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Saturday, March 13, 2010

The Questions We Ask


"The Hidden Side of Everything" is the introductory chapter of Freakonomics, by Levitt and Dubner.
Just like this beach. What you see is only part of what is. 

The important questions, the authors contend, are those not asked, those not on the surface.

"Why Do Drugs Dealers Still Live With Their Moms? You'd think this is all about the immaturity of those men who deal cocaine. What we learn is that the questions we ask, the facts we collect, the polls we take, all ask the wrong questions. They are mostly superficial.

We collect lots of data.

We examine lots of problems.

We tabulate lots of information that will help us decide our next steps.

If we just admire the ocean in this picture, we miss seeing the ocean.

Freakonomics is a marvelous read.

30 comments:

pink dogwood said...

interesting - will check out the book. thanks

rjerdee said...

yes, me too.

Helen said...

I am sitting here with a huge grin on my face remembering Steven Colbert's show last night which featured polls and pollsters. Hysterical!!!!!

ds said...

Freakonomics is a great read; you've made its point perfectly!

Brian Miller said...

if we just admire the ocean...nice. will check out the book!

Tabor said...

I have read the book and it just makes me more sure that what we think we know and the statistics we use are all very squishy.

Maggie May said...

Lovely photo..... Have not read the book.

Nuts in May

Reya Mellicker said...

It really is. Such a brand new point of view! Made me realize how I assume so many things are true without actually thinking through them.

Anything Fits A Naked Man said...

Oh, I love this! What, an interesting book! It will be mine!!

Lisa said...

Ignorance is bliss.

Sometimes I feel I just want to enjoy the beauty I see and close my eyes to what I do not want to see or know.

xxx said...

okay I'm curious now ;)


great photo by the way x

Unknown said...

I saw the same show Helen did, and it was hysterical!

Natalie said...

Hmmmm........

Cheryl Cato said...

Yes, along with Natalia, hmmm? I'll have to check out this book.

Unspoken said...

I need to check that out!

Pseudo said...

I think I will add that to my stack. I cannot wait until summer when I can do the stack justice.

BTW, that ocean shot took my breath away. I love the ocean.

Fire Byrd said...

Trouble is I have been the Mum in that scenerio.... And it's not a good place to be. Thank God for maturity.
So I won't be picking up the book. But love the picture.
x

LadyFi said...

I enjoyed about two-thirds of the book. Then I thought it was both a bit repetitive and also not very relevant to people living in Europe.

But wow - those first chapters - what an eye opener!

Rob-bear said...

The better the question, the better the answer. (That's experience from a life in journalism.)

Haven't read the book, but it sounds interesting.

Room Service ~ Decorating 101 said...

Your post always make me think. I loved this one! I do hope you do a S.S. post, I would be very interested in the things that you love. I think you are very interesting...I love it whenever you come to visit.

Anonymous said...

Freakonomics is a superb book - really makes you think and approach things from a different angle :o)

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

You know, I've meant to get that book - with your review - I will be certain to ...

Enchanted Oak said...

This was deep, Rosaria. I'm a journalist too and have learned the depth and shape of the questions determines the quality of the answer.

RNSANE said...

I don't know how I could ever live away from the ocean but it may be that I have to move in a few months. Woe is me.

Will check out your book though I am woefully behind in my reading!

Sniffles and Smiles said...

It sounds fabulous!!! I think I must get this one! Thank you for a wonderful tease! I'm always sure to get the "good stuff" when I visit you! ~Janine XO

Villa-loredana said...

Hello, my dear, I'm always happy to read your short comments, and I have a nice time to read your lasts posts, from womman day, and forward. Thanks for the blog of this Italian ladies, nice to read them, I put them in may favorites, and look at them in future. The winter is our big enemy, yesterday I clean a little beat in my flower garden, and in the evening i fall down, I prefer the summer, than I swimm a lot and feel much better. A big kiss from Adriatic see. Loredana

Sarah Laurence said...

I love all your coastal photos. I enjoyed how you extended a book into your personal landscape.

Woman in a Window said...

Sounds like a book I would appreciate. Wish there was an osmosis version. I'm just saying - mostly I'm lazy. Why?

xo
erin

Nancy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Velva said...

The book is added to my list of reads. Thanks for the recommendation....

Btw, I saw your comment on my blog. Thanks for visiting often. I will keep supplying the recipes if you keep providing the inspiration that you provides on your blog...I love it.