TOW #12

Freakonomics is the work of a collaboration between Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. Levitt, an economist, joined powers with Dubner, an author, to create a book that teaches readers the hidden side to everything. After reading the beginning parts of this book, I realized nothing is ever as it seems. The numerous stories told in Freakonomics have changed my view on how the world works, and made me realized two completely different things could truly have a connection. Throughout the story, Dubner and Levitt use statistics, and narrative diction aimed toward the reader in order to keep readers interested and to teach the hidden connections of everything. The book makes many claims about things being connected in the world that don't make a lot of sense. As a reader, it could be hard to believe what you are reading is true. The authors include statistics in order to back up what they are saying. For example they wrote, "The teenage murder rate, instead of rising 100 percent or even 15 percent like James Alan Fox warned, fell more than 50 percent within five years. By 2000 the overall murder rate in the United States dropped to the lowest level in thirty-five years." Now readers have actual proof that the crime rate dropped. This appeals to logos, and makes the left field claims have more reason. This effectively helps readers believe what they are reading and make connections on the way things are connected. Along with this, Freakonomics uses narrative diction that speaks to the reader. This is a vital key in keeping readers engaged in a book that is full of facts and statistics. The book reads, "What do the numbers have to say about such cases? Here's the surprise: the amount of money spent by the candidates hardly matters at all." The narrative tone of the book helps improve the flow and make it feel more like a story rather then a fact chart. Along with this, the use of rhetorical questioning and addressing the audience helps engage readers. This helps keep the audience's attention long enough for them to realize the secret connections that happen everyday. I think that the diction of the book is the most important, because that is what has kept me intrigued. This book is by far one of the most interesting non-fiction books I've read, and I look forward to continuing it.