The Economic Naturalist: Why Economics Explains Almost Everything

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Product Details

Author : Robert H. Frank
Binding : Paperback
EAN : 9780753513385
Number of Pages : 256
Product Group : Book
Publication Date : 2008-04-03
Publisher : Virgin Books

ASIN : 0753513382

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Customer Reviews

Pointless (2008-10-07)

Although some of the reviewers studied economics I did not. I have an interest in economics in general. To put it simply this book is pointless and boring. I purchased this at the airport for my travels and soon became bored after the 1st couple of chapters, I continued on and it became even more boring, annoying and then frustration began.There is such a huge build up to the questions in each chapter discussing enconomic principles with a lot of economic jargon and then the majority of the questions are just pointless, eg why are hotel mini bars so expensive ? Thats plainly obvious. Why do 24hr shops have locks on them ? again obvious, why do women endure the discomfort of high heels ?I read through the questions hoping to find a different and alternative answer than the one I had in mind but this didn't happen.There is nothing wrong with the questions as such some of them could make for interesting discussions with family or friends but they shouldn't form the basis of a book on economics. Also a lot of the answers I disagreed with, not that Im an economist myself its just that he did not seem to back up his answers with any expertise, it seemed the answers came from his opinion or assumption and thats where the book becomes annoying.All in all this was a waste of money.

Some more ideas for interesting dinner table conversations... so don't expect to be dazzled (2008-09-30)

If you enjoyed Freakononics and Undercover Economist, then like myself either you have already bought this book ... or planning to buy it... expecting similar quirky questions answered with the aid of `layman' economics.The book didn't disappoint, but did not dazzle either. It definitely misses the quality of linked events and explanation of Tim Harford's Undercover Economist, but is not as bad as some of the reviews claim. Yes, it's not economist prose with complex explanations and statistics...with a unifying idea as an explanation for everything... which in my opinion frankly is a good thing. The layout is simple... each section has a series of questions with their `answers' below them... the Q&A layout makes it an easy read... which you can enjoy in chunks ...taking as much time as you like.Some questions do jog the brain, and you will definitely find a few which you yourself might have wondered from time to time. Please be aware though, that the `economic explanation' offered for the posed question MAY be one of the many right ones... it's a point of view ... with an economic angle... just like these reviews which have been posted... each with our individual opinion!A few fellow readers have been a bit generous with their criticism on for this book, but as already mentioned here a couple of times, due credit to the writer (R.H. Frank) that he confesses early in the book that the answers are a `point of view' and should be `critically' evaluated.Yes, it's not dazzling economic or literary genius... but still a good read... worth a try.

Not quite what I expected (2008-09-24)

I write this as a riposte to those reviewers who have recommended this book as good for beginners in Economics.Reminiscient of Mark Penn's "Microtrends", the content of the book consists of marginally different permutations of the same idea. Aside from the first two or three chapters, there's no real sense of continuity between the chapters or any sense of a development of concepts built upon previous chapters that you would get from a 'proper' reference book.While providing real world examples of economic concepts is a valid means of getting people interested or sufficiently energised to begin studying the subject, the book fails as a primer for the fundamental concepts (namely, what IS an economy? etc, etc.) - if anything, it assumes a certain amount of knowledge on the part of the reader.Thus, for a novice, it would be perfectly fine as a companion to a real reference book but not, alas as a standalone work, hence the 3 stars.

Does economics explain the existence of this book? (2008-08-28)

Unashamed and pointless cash-in on Freakonomics and the Undercover Economist, and not a patch on either though both have their weaknesses. This is a cobbled-together collection of oversimplistic answers to questions that in the main I wouldn't have asked. It makes some of the same faulty assumptions about logical choices and perfect markets that the other two do, but a number of the answers are so plainly wrong or miss out huge and obvious chunks that it becomes pretty annoying quite quickly. There are some interesting analyses in here but very little that a layman couldn't have figured out themselves, so the "economics" in the title could pretty much be replaced with "thinking about it". There is very little if any real innovative thinking or original insight in here. One gap that stuck in the memory was the failure to understand that in rating people in a relationship scenario, not everyone's rating of you will be the same, as people give different priority to various criteria, and may also make different assessments of the same criteria. Therefore while you may be a 9 to someone, you will only be a 6 to someone else. Without this recognition, the (surprise) market-driven answer is nonsense. This is fairly typical in that the human element seems to be removed from the answers wherever possible - this economist seems scared of the messiness of humanity spoiling his neat models of how the world should be. While he isn't unique in this, it makes a book which purports to explain how the world works of strictly limited value.

Overpromise and underdeliver - recipe for disaster (2008-08-27)

That's right. This book's like a movie which has an intriguing story line, (what appears at first to be) unconventional camerawork, fresh star cast but a weak script. So promising when you pick it up and begin reading it and so dull and unconvincing by the time you put it down and eventually go to bed.I have no major qualms with the 'narrative form of expression' - it may seem to be refreshing for those who have a very basic understanding about economics and are too scared to venture out. They might pick this up and have this false notion that - is this it ? Heck, I can pull a good bluff and impress my friends with my knowledge and insight of this freaky subject. No no NO - you would be gravely mistaken for that notion my friend.The truth is - most books or teachers aren't and don't teach the subject in the way they are accused of in this book. Examples and hypothetical scenarios do enhance the understanding and digestion of any central concept. However, book is inaccurate in its reasoning and sort of has a school boy take on matters which could be explained just as well with sound reasonable and quirky practical response. A short course in marketing, finance would do well to cover majority of these topics in a much more responsible and inquisitive manner in today's universities. All in all, I am glad that some people would actually pick up this book for sheer curiosity and could potentially develop lots of enthusiasm for the subject matter. But, please do not use those seriously flawed arguments to bluff in a gathering.

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