Emily Oster
Born: February 14, 1980 – New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Emily Oster is an economist and author who applies empirical analysis to pregnancy, parenting, and family decision-making. She is best known for Expecting Better, Cribsheet, The Family Firm, and The Unexpected, books that helped popularize data-driven parenting advice and made her an influential public commentator on risk and family life.
Biography & Author's Journey
Emily Oster grew up in New Haven, Connecticut, in a household where economics was part of ordinary life; both of her parents were Yale economists. She studied economics at Harvard, earning both her bachelor’s degree and Ph.D., taught at the University of Chicago, and joined Brown University in 2015, where she became a professor of economics and later the Royce Family Professor of Teaching Excellence. Her academic work centered on health and development economics, but a more public turn began when her own pregnancy exposed how hard it was for non-specialists to find clear, decision-ready evidence. ((https://www.deseret.com/family/2024/10/23/emily-oster-parenting-data-raising-parents-podcast/))
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Popular Books
Expecting Better
Emily Oster
An economist debunks pregnancy myths with data, empowering women to make informed choices about their pregnancies and enjoy the journey.
Cribsheet
Emily Oster
Data-driven guide empowering parents to make informed decisions, debunking myths and reducing anxiety in early childhood parenting.
The Family Firm
Emily Oster
Data-driven guide for parents applying business principles to make better decisions during children's elementary school years.
Expecting Better
Emily Oster
An economist debunks pregnancy myths with data, empowering women to make informed choices about their pregnancies and enjoy the journey.
Cribsheet
Emily Oster
Data-driven guide empowering parents to make informed decisions, debunking myths and reducing anxiety in early childhood parenting.
The Family Firm
Emily Oster
Data-driven guide for parents applying business principles to make better decisions during children's elementary school years.
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Study Communication, Economics & Parenting
Study Communication, Economics & Parenting
This plan bridges the gap between household management and professional-grade communication and economic logic. It is ideal for parents and caregivers who want to raise emotionally intelligent children while making smarter, data-driven financial decisions for their family's future.
Psychology, Parenting & Productivity Study
Psychology, Parenting & Productivity Study
This plan bridges the gap between cognitive science, family dynamics, and professional efficiency. It is designed for high-achieving parents and professionals who want to optimize their mental performance while nurturing deep, science-backed relationships at home.
Love, Parenting & Behavioral Science Study
Love, Parenting & Behavioral Science Study
This study plan bridges the gap between psychological theory and practical family life, offering a scientific lens on our most intimate connections. It is ideal for parents, educators, and partners looking to apply behavioral insights to nurture deeper, more resilient relationships.
Creativity, Behavior & Parenting Study
Creativity, Behavior & Parenting Study
This study plan bridges the gap between psychological theory and practical family life by combining cognitive science with behavioral insights. It is ideal for parents, educators, or caregivers looking to modernize their approach to child-rearing through evidence-based creativity and development strategies.
Learn pregnancy & child dev
Learn pregnancy & child dev
This comprehensive learning plan combines medical knowledge, developmental psychology, and cutting-edge neuroscience to guide you through every stage from conception to early childhood. It's essential for expecting parents, new parents, and anyone caring for young children who wants to make informed, science-backed decisions that support optimal development and strong family relationships.
Build discipline as expecting mom at 20
Build discipline as expecting mom at 20
This plan is designed for young women at age 20 who want to transition into motherhood with structure and purpose rather than overwhelm. It bridges the gap between youthful ambition and the discipline required for a healthy pregnancy and successful parenting.
Mindset growing, family, skill with baby
Mindset growing, family, skill with baby
This learning plan is designed for new and expecting parents who want to balance practical baby care with personal growth and emotional resilience. It bridges the gap between essential newborn skills and the long-term psychological development of both the parent and the child.
Maximize kids' growth, happiness & wellbeing
Maximize kids' growth, happiness & wellbeing
This plan is essential for parents and caregivers seeking a science-backed approach to child-rearing. It bridges the gap between developmental psychology and practical daily parenting to ensure children thrive from infancy through adolescence.
Community Voices
"Emily Oster is the non-judgmental girlfriend holding our hand and guiding us through pregnancy and motherhood"
— Amy Schumer
"Emily Oster dives into the data on parenting issues, cuts through the clutter, and gives families the bottom line"
— Good Morning America
"Thankfully, parents who wish to actually know what is known have Emily Oster"
— Forbes
"The good news is that Emily Oster has probably already looked into all of them"
— The Skimm
"Cribsheet, a new book by Emily Oster of Brown University, shows that an economist’s perspective can prove surprisingly clarifying"
— The Economist
"Emily Oster wrote the modern pregnancy bible"
— TIME
"It took someone as smart as Emily Oster to make it all this simple"
— Pamela Druckerman
"The author, economist Emily Oster, burst into the parent-lit world with her 2013 hit Expecting Better"
— The Washington Post
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
