Freakonomics and How to Shop for a Husband (Two books, although some would probably argue they are related)

Both fast reads and I don't have a lot to say about either. Also, I apologize in advance because I'm cranky today. In fact, I wish I had read something truly awful, because there's nothing I'd like better right now than to write a long rant about something.

Freakonomics (Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner): This is neither freaky, nor economics. It is however, REALLY interesting. The cover says genius, but honestly, I wouldn't go quite that far. Basically they mine data for interesting patterns and answer important questions such as: What do school teachers and sumo wrestlers have in common? (cheating), Why do drug dealers live with their moms? (it's a big pyramid scheme, only the guys at the top are making a lot of money),Why did crime drop so suddenly in the 1990's? (legalized abortion).

It's new, it's exciting, but in the end it's fluff. Albeit very manly fluff. The book reads like an extended article, which is not surprising considering Dubner is a journalist. (Levitt is the economist of the pair.) If you read the bonus material in the back of the book, which is the collection of articles Dubner wrote for the New York Times covering Levitt's work, well you would have just read the book. Everything from the book is in those articles. Everything from those articles is in the book. If they've exhausted all of the research Levitt has done so far, maybe it's time to do some more data digging?

If anyone has read Super Freakonomics I'd be interested to hear their thoughts.

How to Shop for a Husband: The Consumer Guide to Getting a Great Buy on a Guy (Janice Lieberman): Here's the book in a nutshell: Don't be too picky, but be choosy. Do compromise, don't settle. Look for a guy with good insides or "guts" as they say. See what's under the hood. Look for one that will last or "the little black dress". Use the mirror in the dressing room, check the price tag, as well as the care instructions, and know when after-purchase repairs and alterations are possible. (Personally I thought the shopping analogy was going a bit too far at this point...) They really mean: look for a guy who is similar to you, make sure you know what you're getting into before you get to the register (altar) or get it home, and know what you can change about a man (and what you can't).

I would definitely recommend either The Rules or Marry Him over this book. It's not even funny or especially well written. Yes it's good advice, but none of it is new. We all know when you're looking for a great pair of pants that will last you don't go to H&M. Just apply that same thinking to men.

As for me, I'm not really shopping for a husband right now, so I'll be in the shoe department...