Freakonomics, argue Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner, is a newly invented field of study that addresses the unexpected questions that others fail to explore. As a result, their book discusses and relates a variety of strange but important topics, such as cheating sumo wrestlers and teachers, the Ku Klux Klan and real estate agents, as well as abortion and crime rates. However, although many of these relate to very challenging issues, the authors present an engaging writing style that eases this tension and avoids offending the reader. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay One of the most controversial topics discussed in the book concerns real estate agents and their skillful use of the "information asymmetry [they enjoy]" (73) . While it seems inevitable that fingers will be pointed and real estate agents will be put in the spotlight of shame, the authors cleverly incorporate generalizations about humans that shift the “blame,” creating a sense of impartiality. While emphasis is placed on certain words to show impact, such as the monetary loss suffered by K due to "the intervention of his own agent," Levitt and Dubner calm this sharper tone shortly thereafter by shrugging their shoulders and suggesting that everyone abuses information in a similar way in their daily lives. human lives, and not just experts (73). Just as the words used in ads are critical to the selling price of homes, the book also makes good use of connotative language to establish a more neutral tone. When describing the process real estate agents follow to sell homes, the authors use the words “patiently” and “careful” (73). Although the agent ultimately uses the information to their advantage, the connotation of these words provides a more positive image, illustrating them as organized and systematic, rather than cunning and exploitative. Overall, the writing avoids offending by creating an even-handed tone through abstinence from opinions and statements about everything as if they were just truth and fact. This forces the reader to accept what the book presents as simply a fact or a characterization of all humanity that simply cannot be changed. In the very first chapter of the book, a very important concern in society is addressed: deception. Levitt and Dubner almost immediately manage to subdue this argument by quantifying the entire concept. They describe cheating as “a primordial economic act: getting more with less” (21). This succeeds in reducing the moral strain on the conscience resulting from the thought of cheating by simply reducing it to numbers: human beings want more. And that means everyone. In the first paragraph on page 21, the authors use the word “you” several times to emphasize the inclusion of every reader, regardless of who they are (21). They create numerous sample scenarios that can appear in everyday life, such as board games, golf, copying test answers, or even picking up a bagel from work and forgetting to pay, to illustrate that no one is exempt from the act of cheating, regardless of how insignificant the act may seem; “it's not just the names in bold” (21). Once again this dispels any possibility of offense by generalization; although cheating is considered immoral and selfish, it is inevitable, making it "an important feature in almost every human activity" (21). Once again, by extending this argument to everyone, the writing makes it seem less critical and more factual; the authors tone emphasizes the analysis of reality rather than morality, so it doesn't seem like it.