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.

巴里•施瓦茨Barry Schwartz

★ 美国斯沃斯莫尔学院社会心理学教授，2009年TED大会压轴演讲人，以博学和风趣征服观众。在现场聆听他演讲的观众超过5000人，既有政府官员，也有商业人士，遍布金融、零售、餐饮、广告、娱乐等众多行业。在互联网上观看他演讲视频的人数更是超过了500万。

★ 其著作《选择的悖论》自出版以来好评如潮，先后荣登美国《商业周刊》、《福布斯》杂志年度10大畅销书，在全球以20多种语言发行。

★ 他本人多次接受CNN、PBS、CBS等一线媒体的采访，他的文章频频发表在《纽约时报》、《哈佛商业评论》、《卫报》等顶级报刊杂志。