Freakonomics Revisited




« back to classes page
ClassGraphic Two decades ago, Freakonomics redefined the "dismal science" of economics by applying its fundamental principles and tools to everyday topics—like crime, parenting, and sports—to reveal how incentives drive human behavior. This summer we will revisit this groundbreaking work by reading Freakonomics Twentieth Anniversary Edition: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything (2025, William Morrow Paperbacks), updated by University of Chicago economist Steven D. Levitt and journalist Stephen J. Dubner. Freakonomics challenged traditional views and used analytical inquiry to propose a new way of thinking: data-driven curiosity. The authors questioned the conventional wisdom that describes how we want the world to work and applied economic principles to explain how it actually works.  Freakonomics remains a provocative exploration of human nature, ethics, and the unintended consequences of social structures. Our study group will revisit the ideas that made Freakonomics a blockbuster bestseller and we’ll endeavor to apply its underlying premise to explain the current social climate and see why "thinking like a freak" remains essential in 2026.

Class Details

4 Session(s)
Weekly - Mon

Location
500 Davis Center

Instructor
Multiple

Tuition: 

$0.00

Add to Waiting List » Send to Friend »

Schedule Information

Date(s) Class Days Times Location Instructor(s)
7/6/2026 - 7/27/2026 Weekly - Mon 01:15 PM - 03:15 PM Evanston, 500 Davis Center  Map Janet Jablon  ; Laurie Orgel 

You may also be interested in these classes

Recommended Classes