In the spirit of Alvin Toffler's Future Shock, a social critique of
our obsession with choice, and how it contributes to anxiety,
dissatisfaction and regret. This paperback includes a new preface from
the author.
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.
