The Paradox of Choice
Why More is Less
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The Paradox of Choice
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Narrated by:
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Ken Kliban
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By:
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Barry Schwartz
About this listen
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.Listeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about The Paradox of Choice
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Allan Paterson
- 06-10-20
Choice need not be good
I knew this but it was nice to remember overabundance can be a burden and it is better to have a strategy for it. Thankfully I am a "satisficer" and an optimist, which appears to be good news for my mental health.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Valentin Ursu
- 02-08-20
The reading is an abomination
The reader is incredibly bad, it made me think constantly how good it would be to be able to choose between multiple narrators while listening to a book about how bad multiple choices are.
The way he raises his tone at the end of almost every sentence is bad enough but the fact that he does not respect punctuation marks, that he does not respect commas where the author put them but ads his own, most likely due to cuts because he was too incompetent to get the sentence from start to finish, makes it almost impossible to listen.
on this audiobook, we need choice, we need a competent narrator to redo this book, and when everyone chooses the other narrator over this one, it will prove how bad this one is. The book proves while too many choices is bad, the audiobook proves why only one choice is bad.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Ellie Rose
- 26-12-22
Nothing new
I only managed about an hour, and had to give up. There was nothing new about his statements and observations, in fact I could have come up with 90% of the context myself after a few hours of thought, and I’m no expert in the field. Very disappointing,
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- E. Clark
- 15-07-20
Great book on choice and decision making
I enjoyed listening this book a lot. It explains why and how having so many choices in modern world makes us overwhelmed. Psychological and social impacts of this. Based on research, very clear arguments. Also gives useful advice how to make efficient choices and make life less complicated more satisfactory. Well written, well performed.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- James Reid
- 13-01-19
Very insightful.
A very interesting perspective on what makes us think and act the way we do.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Dr. Stephen Gulliver
- 20-07-23
Great book
This is a great book looking primarily at the distinction between satisfiers and maximisers. Although some examples and literature is dated this is a well written introduction to the paradox of choice.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 03-08-17
Depth and systematic
The narrator was a little distracting, as he speaks in a pace that to me seems unnatural, however he was able to hold my attention and deliver information clearly which I eventually appreciated
The book is very applicable to our times, it will give you awareness of potential issues that everyone can relate to. The start of the book builds up the foundation of the topic where as the last third of the book gives you ways in which to combat the paradox of choice. I removed a star because the book will be affected by the time period research had taken place. It makes me feel the subject matter is dated. I found personal satisfaction applying the themes to our current times and found myself taking notes on the section about "counterfactual Thinking" which is something that affects me greatly.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Chris Rodgerson
- 02-08-18
interesting topic
this book could have been condensed significantly but the repetition gets the points across. I am definitely a "maximiser" (not a great thing) and looking back, have been better off as a "satisfiser". enough good content for me personally.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- just-ice
- 29-10-18
great read
I loved it and it explains alot. a lot to take it. I think I will enjoy coming back to this book again in sometime.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Liam
- 17-11-16
eye opening
a very good book, plenty of nuggets to get you thinking and actions to put in place to move forward more productively and happier!
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