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The Logic of Life: The Rational Economics of an Irrational World Audiobook, by Tim Harford Play Audiobook Sample

The Logic of Life: The Rational Economics of an Irrational World Audiobook

The Logic of Life: The Rational Economics of an Irrational World Audiobook, by Tim Harford Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: John Lee Publisher: Random House Audio Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 6.00 hours at 1.5x Speed 4.50 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: January 2008 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781415947890

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

135

Longest Chapter Length:

05:30 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

03:01 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

03:59 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

8

Other Audiobooks Written by Tim Harford: > View All...

Publisher Description

Life sometimes seems illogical. Individuals do strange things: take drugs, have unprotected sex, mug each other. Love seems irrational, and so does divorce. On a larger scale, life seems no fairer or easier to fathom: Why do some neighborhoods thrive and others become ghettos? Why is racism so persistent? Why is your idiot boss paid a fortune for sitting behind a mahogany altar? Thorny questions–and you might be surprised to learn the answers from an economist. But Tim Harford, award-winning journalist and author, likes to spring surprises. In this deftly reasoned audiobook, Harford argues that life is logical after all. Under the surface of everyday insanity, hidden incentives are at work, and Harford shows these incentives emerging in the most unlikely places. THE LOGIC OF LIFE is the first book to map out the astonishing insights and frustrating blind spots of a new economics in a way that anyone can enjoy. THE LOGIC OF LIFE presents an X-ray image of human life, stripping away the surface to show us a picture that is revealing, enthralling, and sometimes disturbing. The stories that emerge are not about data or equations but about people. Once you’ve listened to this addictive audiobook, life will never look the same again.

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"I'm a big fan of Harford's, and he does a nice job of synthesizing the current trends in microeconomics and policy for a lay audience. He's got a dry British wit that keeps the entertainment level high while still remaining true to what the research does and doesn't show."

— Jessica (4 out of 5 stars)

The Logic of Life Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 3.7916666666666665 out of 53.7916666666666665 out of 53.7916666666666665 out of 53.7916666666666665 out of 53.7916666666666665 out of 5 (3.79)
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4 Stars: 9
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Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
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  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Not as assured as the Underground Economist, but good nonetheless. "

    — David, 2/14/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " The first chapter certainly grabs your attention, however the last two drag, though I did like the explanation of how government incentives/subsidies work. Overall I thought The Undercover Economist was better, but am still a Tim Harford fan. "

    — Terrie, 12/29/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " not as entertaining or as well-structured as 'the undercover economist'. does, however, deal with the often perverse economic rationality of the more significant issues of our time - globalisation, race, voter apathy, interest groups etc. "

    — Ingrid, 12/4/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " It's a good book. If you read this and freakonomics, though, it is hard to remember which is which. "

    — Matt, 12/4/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " *chapter 2, the las vegas not only for the gambler, but also economist..LOL "

    — adhy, 12/4/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " If you like Freakonomics, pick this one up! "

    — Brian, 11/25/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I have loved this author's other book, undercover economist which is kind of like a freakenomics on steriods. He uses the same kind of economics tools to explain different aspects of life. I keep looking at things as Tim Harford does now. "

    — fred, 11/20/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " From why it's economically feasible for prostitutes to have unprotected sex to why racial bias is still rampant in job hiring, economist Tim Harford provides an interesting read from beginning to end. If you liked Freakanomics, I think you'll enjoy this as well. "

    — Rex, 7/15/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Not the best in the genre, but if you like books thy distill current trends in economics in lay language, you'll like The Logic of Life. "

    — Mark, 4/17/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Actually refreshing read, a surprise. Probably worth a few hours of your time. "

    — Justin, 11/19/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Liked it less than "Undercover Economist", but still enjoyed it. Unfortunately, read it in many small pieces before sleep, so my impression is a bit "fragmented". "

    — Sergei, 5/23/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A must read if you like behavioral economics. A very interesting book for everybody else. "

    — Essam, 5/9/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Excellent discussion of how people make rational decisions, including tradeoffs in things as varied as education and where to live, presented in a series of anecdotes that are both interesting and easy to understand. "

    — Eric, 3/31/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Brought it when Tim Harford came to Warwick to give a talk in TEDxWarwick. Have him signed. "

    — Burton, 9/8/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I got this because it seemed to be in the same vein as Freakonomics or some of Malcolm Gladwell's stuff. Not really. "

    — Dwight, 6/15/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Excellent. Everyone should read. Puts economics to work in understanding everyday problems, like why rich people get richer and why your vote doesn't count. "

    — Robert, 3/8/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Excellent discussion of how people make rational decisions, including tradeoffs in things as varied as education and where to live, presented in a series of anecdotes that are both interesting and easy to understand. "

    — Eric, 2/24/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " It was alright. Nothing too exciting or lifeshattering. "

    — Brian, 1/30/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Easy reading for a rough overview of some social science issues. "

    — Javi, 1/25/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This is a great look at economics really accessible and entertaining. Some details were a bit simplified but I'm not sure how else this could have been done. I'd recommend to anyone without an econ background that would like to dip their toes in the subject. "

    — Neil, 1/20/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Not as assured as the Underground Economist, but good nonetheless. "

    — David, 12/27/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Good read I like the Game Theory sections a lot. "

    — Phil, 12/11/2010
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Had a few very good parts. A pretty good book about how we make decisions. Best part is when he writes that we make both emotional decisions based on a dopamine rush, and more rational decisions. Great. What I want to know is this: when to rely on which??? <br/> "

    — Sheldon, 9/18/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Not the best in the genre, but if you like books thy distill current trends in economics in lay language, you'll like The Logic of Life. "

    — Mark, 7/12/2010

About Tim Harford

Tim Harford is the author of The Undercover EconomistThe Logic of Life, and Adapt. He writes two columns for the Financial Times, and his work has appeared in the New York TimesForbesEsquireParadeNew York, and Wired. He lives with his family in Oxford.

About John Lee

John Lee is the winner of numerous Earphones Awards and the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration. He has twice won acclaim as AudioFile’s Best Voice in Fiction & Classics. He also narrates video games, does voice-over work, and writes plays. He is an accomplished stage actor and has written and coproduced the feature films Breathing Hard and Forfeit. He played Alydon in the 1963–64 Doctor Who serial The Daleks.