The Paradox of Choice

Why More is Less

By: Barry Schwartz

Narrated by: Ken Kliban

Length: 7 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

In the spirit of Alvin Tofflers' Future Shock, a social critique of our obsession with choice, and how it contributes to anxiety, dissatisfaction and regret.

Whether were buying a pair of jeans, ordering a cup of coffee, selecting a long-distance carrier, applying to college, choosing a doctor, or setting up a 401(k), everyday decisions - both big and small - have become increasingly complex due to the overwhelming abundance of choice with which we are presented.

We assume that more choice means better options and greater satisfaction. But beware of excessive choice: choice overload can make you question the decisions you make before you even make them, it can set you up for unrealistically high expectations, and it can make you blame yourself for any and all failures. In the long run, this can lead to decision-making paralysis, anxiety, and perpetual stress. And, in a culture that tells us that there is no excuse for falling short of perfection when your options are limitless, too much choice can lead to clinical depression.

In The Paradox of Choice, Barry Schwartz explains at what point choice - the hallmark of individual freedom and self-determination that we so cherish - becomes detrimental to our psychological and emotional well-being. In accessible, engaging, and anecdotal prose, Schwartz shows how the dramatic explosion in choice--from the mundane to the profound challenges of balancing career, family, and individual needs--has paradoxically become a problem instead of a solution. Schwartz also shows how our obsession with choice encourages us to seek that which makes us feel worse.

©2004 Barry Schwartz (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Scientific proof that " More is Less"

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I have recommended it to all my family and close friends because I think they would relate to the concepts and find some helpful ideas about how to manage and live in overchoice world.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Paradox of Choice?

...the realization that we are making our children anxious and frazzled with overchoice

Have you listened to any of Ken Kliban’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no

What did you learn from The Paradox of Choice that you would use in your daily life?

I think much more about putting myself in a situation where there are too many choices. Also I am trying to construct my environment so that there will be fewer "wrong" choices .

Any additional comments?

Great read for perfectionists :)

Muy bueno

Muy buen libro, le doy 4 estrellas porque es un poco repetitivo, me hubiera gustado que diera más tips prácticos.

Great perspective changer

Prior to listening to the book, I’ve acknowledged the issue(s) of “too many choices”. Thus the interest to listen to the book was already there. The book did not disappointment. The author provided more in-depth perspective how choices can be a negative in our lives. Impacting us socially, emotionally and mentally. The explanation of picker vs chooser; maximized vs satisfier were very powerful.

Good pts that could have been done in two chapters

Too long for the pts made. Yes, lack of pleasure and satisfaction come if obsessed with having more / most.

Enjoyed this and will listen again.

It isn’t often that I finish a book and automatically know that I will be reading it again soon. But this one is a keeper! I enjoyed the fascinating studies, human psychology and motivation, and learning how to reframe our concept of choice to give ourselves more freedom by placing limits.

Good Book

I really enjoyed the information and ideas conveyed in this book, however I found the narration hard to listen to for any length of time. My next step is to pick up the hard copy.

Fascinating but hard to listen to

First came across the Ted Talk and had to learn more. Fascinating analysis and opens your eyes to a different way of thinking about our world of plenty. However, very scientific approach and hard to keep up with the book over audio, need to get hard copy to read and understand further. Highly recommend!

Good content, bad narration

The actual book might be better than the audio version. I really didn't care for the narration at all. If it wasn't for the content I may have stopped listening. Based on content alone I'd give it 5*, but the narrator really hurt it for me. The only reason I give it 4* is because I would recommend the book format since the content is worth the effort.

best choice!

if u struggle with decision making and get stuck in overwhelming choices, this book get improve the process.. and I hope it will help with it, cause I do struggle with it a lot, lately better

Not much new, but a worthwhile core message

Most of the concepts in the book are familiar to fans of pop psychology. The author also occasionally makes logically questionable claims. For example, he suggests that the explosion of choice is substantially responsible for the increasing rates of depression in America in recent decades, ignoring somewhat more likely culprits such as obesity, improved diagnostics and reduced stigma. He also gets pretty repetitive after a while; in some ways, I'd have preferred reading this one paperback so I could skip the boring parts (e.g., the opening 15 minute trip through the supermarket. We get it already! We saw it coming a mile off!). After listening to this book, I will look for more opportunities in my life to satisfice, rather than optimize, so it has been persuasive in that regard. Perhaps worth listening to once, to be convinced on that point, but I'm probably not going to re-listen to this one too many times.