Margaret's review
Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less by Barry Schwartz
This book changed my thinking more than any other I've read this year. In our consumerist society, we're always told that the more choices we have, the more empowered we are as individuals. But haven't you ever been paralyzed in making a decision because the vast number of choices is overwhelming? I've always had a nagging feeling that too many choices are actually detrimental to our happiness and satisfaction, and that's just what Barry Schwartz's book articulates. I saw him give a lecture at Mary Washington earlier this year, and he is fascinating and funny! He gives great examples ranging from the trivial, like shopping for jeans at the Gap, to the essential, like saving for retirement or choosing a spouse.
One of my favorite things about the book is the suggestions Schwartz makes for dealing with the choices we have to make. He not only lays out the problem, but suggests how we can change our behavior in a way that wil...more
One of my favorite things about the book is the suggestions Schwartz makes for dealing with the choices we have to make. He not only lays out the problem, but suggests how we can change our behavior in a way that wil...more
