I agree with Kelly's statement that this book primarily provides entertainment; it's witty, amusing and moves quickly, eschewing a single theme or purpose. But, I disagree with the idea that this book is unimportant. It does, like it says, "[strip] a layer or two from the surface of modern life and [see] what is happening underneath." While it may present its discussions in a scattered, amusing way, the explanations it offers give us deeper insight into our world. Isn't it necessary to understand why something as dangerous and life-affecting as crime decreases? Shouldn't we know how what we do or who we are affects our children? (or doesn't affect them, for that matter) I can see why Levitt and Dubner wrote Freakonomics, thinking that understanding the causes of our society's behaviors and how it affects our future is vital.

I'm not saying this is one of the most influential and important books of our time, or even that it should be taken extremely seriously. But I do think we should recognize that it can be useful in considering the future.