Psychology is not an exact science, but people are always interested in learning more about it. People are always curious on how they behave and the various mental disorders that can occur in human. Behavioral psychologists even have observed numerous subjects but they can't draw an exact conclusion from their observation.
The authors reason, for example, that the dramatic drop in crime in the 1990s was not due to better law enforcement or a good economy, but to the legalization of abortion 20 years earlier. The availability of abortion reduced the number of unwanted children born to unwed mothers who would otherwise rear their children in adverse conditions: The same type of conditions that spawn adult criminals. How many other experts cited abortion as the reason for the drop in crime? Zero. Levitt and Dubner offer intriguing economic explanations as to why your real estate agent might not sell your house for top dollar. Why? Because an extra $10,000 to a home seller is not sufficient incentive, compared to the extra $150 it brings the real estate agent, after expenses.
Sir William Osler, the Canadian doctor who became Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford University, told his students that they could cope with the stress and strain of their professional lives by cultivating the habit of living their lives in 'day-tight compartments.' Everyone can carry their burden until nightfall, he assured them, whereas even the strongest will falter if they also try to carry yesterday's load and the burdens of tomorrow.
Repeatedly, Freakonomics tells readers how it is possible to falsify information (especially statistics) to promote social, political, and economic agendas for special-interests. One chapter reveals the economic structure of street gangs: The top bosses make six figure incomes, while the minions make less than minimum wage and stand a 1 in 4 chance of being killed. Readers also learn how a typical prostitute can earn more than a typical architect (in case anyone wants to know this). The authors describe how people tend to overestimate risks to safety, making choices based on fear rather logic. You might be surprised that backyard swimming pools pose a greater danger to children's lives than guns in the home.
We have lost this art today, partly because we try to multitask, and partly because we waste our time mulling over past mistakes and slights. One of the key messages of sports psychology, is to train tennis players and golfers to concentrate on the task in hand rather than allow their performance to be marred by the double fault they've just served, or the four-foot putt they've just missed.
While Freakonomics contains brilliant analyses and many obscure statistics, the authors freely concede that the data and conclusions have no unifying theme. The book is a fun, rambling read for its novel (and in some cases amusing) way of assessing the human condition, often overturning conventional wisdom.
Through this book, you can find answers to everyday questions such as "What factors make a marriage last?" or "What are the advantages of getting older?" Besides the 800 psychology questions, this book also features an overview of psychology of morality, everyday living, sex, and money. It is targeted for people who are interested in psychology and can also serve as a supplementary textbook.
The authors reason, for example, that the dramatic drop in crime in the 1990s was not due to better law enforcement or a good economy, but to the legalization of abortion 20 years earlier. The availability of abortion reduced the number of unwanted children born to unwed mothers who would otherwise rear their children in adverse conditions: The same type of conditions that spawn adult criminals. How many other experts cited abortion as the reason for the drop in crime? Zero. Levitt and Dubner offer intriguing economic explanations as to why your real estate agent might not sell your house for top dollar. Why? Because an extra $10,000 to a home seller is not sufficient incentive, compared to the extra $150 it brings the real estate agent, after expenses.
Sir William Osler, the Canadian doctor who became Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford University, told his students that they could cope with the stress and strain of their professional lives by cultivating the habit of living their lives in 'day-tight compartments.' Everyone can carry their burden until nightfall, he assured them, whereas even the strongest will falter if they also try to carry yesterday's load and the burdens of tomorrow.
Repeatedly, Freakonomics tells readers how it is possible to falsify information (especially statistics) to promote social, political, and economic agendas for special-interests. One chapter reveals the economic structure of street gangs: The top bosses make six figure incomes, while the minions make less than minimum wage and stand a 1 in 4 chance of being killed. Readers also learn how a typical prostitute can earn more than a typical architect (in case anyone wants to know this). The authors describe how people tend to overestimate risks to safety, making choices based on fear rather logic. You might be surprised that backyard swimming pools pose a greater danger to children's lives than guns in the home.
We have lost this art today, partly because we try to multitask, and partly because we waste our time mulling over past mistakes and slights. One of the key messages of sports psychology, is to train tennis players and golfers to concentrate on the task in hand rather than allow their performance to be marred by the double fault they've just served, or the four-foot putt they've just missed.
While Freakonomics contains brilliant analyses and many obscure statistics, the authors freely concede that the data and conclusions have no unifying theme. The book is a fun, rambling read for its novel (and in some cases amusing) way of assessing the human condition, often overturning conventional wisdom.
Through this book, you can find answers to everyday questions such as "What factors make a marriage last?" or "What are the advantages of getting older?" Besides the 800 psychology questions, this book also features an overview of psychology of morality, everyday living, sex, and money. It is targeted for people who are interested in psychology and can also serve as a supplementary textbook.
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