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Dear Mr. Reader,
I have recently finished reading Freakonomics, a book by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner, two economists who look at the society in a unique way. The book covers many subjects, from the Ku Klux Klan to the effects a name has on a person’s life. In each chapter, a subject is discussed, but many unknown aspects are revealed.
For example, in the chapter “Why Do Drug Dealers Still Live with Their Moms?” that simple question is answered in depth, providing the reader with several interesting pieces of information. Although drug dealing may seem like a very lucrative career, it is not. “So the answer to the original question- if drug dealers make so much money, why are they still living with their mothers?- is that, except for the top cats, they don’t make much money”(103). The author talks about how there is a large hierarchy in gangs, and how the vast majorities make fewer than four dollars an hour selling drugs.
Throughout the book, statistics are used to reinforce the ideas of the authors, and I thoroughly enjoyed the in analysis that the authors provided. In addition, the style of writing is very easy to follow, with smooth transitions between chapters. When reading the book, I feel as if the author is speaking to me, and I become very interested in the subjects. If I could ask the authors any questions, I would ask them why the chose to write this book, and if it was difficult to compile all the research that they provided in their book.
Sincerely,
Peter Fulton
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