Whether we're 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.
As Americans, 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.
By synthesizing current research in the social sciences, Schwartz makes the counter intuitive case that eliminating choices can greatly reduce the stress, anxiety, and busyness of our lives. He offers eleven practical steps on how to limit choices to a manageable number, have the discipline to focus on those that are important and ignore the rest, and ultimately derive greater satisfaction from the choices you have to make.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Barry Schwartz is the Dorwin Cartwright Professor of Social Theory and Social Action at Swarthmore College. He is the author of several books, including Practical Wisdom: The Right Way to Do the Right Thing, with Kenneth Sharpe, and Why We Work. His articles have appeared in many of the leading journals in his field, including American Psychologist.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Shipping:
FREE
Within U.S.A.
Book Description Paperback or Softback. Condition: New. The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less 0.59. Book. Seller Inventory # BBS-9780060005696
Book Description Condition: New. Seller Inventory # 2550665-n
Book Description Condition: New. Buy with confidence! Book is in new, never-used condition. Seller Inventory # bk0060005696xvz189zvxnew
Book Description Paperback. Condition: New. Seller Inventory # DADAX0060005696
Book Description Condition: New. Seller Inventory # ABLIING23Feb2215580001186
Book Description Condition: New. Seller Inventory # I-9780060005696
Book Description Paperback. Condition: New. Brand New! This item is printed on demand. Seller Inventory # 0060005696
Book Description Condition: New. New! This book is in the same immaculate condition as when it was published. Seller Inventory # 353-0060005696-new
Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. New. Fast Shipping and good customer service. Seller Inventory # Holz_New_0060005696
Book Description Paperback. Condition: New. New edition. Special order direct from the distributor. Seller Inventory # ING9780060005696