Episode · Freakonomics Radio · 2025-02-21

Books mentioned on 623. Can New York City Win Its War on Rats?

1 book · With Kathy Corradi, Robert Corrigan, Ed Glaeser, Robert Sullivan, Jessica Tisch · Listen · Watch on YouTube

Even with a new rat czar, an arsenal of poisons, and a fleet of new garbage trucks, it won’t be easy — because, at root, the enemy is us. (Part two of a three-part series, “Sympathy for the Rat.

Stephen Dubner discussed Rats by Robert Sullivan.

Books mentioned, in the order they came up

We earn a commission if you buy through the store links below, at no cost to you.

  1. Rats

    Robert Sullivan · at 19:22

    Rats by Robert Sullivan is a detailed non-fiction exploration of the history, behavior, and habitat of urban rodents, focusing primarily on New York City.

    Discussed
    “when we first set out to make this series on rats we were inspired by what you might call all a foundational text a book called rats observations on the history and habitat of the city's most unwanted inhabitants by Robert Sullivan I remembered reading an excerpt of the book in The New York Times magazine when it was published”
    Where to get it