Book Review: Getting Super-Freaky with SuperFreakonomics

She's a very kinky girl ... the kind you don't bring home to mother ...

Couldn't help myself. That's the tune that comes to mind every time I look at the cover of Super Freakonomics: Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner.

She will never let your spirits down ... once you get her off the streets ... yow!

And, in fact, that tune was quite apropos, as the most interesting part of the book was the economics behind prostitution. But more about that in a minute. While I found the authors' first book, Freakonomics, extremely thought-provoking, this one didn't quite rise to that level. However, it was interesting, and I had a few, "hmmm" moments, despite the fact that some of it felt like I'd read it before. But some of it was really fascinating, such as the section on the economics of prostitution (and no . . . not thinking about giving up my day job).

Re: prostitution. It's an interesting look at how, if we want to eliminate it, we need to take away the financial incentive AND put the Johns in jail and not poor Jane, who is just trying to make a living. Yet that's not how we're approaching the problem. While reading this part, I couldn't help but think about the movie Hustle & Flow ...

You know it's hard out here for a pimp

When he tryin to get this money for the rent

For the Cadillacs and gas money spent

Because a whole lot of bitches talkin' sh*t 

But enough about that . . . on to global warming. The one big concept with regard to global warming was contained in the statement on page 11: "But Humankind has a great capacity for finding technological solutions to seemingly intractable problems, and this will likely be the case for global warming." The authors provide historical examples where we were facing what seemed like insurmountable issues but where we managed to find technological solutions. They even go on to talk about some of the potential solutions in the works that could cost less/be more effective than the Al Gore model.

To continue reading this review, please visit http://topshelf.entrepreneur.com/2009/11/24/super-freakonomics/.