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Think Like a Freak  By  cover art

Think Like a Freak

By: Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner
Narrated by: Stephen J. Dubner
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Publisher's summary

The New York Times best-selling Freakonomics changed the way we see the world, exposing the hidden side of just about everything.

Now, with Think Like a Freak, Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner have written their most revolutionary book yet. With their trademark blend of captivating storytelling and unconventional analysis, they take us inside their thought process and offer a blueprint for an entirely new way to solve problems. The topics range from business to philanthropy to sports to politics, all with the goal of retraining your brain. Along the way, you’ll learn the secrets of a Japanese hot-dog-eating champion, the reason an Australian doctor swallowed a batch of dangerous bacteria, and why Nigerian e-mail scammers make a point of saying they’re from Nigeria.

Levitt and Dubner plainly see the world like no one else. Now you can, too. Never before have such iconoclastic thinkers been so revealing - and so much fun to read.

Steven D. Levitt, a professor of economics at the University of Chicago, was awarded the John Bates Clark medal, given to the most influential American economist under the age of 40.

Stephen J. Dubner, an award-winning journalist and radio and TV personality, has worked for The New York Times and published three non-Freakonomics books.

©2014 Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner (P)2014 HarperCollins Publishers

What listeners say about Think Like a Freak

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    4 out of 5 stars

Well worth the listen

In the tradition of Malcolm Gladwell, always making you think about things differently. Great job!

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better even than the first two.

I just love freakonomics. If you love real statistics, you might too. I like to believe I already think like a freak, and I wish more people would. Read this book!

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love the broadcast=love this book

Entertaining and educational. Love the idea of setting aside emotional convictions to see data. Every member of our government should be forced to study this stuff!

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Book is great but it ends too quicky

Podcasts at the end deceit a listener about the book length :(
But book itself is awesome and well-narrated.

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Really makes you think!

If you do not follow their podcasts and other sources this is wonderful! They back everything with at least some research and great stories and personal thoughts to accompany it. Even if it's not all actionable it is great to think about the how and why of things!

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Didn't teach me how to think like a freak

I learned some interesting things about thinking and some interesting statistics.
No "Hows" were provided. Very entertaining. I would still recommend it.

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very nice Like the podcast

after the podcast this book is much a place to keep tour alignment with the think Luke a freak idea. if you want to start...go to the first book! much more "how to".

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Left Me Wanting More

I really enjoyed the first nine of the thirteen chapters. Dubner's reading is very engaging, and has just the right kind of conversational tone. The material is fascinating, and the anecdotal approach to the complex data sets behind the principles presented is ideal for getting the listener (me) to absorb the stuff.

Chapter 10 was closing credits. Chapters 11-13 were bonus material, the Freakonomics Podcast, which I'd already listened to. It was pretty disappointing to think I still had ninety minutes of book left, and then to find myself at the end.

No regrets, but the book did leave me wanting more in less than the best possible way.

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I love how the Freakonomics guys think

These guys are the perfect combination and will make you think about things in an entirely different way. The formula works and the book is worth well worth the listen .

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The Freaks are Pretty Cool

Where does Think Like a Freak rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's one of the most entertaining, though disappointingly short.

What did you like best about this story?

It had lots of interesting real life stories and even a dose of redeeming social value. I would definitely approve of including this in the public school reading lists for 9th or 10th graders.

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