When to Rob a Bank by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner Summary
Overview of When to Rob a Bank
Freakonomics duo Levitt and Dubner return with mind-bending questions like "when's the best time to rob a bank?" Referenced on TV's "House," these counterintuitive economic insights have influenced business strategies worldwide. Prepare for 131 delightfully warped perspectives that challenge everything you think you know.
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Key takeaways
The Hidden Economics Behind Every Corner
When is the perfect time to rob a bank? According to economic data, Friday mornings yield the highest returns - around $5,180 compared to afternoon heists averaging just $3,705. But with a 35% arrest rate and average haul of only $4,120, bank robbery remains what economists bluntly call "rubbish" as a career choice. This counterintuitive analysis typifies the approach of "When to Rob a Bank," where everyday scenarios reveal surprising economic truths hiding in plain sight. Drawing from a decade of Freakonomics blog posts, this collection delivers the authors' most provocative thoughts in their most casual, unfiltered form - giving us unprecedented access to how these economic minds process the world in real time. What would happen if twenty snipers randomly shot people across America? When Levitt posed this thought experiment about terrorism strategies, readers were outraged, calling him both a moron and a traitor. But his point was profound: terrorists likely already consider these strategies, and their absence suggests either incompetence or different objectives entirely. The real insight? We're largely powerless against low-grade, low-tech terror, and the true damage comes not from casualties but from our fear and costly overreactions.
Risk Perception and Decision Making
The Psychology of Cheating and Self-Deception
The Surprising Economics of Everyday Decisions
Environmental Myths and Counterintuitive Green Truths
The Economics of Identity and Social Patterns
Economics as a Lens for Understanding Our World
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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