The Logic of Life

December 24, 2007
Financial Times
and Slate.com columnist Harford (The Undercover Economist)
provides an entertaining and provocative look at the logic behind the seemingly irrational. Arguing that rational behavior is more widespread than most people expect, Harford uses economic principles to draw forth the rational elements of gambling, the teenage oral sex craze, crime and other supposedly illogical behaviors to illustrate his larger point. Utilizing John von Neumann and Thomas Schelling's conceptions of game theory, Harford applies their approach to a multitude of arenas, including marriage, the workplace and racism. Contrarily, he also shows that individual rational behavior doesn't always lead to socially desired outcomes. Harford concludes with how to apply this thinking on an even bigger scale, showing how rational behavior shapes cities, politics and the entire history of human civilization. Well-written with highly engaging stories and examples, this book will be of great interest to Freakonomics
and Blink
fans as well as anyone interested in the psychology of human behavior.

February 1, 2008
Harford writes The Undercover Economist column for the Financial Times and Slate, and his first book, of the same name, was an entertaining look at the economics of daily life. Here he uses economic theory to explain why seemingly irrational human behavior and many of the inequities of life turn out to be more logical than they seem on the surface. The model is rational choice theory, which states that individuals choose the best action according to the choices they are given after weighing the potential risks and benefits involved. This is why, for instance, a sudden, alarming rise in oral sex among teenagers isnot actually an increase in promiscuity but a shift in response to the risks of HIV infection and the parental-notice laws on abortion. Harford discusses how the pill helped to increase the divorce rate in the 1960s, examines poker and the cold war through game theory, and reveals some stark realities of why racism remains prevalent. A fascinating work with many aha moments.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)