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When to Rob a Bank: ...And 131 More Warped Suggestions and Well-Intended Rants Hardcover – Deckle Edge, May 5, 2015

by Steven D. Levitt (Author), Stephen J Dubner (Author)

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Part of: Freakonomics (4 books)

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In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the landmark book Freakonomics comes this curated collection from the most readable economics blog in the universe. It’s the perfect solution for the millions of readers who love all things Freakonomics. Surprising and erudite, eloquent and witty, When to Rob a Bank demonstrates the brilliance that has made the Freakonomics guys an international sensation, with more than 7 million books sold in 40 languages, and 150 million downloads of their Freakonomics Radio podcast.

When Freakonomics was first published, the authors started a blog—and they’ve kept it up. The writing is more casual, more personal, even more outlandish than in their books. In When to Rob a Bank, they ask a host of typically off-center questions: Why don’t flight attendants get tipped? If you were a terrorist, how would you attack? And why does KFC always run out of fried chicken?

Over the past decade, Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner have published more than 8,000 blog posts on the Freakonomics website. Many of them, they freely admit, were rubbish. But now they’ve gone through and picked the best of the best. You’ll discover what people lie about, and why; the best way to cut gun deaths; why it might be time for a sex tax; and, yes, when to rob a bank. (Short answer: never; the ROI is terrible.) You’ll also learn a great deal about Levitt and Dubner’s own quirks and passions, from gambling and golf to backgammon and the abolition of the penny.

Part of series

Freakonomics
Print length

400 pages
Language

English
Publisher

William Morrow
Publication date

May 5, 2015
Dimensions

5.5 x 1.25 x 8.25 inches
ISBN-10

0062385321
ISBN-13

978-0062385321
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Lively, self-deprecating writing ensures an entertaining read for fans and new readers alike.” — Publishers Weekly

“[A] kooky and counterintuitive collection of economic analysis. ... Plenty to revel in.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Levitt and Dubner... return with more of their signature humor and economic perspective on everyday life. ... Will be a hit with fans of Freakonomics.” — Library Journal

Praise for the Freakonomics Books: “Genius... has you gasping in amazement.” — Wall Street Journal

“We are all Freakonomists now.” — Washington Post

“An afternoon with Levitt and Dubner’s book will transform you into the most interesting person in the room that evening.” — National Public Radio

“A splendid book, full of unlikely but arresting historical details that distinguish the authors from the run of pop social scientists.” — New York Times

“An addictive, irresistible crash course in the populist application of economics.” — The A.V. Club

“Good ideas ... expressed with panache.” — Financial Times

From the Back Cover

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the landmark book Freakonomics comes this curated collection from the most readable economics blog in the universe. It’s the perfect solution for the millions of readers who love all things Freakonomics. Surprising and erudite, eloquent and witty, When to Rob a Bank demonstrates the brilliance that has made the Freakonomics guys an international sensation, with more than 7 million books sold in 40 languages, and 150 million downloads of their Freakonomics Radio podcast.

When Freakonomics was first published, the authors started a blog—and they’ve kept it up. The writing is more casual, more personal, even more outlandish than in their books. In When to Rob a Bank, they ask a host of typically off-center questions: Why don’t flight attendants get tipped? If you were a terrorist, how would you attack? And why does KFC always run out of fried chicken?

Over the past decade, Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner have published more than 8,000 blog posts on Freakonomics.com. Many of them, they freely admit, were rubbish. But now they’ve gone through and picked the best of the best. You’ll discover what people lie about, and why; the best way to cut gun deaths; why it might be time for a sex tax; and, yes, when to rob a bank. (Short answer: never; the ROI is terrible.) You’ll also learn a great deal about Levitt and Dubner’s own quirks and passions, from gambling and golf to backgammon and the abolition of the penny.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ William Morrow; Illustrated edition (May 5, 2015)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0062385321
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0062385321
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.03 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1.25 x 8.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #406,389 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #973 in Popular Social Psychology & Interactions
- #1,156 in Popular Culture in Social Sciences
- #1,236 in History & Philosophy of Science (Books)

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2,306

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Steven D. Levitt
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Steven D. Levitt teaches economics at the University of Chicago. His idiosyncratic economic research into areas as varied as guns and game shows has triggered debate in the media and academic circles.
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Stephen J. Dubner
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Stephen J. Dubner is an award-winning author, journalist, and radio and TV personality. He quit his first career—as an almost-rock-star—to become a writer. He has worked for The New York Times and published three non-Freakonomics books. He lives with his family in New York City.
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Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5

2,306 global ratings

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Hank

Item better than described…

Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2023

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New copy in shrink wrap…

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Bobby

Good as bottled water

Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2015

Verified Purchase

I'm a fan of the Freakonomics series. I bought this while on travel one day. It made for a light read sitting in the airport terminal (and probably any other light reading venues...bathroom....beach). The content is not as 'prolific' as the previous two versions - meaning you will have less insights into economic relationships and probably won't be able to impress others with as many interesting factoids. So, this one is not as great as the first two - but I give it 4 stars because it is still a entertaining read.

The authors state outright that the book is a summary of their online blog entries over the years. I'm a fan of the series, but didn't keep up with their online commentary - so all this was new to me. I regularly pay for bottled water - so I'm used to paying for free things. :)

I'd say, if you are a fan of the Freakonomics books (like the writing and the linking of incentives).

18 people found this helpful

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steelwind

Good...not great

Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2015

Verified Purchase

These guys are great. I listen to their podcast, read their blog, and I've read all their books. Buying this was a no-brainer.

However, I'm not as impressed with this book as I have been in the past. I'm not a fan of recycled material (though they do expand on certain pieces). If you don't know, this book is basically post from their blog (hand picked). The posts are of course great posts and if you haven't read them then you'll likely very much enjoy this book. If you're like me and you read their blog, listen to their podcast, then this book may not blow you away.

I still really like these two guys and want to support what they do so I bought the book. :)

56 people found this helpful

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Judith

Freakonimics, Yes!

Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2017

Verified Purchase

This is a collection of the best blogs from the Freakonomics authors. I don't know why this book is getting such overall low reviews. It represents the same thinking outside the box attitude that we know and love from the two previous Freakonomics books. The writing has the same wry sense of humor, and is thought stimulating. Some of the blogs are funny stories, such as when one of them forgot he had his research papers about terrorism in his bag, and got held for questioning when he tried to go through airport security. Another favorite of mine was about being served rancid chicken in a high end restaurant, and even though the manager agreed that the chicken had turned, she refused to comp his meal. So, he published the story and the name of the restaurant in the NYT. Now, there was a lesson in customer service for her! I found this book to be very entertaining and mentally stimulating. I wonder if the people who gave it low ratings might have been unfamiliar with the Freakonomics way of thinking.

15 people found this helpful

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Luke

Instagram Review

Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2019

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The final book in the freakonomics series is probably the least favourite of one of my favourite series. Consisting entirely of blog post entries from the Freakonomic.com website in the 10 years leading up until its publishing, it contains all the witticisms, curiosity and genius that have made the whole Freakonomics series such an easy-reading success. However, due to the nature of blogging, I did find this book to be a little stop-start and therefore less of a page turner that the rest of the series, and that did take away from the enjoyment and experience somewhat.

Check out more reviews like this one on Instagram @myhonestbookreview

4 people found this helpful

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Rob Galbraith

If you're a fan of Freakonomics, buy this book!

Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2016

Verified Purchase

If you're already a fan of Freakonomics, this book is for you! It's a collection of the best blog posts from their blog over the last 10 years. It's very much in the style of all of the Freakonomics books, includes a few posts from guest writers, and all in all is yet another fascinating, thought provoking, and head spinning take on a wide variety of subjects. The book is even a bit broader than their previous books as they hit a wider range of topics.

If you haven't read any of the Freakonomics books, this is a suitable introduction but I would highly recommend starting with their first book, Freakonomics, as the best introduction to this economist/journalist duo that have engender a cult following among many. If you like that book, then I highly recommend their other previous books Superfreakonomics and Think Like a Freak, in that order. If you read Freakonomics and didn't like it, then definitely don't bother with the others (although Think Like A Freak has some more practical applications than the other books).

5 people found this helpful

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wlg2010

Good, but they almost ruined the book

Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2016

Verified Purchase

I really enjoyed the book, it had some really interesting blog posts. I gave it four out of five stars, because I would not have started the book with what was likely their most controversial blog posts -- regarding terrorists. It takes a lot to offend me, but I didn't want to read that chapter, and it almost turned me off to the book completely. I just skipped ahead after I realized what the blog post was about. I am not a fan of being controversial just to get a reaction, and it felt like the first chapter (or their original blog) was done to do just that.

One person found this helpful

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Phillip Schultz

Potpourri

Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2017

Verified Purchase

For a collection of blog posts, this isn't bad. It is the fourth book in the Freakonomics series. I can't compare this to the others because I haven't read them. I imagine this one is a bit more freeform. They loosely tie their selections together under some pretty broad categories.

These guys are clearly intelligent. Despite some quirky subjects, they do take themselves fairly seriously. It happened that I was reading this while taking an economics course, so it was fairly relevant for me. I think this made the book more enjoyable than I would have found it otherwise.

If I had to do it over again, I would want to read Freakonomics first, then maybe come to this book.

3 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Love it

Reviewed in Canada on June 6, 2020

Verified Purchase

I love the Think like a freak series of books. Great reading

Don Charles

Beware: They are selling us something that it already free.

Reviewed in Mexico on January 18, 2016

Verified Purchase

Yup, this book is from the Freakonomics blog... anyway, I like both Levitt and Dubner, so I bought it.

Happy reading =)

Isa Bel

Qualquer dia é dia

Reviewed in Brazil on September 23, 2015

Verified Purchase

Como os autores, vou começar pela dedicatória que é uma graça: “Dedicamos este livro aos nossos leitores. Somos perpetuamente surpreendidos pelo seu vigor e agradecidos por sua atenção”. *.*

E aí começa a história. Há dez anos, quando os autores resolveram publicar o livro Freakonomics, decidiram também começar uma web page associada. Por acaso, o site oferecia uma função para blogs... E aí eles começaram a publicar e no livro “When to Rob a Bank” acompanhamos algumas experiências, além das postagens que eles consideram top hits.

As postagens no blog tendem a ser mais informais e casuais quando comparadas a escrita de um livro. Eles acrescentam que “[...] ter o blog nos deu uma boa razão para continuar curiosos e abertos em relação ao mundo”. Durante todos os anos eles continuamente se questionavam porque continuavam a blogar e não havia motivo óbvio já que é uma atividade não remunerada e não havia qualquer evidência que o blog os ajudasse a vender mais cópias do livro. Com o tempo eles perceberam a razão: “nossos leitores adoravam de ler o blog, e nós adorávamos nossos leitores. A curiosidade e inventividade e especialmente a diversão nos mantiveram ali”. E com o livro percebemos todo o espírito disso.

O início do livro, com o primeiro capítulo intitulado “o que blogs e garrafas de água têm em comum?” é super engraçado, com eles explicando como antigamente achavam um absurdo livros vindos de blogs serem publicados porque bastava a pessoa entrar no blog e ler tudo de graça. Mas aí... eles publicaram um.

Alguns textos não me interessaram tanto (especialmente os sobre planos de saúde estadunidenses) , enquanto outros me fizeram gargalhar alto. Eu ri muito quando, por exemplo, ele debateu no blog sobre a possibilidade de aeromoças (ou comissárias de bordo) ganharem gorjeta, já que elas prestavam um serviço similar aos de garçonete, por exemplo. Ele colocou várias justificativas plausíveis, os comentários do blog o deixaram bem animados e ele colocou a ideia em prática: tentou dar a tal da gorjeta. A comissária de bordo ficou ofendida e ralhou com ele. A forma como ele descreve a situação é hilária.

Também ri quando, no capítulo “Estávamos Apenas Tentando Ajudar” – foi a postagem que gerou mais cartas e correspondências desde a história da relação entre crime e aborto publicada no primeiro livro (leia aqui). Na postagem original ele diz que se fosse um terrorista com recursos limitados e quisesse maximizar o terror, organizaria vários ataques simultâneos, em diversos locais do país. Teria que ser aleatório para cada um achar que seria uma possível vítima, de preferência fechando o comércio, porque quando isso acontece as pessoas tem mais tempo para pensar em seus infortúnios e então o medo aumenta, e se possível fazendo com que o governo tenha que publicar diversas leis e gastar um bocado para lidar com a situação. E o que isso causou? Diversas correspondências questionando se ele era um traidor, um imbecil, ou ambos. Também pediram que ele fizesse uma postagem listando formas de combater o terrorismo. Se você ler com desapego, puramente racional e sem considerar as “emoções do absurdo” é um capítulo extremamente inteligente e bem versado.

Então esse é o espírito do livro.

One person found this helpful

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Verde

Non tanto interessante...

Reviewed in Italy on March 8, 2016

Verified Purchase

...quanto gli altri libri degli stessi autori; piacevole da leggere, sì, ma la prossima volta che sarà annunciato un loro libro starò ben attento a non precipitarmi a prenotarlo prima ancora della pubblicazione. Ho trovato i tre precedenti (Freakonomics, Superfreakonomics e Pensare freakonomics) più interessanti.

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Arnaud

Pour ceux qui auraient du retard sur Freakonomics

Reviewed in France on August 16, 2015

Verified Purchase

Le livre est très intéressant, se lit très bien, assez rapidement et aborde de nombreux sujets.

Contrairement aux deux livres (Freakonomics et Superfreakonomics) les articles sont très courts et donc parfois peu étayés.
C'est normal, il s'agit principalement d'articles de blogs remaniés. Et ce qui permet d'aborder plein de sujets.
Par contre, je suis souvent en désaccord avec les visions économistes un peu simplistes qui transparaissent.

Les sujets abordés sont pour le coup très intéressants et variés.

Si vous êtes fans des livres précédents ou du podcast Freakonomics, cette lecture vous plaira. Sinon, commencez plutôt par les deux autres.

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When to Rob a Bank: ...And 131 More Warped Suggestions and Well-Intended Rants Hardcover – Deckle Edge, May 5, 2015

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Stephen J. Dubner

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