Topic: Freakonomics is built on Steven Levitt's underlying belief: "the modern world is not impenetrable, it is not unknowable, and if the right questions are asked, it is even more intriguing than we think. All it takes is a new way of seeing. Levitt explains that the world is a complicated universe, which makes it difficult for some to navigate. In Freakonomics, Levitt asks the reader to look at the world from a different perspective to understand its inner workings. Different from most books, Freakonomics does not contain a unifying theme throughout the book; instead, fundamental ideas are periodically introduced, teaching readers to think economically. The authors present these main ideas through stories, research, data, simulations, and personal anecdotes. Readers learn that economics is the study of incentives, explaining the reasoning behind a person's actions and mindset. Second, Dubner and Levitt explain that conventional wisdom can be misleading; instead, credible data should be used to explore concepts and determine the truth. Levitt then explains the methodology of a careful study, determining the direct translation between cause and effect. Finally, the importance of correct economic measurement is discussed to enable success. Freakonomics uses historical information to uncover the causes of observed behaviors and teaches readers how to deeply investigate the world. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Occasion: Freakonomics was published on April 12, 2005 by William Morrow. During this decade, significant advances were made with the Internet, enabling faster communication and globalization. Most countries have also experienced significant economic growth, which has led to many social, financial and environmental consequences. Pop culture was also a very prominent aspect of this period, leading to an integration of culture into the book. Levitt and Dubner never imagined writing a book like Freakonomics, nor collaborating together. In the summer of 2003, "The New York Times sent Dubner, an author and journalist, to write a profile of Steven D. Levitt, a noted young economist at the University of Chicago." Dubner was extremely impressed by Levitt and his intriguing ideas and the two had become close. Levitt was told by publishers in New York that he should write a book, Levitt was not a writer, so he refused, but instead offered "maybe Dubner and I can do it together ". In two years, the book was written, edited and published to an audience who automatically fell in love. Audience: Through the collaboration and visibility of Dubner and Levitt, their ideas began to interest many people around the world. “Levitt's vivid curiosity also proved appealing to thousands of New York Times readers. He was assailed with questions and interrogations, riddles and requests.” Readers were continually engaged with their articles, keeping up with the latest columns and sending them their own queries. This support system was reassuring for both authors because people loved their work and wanted more. Freakonomics was not aimed at a specific audience, but the authors believed the book would be "a treat for anyone who wants to know how the world really works." The two creators initially thought they would only sell 80 copies, but this was »..