This would have been much more impressive had I read it in a timely manner, like say ten years ago when I first wanted to. It does read a tad bit dated, even though this is the updated version, but it’s still pretty fascinating, and I think worth reading. I will be reading the second book and checking out the podcast.
[four and a half months later]
And now I have finally come to write this review, and I have forgotten nearly everything about it but the overall feeling I got from it. This will not be a comprehensive review. So.
My feelings, in summary:
*Mostly this was a fun way to apply statistics and math to real life.
*Since the book is now fourteen years old and a lot of it hinges on current cultural norms and references, it doesn’t age as well as other books might. I know there was more than this, but the one that stood out in my head was the way he treated rape statistics. (Of course, I remember nothing about the way he treated them, only that it felt wrong to me.)
*There was something in here about realtors? It made me very suspicious to buy property. Also I don’t want to buy property because I like having people come fix things for me.
*There was something else in here about gangs and a researcher embedded with them? I don’t remember the significance.
*This might be the worst review I have ever written.
It made for a good audiobook, though! So if you’re still going to check it out and like listening to things, that is a good way to go.
[3.5 stars]