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  • The Paradox of Choice

  • Why More is Less
  • Written by: Barry Schwartz
  • Narrated by: Ken Kliban
  • Length: 7 hrs and 2 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (50 ratings)

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The Paradox of Choice

Written by: Barry Schwartz
Narrated by: Ken Kliban
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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.

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Find a summary article instead

At this point, Schwartz's concepts from "The Paradox of Choice" are widely spread and easily accessible in more succinct formats. If you're looking for the theory, start there. If your desire is to labour through this horrible narration, godspeed. Ken Kliban's painful cadence and annoyingly repetitive intonation made this torture. I had to restart this book several times with breaks between listening sessions - he is *that* bad.
That said, the concepts are valid and relevant to anyone looking at improving their understanding of managing choices or product options/variations for customers. However, unless your interest is in the superfluous detail through which Schwartz explains the scientific process through which the studies on choice were conducted, I would highly recommend finding a TLDR version of this book.

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Pleasantly Surprised at Granularity of Analysis

Although the book, at times, states the obvious about our reactions to choices, I was pleasantly surprised at how detailed it gets when it discussed the studies about choice. Further, it talks about how we can "control" choice to direct our satisfaction, motivation, and influences. There are applications into romantic relationships, the work environment, and introspective reflections.

Recommended for those who want to find simple, accessible ways to engage with others, exercise gratitude, get meaning out of community contribution, and achieve overall happiness.

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It's crazy

It's really eye opening to know about all those choices that he talk about in this book.

It's really the land of the opportunity. The land of abundance.

Well now it's going down the toilet with all that it is going on with the supply chain.

Me I can deal with it and manage to get what I want. Because I am not difficult.

People are really specific so let's just see what is going to happen.

I just started the book. I just wanted to write about it.

I would not mind going back to the time he refer to. Just to try it.

I think that my time is way too much complicated for nothing.

I own 3 headphones from the same company. Why? Because on one I didn't like something about it. So I bought something better. But then it was not noise cancelling enough so I had to buy again. So you see there is noise cancelling and not enough noise cancelling.

Now I am fine. It's cancelling enough. LOL Even people I don't want to hear. LOL

What grandma? You talked to me? LOL

I had a lot of problems with regrets and this book makes me realize what I have, being more grateful and it make me more happy.

Even if I miss something from my past. Not everything was good but some parts were. At least. It was not all bad.

I would really recommend this book to someone who is dealing with regrets and have to make difficult choices.

It's really a great book. Thanks for everything.

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Strong case, relevant topic

The first half of the book is weak, but the second part is basically behavioural economics and he makes a somewhat strong case. Good book, even more accurate and relevant than 10 years ago

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More relevant and outdated than ever before

Amazing that the author wrote this in 2004, considering our abundance of choice has only increased since then. His given examples, ie the Gore Bush election, video rental shops, and mail out catalogues, are a combination of comical and painful. It would be great if this book was updated and rewritten, considering how much more powerful it could be if it focused instead on Netflix, Amazon, Spotify, Tinder, Instagram, Audible, and every other aspect of our consumer, disposable, single use, infinite choice, same day delivery, free returns, rate and review culture. How is one ever supposed to find satisfaction in what they have when there are infinite reminders of what they lack? I enjoyed this book, and felt I needed the deeper dive past the TED talks and YouTube clips, but even still - it has only opened the door for me, rather than closed it. Where to next, I wonder

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Good reminders

I have been reminded why I hate shopping malls! I enjoyed the studies cited that lead to the conclusions the author comes to. If you are fascinated by human behaviour, you'll find this book an interesting read.

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Needs to be updated

the concepts are correct. the facts are too old to be useful. this book would benefit from an update.

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