The Paradox of Choice

Why More is Less

De: Barry Schwartz

Narrado por: Ken Kliban

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.

Awesome book for overcoming perfectionism

What did you love best about The Paradox of Choice?

The author made it clear not only how much the phenomenon of "overchoice" affects us, but how to overcome it.

What other book might you compare The Paradox of Choice to and why?

I've really never read anything similar.

What three words best describe Ken Kliban’s voice?

Aloof, clipped, and unemotional

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

The way to enjoy your choices more is to impose your own limits on choice.

Any additional comments?

As a recovering perfectionist, I found this book to be a wonderful guide to living a simpler, more satisfying life by limiting the choices that I have to make and by consciously choosing the amount of value that I assign to the choices that I do make.

This one hit close to home

I was especially sold on this book after the conversation on maximizers versus satisficers.

I went in expecting to hear that your decisions don't benefit from have 7 options versus having three option. I was very short sighted.

Schwartz discusses many important topics. And refreshingly, also offers his own opinions as a researcher, writer, and human. It doesn't read like a literature review; more like a deep conversation.

Highly recommended.

Why Choice Is Difficult for Many Today

This book introduces the reader to two types of choosers - maximisers and satisfisers. The first type tries to make the best of all possible choices, whereas the second settles for the first available choice that meets the minimum criteria.

I was pleased to find I am in the second type, since the first type, maximisers are usually under more stress. It was interesting to see how our choices are often framed by clever marketeers, and how we can evaluate and expose their schemes. Don't worry though. You won't go wrong if you choose to read this book.

A very thought provoking audio book

This book made me think about options and choices concerning material goods. Hopefully I can remember the lessons of this audio-book.

Worth the Purchase.

so glad I got this book!

i almost didn't buy this book because it's 20 years old and some reviews were negative.

so much wisdom lies within!

narrator is excellent but script is not easy

why more is less is above average submission but I enjoyed it as it's very close to the philosophy of what my hindu religion teaches there are parallel to Geeta which can be drawn an ancient hindu book on philosophy

Fascinating!

Interesting and often times counter intuitive, which is the point more often than not. I feel that I have gained a greater understanding of the unhappiness of the modern world. I would often be reminded of the Devo anthem, " freedom of choice, is what you got. Freedom from choice, is what you want." I love the results of the many interesting experiments.

alleviated anxiety about consumerism

Reading this along with “goodbye stuff” is helping to alleviate some if the stress and anxiety around consumerism.

A bit repetitive, and the beginning made me think “omg is he going to tell us how to change?” He did, glad I finished it!

If you have seen the TedTalk don’t buy the book

I picked up this book after watching Barry’s TedTalk (Which I highly recommend to anyone struggling with taking decisions), hoping to expand further on the topic. The book’s idea is great but the storytelling is awful and very repetitive. The point could have been transmitted in less than half of the length of the book.

Seek to satisfice versus maximize

More choices could mean a higher likelihood of getting exactly what we want. But too many choices could mean dissatisfaction. The author explains how the conventional wisdom of more choices is wrong and how we would be better off by:
- Seeking what's good enough instead of seeking the best.
- Lowering our expectations about the results of our decisions.
- Paying less attention to what others around us are doing.

In a study where either 6 varieties or 24 varieties of jam were available for people to sample, more people were interested when there were 24 varieties displayed. However, only 3% of the people exposed to the large array of jams bought a jar, while 30% of the people exposed to the small array bought a jar. Too many choices discourage consumers to make a purchase because of the effort needed to select one. With information overload, consumers decide not to decide. If a decision is made, the effort expended detract from the enjoyment derived from the purchase.

The book describes many ways to ease the burden of making a decision and lessen the stress and dissatisfaction from picking one. Some of the content is based on research done by Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky. If you're already familiar with their work, some of the content is repetitive.