Comparing the experience to what we hoped it would be 2. Comparing the experience to what we expected it would be 3. Comparing the experience to other experiences we have had in the past 4. Comparing the experience to experiences have had View all 18 comments. Jan 28, Jeff rated it did not like it Shelves: worm-reading-list. The Paradox of Choice is a page treatises on why too much choice can be debilitating.
The problem is that we spend too much time and energy trying to make choices that in the grand scheme of things don't matter that much. I agree with the big idea, but I hated the book and here's why: Schwartz could have made his point in a fine three The Paradox of Choice is a page treatises on why too much choice can be debilitating. I agree with the big idea, but I hated the book and here's why: Schwartz could have made his point in a fine three page article, we don't need pages of examples to get the idea.
Yeah, there is too much choice, and we need to spend quality time making the choices that matter like where to work and who to be in a commited relationship with, and less time picking out what cereal to buy. So you get the gist. Make the right choice and leave this book on the shelf. View all 7 comments. Mar 23, Edward rated it really liked it. Really important book for me. Refers to some great research. When We Choose 1. How We Choose 3. Deciding and Chooosing - experienced, expected, and remembered utility rarely line up faithfully - Kahneman et.
Why We Suffer 5. What We Can Do View 2 comments. Jan 23, Chloe rated it did not like it Shelves: nonfiction. The premise of this book did interest me.
What I thought was going to be a book that analyzed how the abundances of choice or at least the appearance of choice affects our perception of freedom, satisfaction, and enjoyment, turned out to be a repetitive book that sounds like an older guy complaining why there are so many different types of beans in the supermarket. Why are there so many types! Just give me beans! Not really the kind of abundance of choice I was expecting to be inhibiting our every day lives. He goes on to provide more anecdotes about how hard he is finding it to adjust to so much choice now available in the modern market place.
He describes the agony of picking out a pair of jeans, since there are so many different cuts available since clothing designers have figured out that there is more than one body type. And it is his approach to buying jeans that honestly made me loose respect in his approach to the whole subject of choice. What he does is he sees that there are so many different cuts, he can't decide, therefor he buys all the different types, tries them on at home to figure out which one work for him.
And there I was thinking, "Isn't that what dressing rooms are for? I really find it hard to think that it is better for a clothing store to ignore different body types and to just make clothes that fits one ideal body type to make one shopping experience easier.
The truth is, everyone has to go through finding out the cut of jeans that work best for you, and then after that point, you just remember and pick the cut you know fits you after that experience. Someone really doesn't reevaluate and try on all the different cuts every single time they go to buy jeans. Just like people know their size, people know their cut.
Unless there is a size 6 who tries sizes 0 - 14 only to realize that a size 6 still is the size that fits her the best. He even tried to argue that having more than one place to vacation to was a bad thing. That deciding made the experiences significantly less enjoyable. I don't know about him but once I have decided and I am on vacation, I don't really think about where I could have been but where I am currently.
A vacation is a vacation, it is kind of hard to ruin them. This author could have made very valid points, but many times the anecdotes he provided made him sound like a confused, annoyed aging man who wants things to be like the good old days, his examples and scenarios weren't good at all picking out beans, buying jeans, or where to go on a vacation, etc , and also he would provide very little evidence to back up the claims that choice was making us more miserable.
View all 4 comments. Apr 16, Darwin8u rated it really liked it Shelves: Learning to choose well is harder. And learning to choose well in a world of unlimited possibilities is harder still, perhaps too hard. 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. 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.
I believe behavioral economics was invented to get economists laid. It reminds me of a joke my econ professor used to tell us. His personality. View all 3 comments. Feb 21, Sahar rated it liked it Shelves: psychology , non-fiction. Though it may be perceived as advantageous to have so much agency and free will over every aspect of our lives, psychologist Barry Shwartz argues in his that abundance and proliferation of choice is in fact detrimental to our physical health and psychological wellbeing.
In this book, Schwartz recounts the findings of his own independent studies as well as external research into behaviour and decision-making. He is a critic of the philosophical frameworks that underpin modern Western societies, with much of his research and published works reflective of his contrarian approach. Schwartz argues that excessive autonomy breeds increasing levels of stress for the lay person who will struggle with even the most trivial of daily decisions.
It is the fact that Schwartz boldly contests the historic belief that more choice is synonymous with more control and better quality of life that inspired me to hear what he had to say.
The Paradox of Choice is a work that not only gives you a chance to reflect on how immensely blessed we are to have so much agency, but to truly contemplate whether this truly enriches our lives, or whether it in fact makes us more confused and dissatisfied than ever.
As Schwartz goes on to demonstrate, the latter seems to be the more prevalent state of affairs. A maximiser, Schwartz claims, is an individual that seeks and accepts only the best. A satisficer, on the other hand, will settle for something that is good enough without scouring the Earth to find the best of its kind.
Schwartz argues that Western society and its obsession with inordinate materialism, excessive consumption and social status has caused those who may naturally be satisficers to fall into the maximiser category. This certainly makes sense; it is evident in how we compete with one another to live increasingly extravagant, lavish lifestyles. We all too often forget that this world is not our final abode and we put this reality on the backburner, as we continue to hoard our wealth and possessions as if they will vouch for us in the afterlife.
It has long been said that affluence does not equal happiness. The Western world produces the most affluent and economically thriving societies, especially in terms of income per capita. It is not a stretch, therefore, to believe that this would cause the quality of our lives to likewise increase, however, this is not the case.
Increased rates of suicide, depression, anxiety and loneliness can be used to gauge just how much damage excessive affluence and modern lifestyles can have on a society. Liberal Western societies emphasise individualism, and it is this very concept that is causing so many to experience such debilitating mental states. The Islamic worldview champions and showcases this factor with its emphasis on maintaining good social and familial relations to form a cohesive, content, and strong society.
As an academic whose work concentrates on the interplay between psychology and economics, Schwartz uses several economic theories to back up his research and further illustrate the extent to which excessive choice makes us suffer. So thinking about opportunity cost is probably an essential part of wise decision making. In all, The Paradox of Choice is a though-provoking read and encourages the reader to be open and honest about the ways in which they make choices and decisions.
My only critique is that I felt the book was a bit too long and got repetitive. It could have easily been half the length and still as effective if the writing was more concise.
The volume of research and cases also contributed to the length of the book, and though I appreciated the evidence, I found it a bit overwhelming. Dec 14, Gordon rated it it was amazing. This is one of those books that, once you've read it, permanently shifts your perspective. It made me think altogether differently about the value of having MORE choices.
As the author argues, your sense of well-being increases when you go from having no choices to having a few choices. But as you go from having a few choices to having many choices, your happiness typically goes down. Because it's time-consuming and stressful to choose between all those alternatives! You become fearful of m This is one of those books that, once you've read it, permanently shifts your perspective. You become fearful of making a mistake, of not making the absolute best choice.
And often the more time you spend making that perfect choice, the more unhappy you are second-guessing yourself after the fact. Did I make a mistake? How to get out of this dilemma? Limit your choices to a handful that satisfy your criteria. Then stop adding more alternatives. Make your selection as quickly as you can given the available information and the importance of the decision.
Buying a house warrants careful consideration and lots of time. Buying a coffee-maker does not. This may sound kind of self-evident, but can be extraordinarily difficult to put into practice, whether it has to do with choosing mates or picking a university to attend.
The book is well-supported by lots of experimental evidence. Well worth reading. Highly recommended. I first heard of this book from a friend, who explained it in terms of dating. In the span of time between her first date with her husband and the day they finally got married, she had married and divorced someone else. That is the paradox of choice. The more options that are available, the harder it is to decide.
All I first heard of this book from a friend, who explained it in terms of dating. As a matter of fact, I barely shop at all. Basically, the advice is two-fold. After all, those happen, too. Privacy Copyright. Skip to main content Swarthmore College. Psychology Faculty Works. Abstract 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 k , everyday decisions - both big and small - have become increasingly complex due to the overwhelming abundance of choice with which we are presented.
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.
Less is more is the key to success. There, we included several examples of the paradox of choice, priming , loss aversion and lots of other fallacies. Do you want to optimize your conversion or truly understand your target audience? Be sure to check it out! You will also receive:. Online courses Growth. Join us. Home Blog Decision Making Paradox of choice: why less is more!
Paradox of choice: why less is more! What is Paradox of Choice?
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