Episode · Freakonomics Radio · 2025-08-27
Books mentioned on Extra: A Modern Whaler Speaks Up (Update)
Bjørn Andersen has killed hundreds of minke whales. He tells us how he does it, why he does it, and what he thinks would happen if whale-hunting ever stopped.
Stephen Dubner discussed MOBY-DICK; or, THE WHALE by Herman Melville.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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MOBY-DICK; or, THE WHALE
Moby-Dick by Herman Melville is an epic American novel that chronicles the obsessive, self-destructive quest of Captain Ahab to hunt down the giant white whale that maimed him.
Discussed“Have you read Moby Dick? No. I'm not a reader.”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (1) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
Passing Moby Dick
“We spoke with economists, historians, a Moby Dick scholar, and an environmental activist whose mission in life is to stop whale hunting.”