economics

Don’t be turned off by the title; Think Like a Freak by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner is a stimulating book that aims to entertain while educating and expanding the way one thinks. From the authors of Freakonomics and SuperFreakonomics comes the third in the series of what I like to call “interesting non-fiction” that is easily accessible and understandable by the average reader.

The crux of this book is an economic look at various cases where people approached their situation differently than conventional wisdom would prescribe. The stories and studies range from how the world

A must read for business people who want to spark innovation in their companies. Have you wondered why something as awful as the Jersey Shore became so popular? What was behind Starbuck's success with becoming our "third place?" It is all about "culturematics," a way to try out new ideas, and the innovations that tap into the unexpected can be the ones that take hold. It is not an easy read, but one that you have to read slowly and swish around in your mind like fine wine. Those who are inclined toward creativity and/or philosophy will find it to be a fascinating read.

I picked this book out because of my enduring fascination with how the economic situation got to where it is today.  I’m a major tightwad…a saver against that inevitable rainy day, when I lose my job, my health, or my home.  Being rather fearful, I could never fully enjoy the benefits of the credit driven, leveraged pleasures of consumption.  (I still have and use the bath towels I received at my bridal shower three decades ago.)  And, naturally enough, I tend to defend my tightfistedness with certain sanctimoniousness.  Remember when the “sensible cloth coat” had nothing to do with animal

First, let me apologize to those readers who are on the waiting list for Half the Sky. While certainly compelling, it is not a quick read, and I took more than my fair check out period. As a conscientious borrower, let my overdue status serve as a testament to the weight of this book. According to the accompanying website www.halftheskymovement.org “Half the Sky lays out an agenda for the world's women and three major abuses: sex trafficking and forced prostitution; gender-based violence including honor killings and mass rape; maternal mortality, which needlessly claims one woman a minute”

Superfreakonomics is the follow-up to Freakonomics by the same authors. I found this a lot of fun to read, because they present lots of quirky subjects. The authors present these things as facts, but how can you really be sure? This is their understanding and interpretation of how things work, how things come to be. I generally find economics to be pretty boring, so much so that I avoided taking any classes in the subject throughout high school or college. The authors sneak in some economic terminology and explain some basic concepts. Don’t worry, it’s pretty painless. In this book, you can