Readers of 'Freakonomics' are in for a treat from the original 'armchair economist', Steve Landsburg, as he delivers a series of mind-blowing arguments about the bizarre economics of everyday life.
Economics is no longer the 'dismal science' dreaded by university students. In recent years, a band of economists has broken away from the charts and graphs of college textbooks, and begun to explains ordinary behaviour in plain and often entertaining English. Steve Landsburg was one of the first of the new breed, in his book 'The Armchair Economist' and long-running 'Everyday Economics' column in 'Slate' magazine. Now he is back, and more provocative than ever.
In 'More Sex is Safer Sex', Landsburg shows how the rational behaviour of each one of us -- when combined together -- produces the often bizarre, seemingly irrational behaviour of crowds. We all stand up sporting games, so none of us can see. We avoid casual sex, from fear of disease, and we thereby make sex more dangerous. Things really get interesting when Landsburg suggests ways to change the rules, and the system. Why not charge juries if a convicted felon is exonerated? Why not have each member of Congress represent a national subset of voters, chosen alphabetically? Why not solve the "overpopulation" problem by having more children, who will help think of ways to improve our use of resources?
'More Sex is Safer Sex' will make you laugh and argue -- and it will make you think about the world around your in new and unforgettable ways.
