Title: Interesting but why the hype
Product review: This is an interesting book which uses fairly common statistical and economic methods to address social phenomena. The results of Levitt's studies are interesting and often challenge some common assumptions. Levitt also proposes interesting and bold theories based on the results of his studies (abortion and lower crime). While the book is worth reading and fun, I don't understand why Levitt's work is considered so innovative. Basically he is an economist practicing sociology. The book is similar in many ways to Barry Glasser's book The Culture of Fear-Why Americans Fear the Wrong Things(also recommended) which also uses social science to test and challenge common assumptions about our social world. Perhaps the attention is because he is that rare economist who actually writes well and on topics of interest to non-economists.
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