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.

The Tyranny of Pop Economics

A solid survey of behavioral economics literature related to the premise that the wide range of choices we have (what to read, how to read it, what rating to give it, where to post our review) actually ends up making us unhappier (tyranny of small decisions). Schwartz's summary is similar to a lot of those pop-economic books that seem to pop up regularly and sell quite well because they both tell us something we kinda already suspected, but also gently surprise us with counter-intuitive ideas at the same time. We are surprised, we are also a little validated: just little bit of supply with a very light touch demand.

This book belongs snug on the bookshelf next to: anything by Malcolm Gladwell, Freakonomics, Predictably Irrational, Nudge, Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me), etc. All interesting, all worth the time (as long as the time is < 5 hrs), but none of them are brilliant. They are all Gladwell-like in their reductionism (this is why they all sell so well to the business community and are pimped heavily by Forbes to TED). I am both attracted and repelled by the form. They seem to span the fissure between academic and pop, between economics and self-help. I read them and I end up feeling like I know a bit more about myself, and NOW I'm just disappointed in that bastard for a couple more rational reasons.

Great idea, repetitive & boring first hour

After watching TED talk and liking what I heard, I thought I'd pick up the audio book and get into some more detail.

Sadly after an hour I gave up. The first few chapters are extremely repetitive. He lists choice lists over and over again. ... 'and then you have medical insurance'. option 1, 2,3,4... 'and then you have cookies' chocolate chip, oatmeal... over and over again. I had to give up. Maybe the book will get better in the following chapters, but after an hour I decided to give up and switch to the next audiobook I'd grabbed.

From what I listened to, you could get most of the information from the above 20minute TED talk.

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.

Interesting

This work caused me to realize that much of the stress of my life is related to the infinite list of possibilities and choices that I have to make. It also gave me a set of strategies for dealing with that stress.

Very true...

Satisficers really do enjoy life more than maximizers. This I think is particularly true in a marriage.

Good information, distracting narration

Would you be willing to try another one of Ken Kliban’s performances?

Not likely. He had an almost forced steady rate of speech and he seemed to place too much emphasis/stress in the "ity" for words such as "opportunity" and "possibility" which was rather distracting once I noticed it.

Any additional comments?

I will likely go back and review parts of this book again, but I would get a physical copy because of the narration.

The narration took away from the material for me.

What made the experience of listening to The Paradox of Choice the most enjoyable?

The second half was useful because it was expanded material built on the first half which was material I had already read in other works.

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

I often got distracted by the way the reader would just read what we're obviously section headers straight through and continue on to the text of the section. I had to mentally stop to put the organization of the work together in my head when a section header should have been an obvious part to help organize it. Setting section header off in the reading, as in the actual text, would make the reading much more coherent.

This is not the first audio book to be read this way, but it certainly was distracting to me.

Would you be willing to try another one of Ken Kliban’s performances?

Not in non-fiction

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No

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.

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.

Impressive

Impressive,
you will get much form this book!
Repetitive? No! Good idea need long talk! always.

OK - perhaps better physically reading it.

I got the concepts and appreciate the 'less is more approach'
I didn't find the book easy to listen to in comparison to others I've heard. It's one of those that will require a 2nd or 3rd hearing. Possibly better physically reading it.

Some great tools on simplifying life, well worth a read / listen

The first half was interesting but I didn't feel I was picking up tools on how to deal with the issues identified. The second half is full of really actionable gems. In hindsight you probably need to first half to set the scene. Great book. Well worth a read unless you never find yourself frustrated trying to make a decision about anything.

Great Book Full of Insight

The boom has fantastic enlightening content that can be used in a variety of applications, from personal development to marketing strategies.
The narration however is awful - but bear with it - it's worth it!

Great book, the narrator's intonation grates tho!

I love the concepts in the book, they are dealt with in an informative and accessible way with some tests and practical things you can assess about yourself. I just wish the narrator would change the tone he uses at the end of every single sentence. It grates a lot although after an hour or two I learned to tune out. I guess I adapted lol!

It’s okay

More of a self help guide than what I thought. The narrator, I personally, found a little robotic and, well, boring to be honest.

Great book, lots of useful insight

This book opened my eyes to a lot of things I hadn't considered about making choices and the satisfaction you derive from them. Listening to this has helped me wrap my mind around a number of useful concepts and I intend to follow the advice for action provided to ease decision making and let go of regret about past choices. This book can potentially bring a lot of value to you as it did for me, especially if you struggle with making choices or always wonder if you made the right decision.

Same thing over and over again

No substance. Just the same thing said in different ways. Not recommended! Boring and dreary

Not good

Neither scientific nor interesting. Seems the only choices that matter to the author are monetary ones.

Expected more although worthy

I Came to this book attracted from the talk he the author offered. I found the talk brilliant and the book not as interesting as the talk made it seem it was going to be , all in all I learned a great deal of things I can totally relate to. I’ll take all those little lessons and try to make the most of them! Worthy
NOTE: Just bear in mind that this audio matches the first edition of the book

Great!

Great book. Very relevent to the modern consumer or anyone with an interest in mental health