ie prostitution to everyday systems such as, the safety behind car seats. As weird as this may seem, the chapters aim to relate these stories to much larger issues in the world alongside commentating on how to improve it and revealing its flaws.

Levitt and dubner go through various examples and cases in an attempt to explain human behaviour, make decisions about policy and come up with interesting conclusions. Their examination of of every day phenomenon through the lens of economics suggests that it can help to make effective political policy.

The aim of the book seems to be that if people can illuminate and ask interesting questions, it can help draw links and find out facts that we may find weird. Ie, the book teaches us that pumping sulphuric dioxide into the earths atmosphere can help reduce temperature levels. In addition the book claims that reducing human activities to reduce levels of co2 will actually have no effect at all.