I actually really liked this book.

The concept it presents was truly cool and something that I had read about previously, specifically from a Christian viewpoint.

Schwartz delves into a deep exploration of behavioral psychology, and I really appreciate it.

He draws a great deal from the book "Thinking Fast and Slow," which I found interesting in terms of how influential that particular book truly is.

Overall, I thought he put forward a compelling and well-supported argument that I believe I side with.

My favorite quote from the book is: "The proliferation of options seems to lead, inexorably, to the raising of expectations."

This quote really stood out to me as it highlights an important aspect of our modern lives, where the abundance of choices we have often leads to higher expectations and, potentially, more dissatisfaction.

Schwartz's examination of this phenomenon through the lens of behavioral psychology provides valuable insights into how we make decisions and how our expectations are formed.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in understanding more about human behavior and decision-making.

“Learning to choose is hard. Learning to choose well is harder. And learning to choose well in a world of unlimited possibilities is harder still, perhaps too hard.” This profound statement by Barry Schwartz in his book "The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less" highlights a significant aspect of our modern lives. The wide array of choices we face daily, such as what to read, how to read it, what rating to give it, and where to post our review, often leads to unhappiness, a phenomenon Schwartz refers to as the tyranny of small decisions.

Schwartz's work offers a solid survey of the behavioral economics literature related to this premise. Similar to many popular economic books that regularly emerge and sell well, it tells us something we already suspected to some extent while also presenting counter-intuitive ideas that gently surprise us. This combination of familiarity and novelty validates our intuitions while also expanding our understanding.

This book belongs on the bookshelf alongside works by Malcolm Gladwell, "Freakonomics," "Predictably Irrational," "Nudge," and "Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me)," among others. These books are all interesting and worth the time, as long as it's less than 5 hours. However, none of them are truly brilliant. They share a Gladwell-like reductionism, which makes them popular with the business community and heavily promoted by Forbes and TED. While I'm attracted to this form, I'm also repelled by it. They seem to straddle the divide between academic and pop, between economics and self-help. Reading them makes me feel like I know a bit more about myself, but also leaves me disappointed for a couple more rational reasons.

A side note: I believe behavioral economics was invented to get economists laid. It brought them into contact with more psychology and sociology majors, as evidenced by Malcolm Gladwell, who could be described as a bit of a horndog. This reminds me of a joke my econ professor used to tell us: "What does an economist use for birth control? His personality."

The link above, which is almost a summary of this 300-page book, can be watched. The main message is that the increase in choices in the past has led to more sadness and dissatisfaction in us, while the philosophy of choosing and having more control over choices increases people's satisfaction and aggression.

In the following chapters of the book, several other problems that make the effect of more choices worse or are caused by it are described, such as regret, perfectionism, conformity, maximization vs. contentment, concern about status, social comparison, and so on.

Many interesting examples, along with references to the book and articles, to some extent make our minds relax about these examples. And the writing style and, more importantly, the solutions in the final chapter of the book (which to a large extent we know what solution it will offer while reading the book) make this book more practical for the reader.

A problem I had with the book was that it would have been good if Schwartz could have predicted some of the questions that might come to the reader's mind and then answered them.

And another problem was that the multifactorial nature (for example) of the increase in suicide and depression should not be solely attributed to the increase in the power of choice and control and the dissatisfaction resulting from them. Recently, I saw a TED talk that exactly attributed one of the suicide statistics in this book to the withering away of the meaning of life in modern humans (which, of course, also has a flaw that Schwartz is guilty of because of ignoring the multifactorial nature of an event)!

+TED talk by Gilbert, titled The surprising science of happiness, is also relevant as a complement to this issue of choice and options, and so on.

This and Borges' "Library of Babel" are the two works that best describe sites such as this.

Their descriptions are so vivid and detailed that they仿佛 bring these mysterious and vast sites to life.

In Borges' work, the library is a symbol of infinite knowledge and possibility, with countless bookshelves filled with books of all kinds.

Similarly, this work also captures the essence of such sites, presenting their complexity and wonder.

Highly recommended.

Whether you are a fan of literature or simply interested in exploring the unknown, these two works are sure to provide you with a fascinating and thought-provoking experience.

They will take you on a journey through the corridors of imagination and leave you with a new perspective on the world around us.

So, don't miss out on this opportunity to discover the magic of these two remarkable works.

Pick them up and let your imagination run wild.

Sometimes, a book serves as a means to reflect on a problem rather than provide a definite solution. I picked up this book when I was inundated and drained by the numerous options available to me - different activities I could engage in, places I could visit, and books I could read. As I read the initial chapters, I felt stressed just by being reminded of all the choices that had to be made on a daily basis.

The book did well in that regard: it presented the problem, offered some sort of solution, and prompted me to think about it in a more organized way. However, was it truly substantial? Not really. A significant portion of it merely repeated the concepts from "Thinking Fast and Slow" and applied them to the issue of choice. Another key concept the author proposed is the distinction between satisficers and maximisers. While the latter strives to achieve the best possible outcome, the former is content with an outcome that meets their standard (which can be high!). Barry suggests that we should be satisficers more often, regret less, and be grateful for what we have. And this is partly true: after reading the book, I'll attempt to be a satisficer in more areas such as choosing travel destinations, technology, and food.

But this approach has limitations in situations where one should aim to be a maximiser. What kind of situations are those? They are situations where the distribution of outcomes is fat-tailed, such as deciding which university to attend, whether to start a company, or choosing a career path. And these situations in our era often involve an almost unlimited number of choices, precisely the kind that Barry discusses. If you want to be a satisficer as a VC fund, you'll fail because you're seeking the top 1% of companies. What to do in such situations, Barry doesn't address.

Moreover, his solution of becoming a satisficer in more situations is also incomplete. Just saying that you should be more content doesn't necessarily mean you'll actually become more content. There's a significant gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it. The approach that worked for me this time was mindfulness: meditation and journaling helped reduce my anxiety. There are likely other approaches as well.

In conclusion, I don't regret reading this book at all, but read it only if you feel you need it, not just if you want to learn something. The answers proposed are not the best - and not even satisfactory!

This book delves into the reasons why an abundance of choices doesn't necessarily lead to greater happiness, a fact that I wholeheartedly认同.

It also elaborates on why it's preferable to be someone who is content with "good enough" rather than someone who is perpetually in search of "the best" and experiences dissatisfaction when they believe they've settled for less or when they sense that the best is still within reach but they haven't discovered it yet.

I am most definitely the first type of person, and I'm extremely glad to be so. The book provides extensive details on how to find happiness more easily even in the face of a plethora of choices. Fortunately, I didn't require the book for information as much as I relished it for the validation that the kind of person I am innately is the optimal kind of person to be.

It's reassuring to know that my inclination towards being satisfied with what's good enough is not only a valid approach but also one that can lead to greater happiness and contentment in life.

This is an extremely interesting book that not only acknowledges the blessing of freedom of choice but also points out a crucial fact - more isn't always better.

Often, an abundance of choices can actually lead to more problems or even paralyze us when it comes to decision making. The author presents numerous meaningful examples, ranging from shopping for various items, both small and large, to choosing college courses and majors, and even in the context of relationships. These principles have wide applicability in many different settings.

Several parts of this book brought to my mind my decision analysis class in graduate school and our textbook, "Smart Choices A Practical Guide to Making Better Decisions". It made me think that maybe I should go back to creating more dancing line graphs. :)

I tend to be a maximizer in certain aspects of my life, which is why this book was particularly helpful for me. (No wonder I've been looking to buy a house for over a year and a half.) :) It made me realize the importance of taking a step back and thinking about which choices truly matter and then devoting our time and energy to those decisions, rather than worrying too much about the rest.

At the end of the book, the author summarizes with eleven suggestions for dealing with an overwhelming number of choices. I found them to be quite insightful. For example, choosing when to choose, being a chooser rather than a picker, and satisficing more while maximizing less.

Here are some other quotes from the book that I really liked. The author states that "This book is about the choices Americans face in almost all areas of life...choice is essential to autonomy, which is fundamental to well-being." Another interesting point is that "Filtering out extraneous information is one of the basic functions of consciousness."

Overall, this book has provided me with valuable insights and I am grateful for the opportunity to have read it. It has made me think more deeply about my own decision-making processes and how I can make better choices in the future. :)

The book "The Paradox of Choice", written by psychologist Barry Schwartz, explains why choice in today's modern society is so difficult. Choosing a job, a new jacket, a school for one's child, a life partner, and so on can be a great challenge for many people.

Barry Schwartz in "The Paradox of Choice" attempts to explain the factors that make choice difficult for us. He also provides the reader with some solutions to make decision-making easier.

In modern society, we are faced with an overwhelming number of options in almost every aspect of our lives. This abundance of choices can lead to decision fatigue, stress, and even regret. Schwartz argues that we often spend too much time and energy trying to make the perfect choice, when in fact, a good enough choice is usually sufficient.

By understanding the paradox of choice and implementing some of the strategies Schwartz suggests, such as simplifying our options, setting clear criteria for decision-making, and learning to accept that we may not always make the perfect choice, we can reduce the stress and anxiety associated with decision-making and lead a more fulfilling life.

2.5 -

I truly thought that the book was an extremely long one. In fact, a significant portion of it could potentially be eliminated, and yet one would still be able to grasp the essential meaning or gist.

I have decided to make a change in my behavior. I want to see if by becoming a satisfier instead of a maximizer, it will not only enable me to make choices more quickly but also allow me to be content with those very same choices.

Moreover, I really identified with the phrase “learned helplessness”. I am determined to do my absolute best to break free from that unproductive pattern or rut. I firmly believe that by making these conscious efforts, I can bring about positive changes in my decision-making process and overall outlook on life.

I'm sort of like a maximizer that doesn't experience regret or depression.

Maximizers are those who always strive to make the best possible choices and get the most out of every situation. They are constantly seeking the optimal outcome and are not satisfied with anything less.

However, being a maximizer doesn't necessarily mean that one will experience regret or depression. In fact, I have found that by focusing on the positive aspects of my decisions and learning from my experiences, I can avoid these negative emotions.

When I make a choice, I do so with the best information available at the time. If things don't turn out as expected, I don't dwell on it but instead look for ways to improve the situation or make a better choice next time.

This approach has allowed me to live a more fulfilling and stress-free life. I am able to take risks and pursue my goals without the fear of failure or regret holding me back.

In conclusion, being a maximizer can be a great asset as long as one is able to manage the associated emotions in a healthy way. By focusing on the positive and learning from our experiences, we can all strive to make the best possible choices and live our lives to the fullest.

Ever since I found out that people, on average, are much more unhappy nowadays than before and that things will only get worse, I often wonder why this is the case. I always had some of my own vague answers to this question but they didn't satisfy me enough. It's very strange to me that in times when everything is easier and little is prohibited, the number of people suffering from depression, for example, is rapidly increasing. After reading this book, things became a little clearer to me. I can imagine how this book can change someone's life.

Most of us are happy that we can choose from a multitude of options regarding everything that exists, choosing what we want the most. Or at least, we think we are happy. Barry Schwartz in "The Paradox of Choice" convincingly shows that excessive choice often brings more problems than benefits. And the greater the choice, the more problems pile up. Counterintuitive, isn't it? But in our complex universe, many things are just like that.

Of course, it's good that we have great freedom to choose but when you are forced to do nothing else all the time except choose and pick, then that's not freedom either, is it? That's exactly what's happening in the modern world: we deny our freedom and our time to pick among things that are not really necessary. Many people wonder where their free time goes and when they think about it, they realize that they have spent half the day choosing where they will have lunch, what they will wear, with whom they will go, what they will eat, how long they will stay there, and before that, they were choosing where they will buy something, what they will buy, how much money they will spend, visiting stores, and new stores and new models always keep popping up, so then just one more store, just one more thing... In the past, many things were given to us by God: we had a family, neighbors, a hometown, a religion... Now we are not satisfied with such a narrow choice and we feel that we must find the perfect friends, the perfect partner, the perfect school, the perfect job, the perfect end, the perfect country... And we non-stop think about whether we made the perfect choice, and then comes reconsideration, re-counting, regret, hesitation about whether to get divorced, whether she was better for me before... And all this doesn't make us happier. On the contrary, all research shows the opposite. For example, if we have too many choices, we often give up on all of them. Making compromises creates conflicts. And the more choices we have, the more opportunities we will surely miss. In the long run, people mostly regret not because of what they have done but because of what they have missed. And we miss a lot.

It's a pity that because of the psychological mechanisms behind choosing, we make big mistakes in advance. It has been proven that we horribly predict how much we will like something. We expect something to be horrible or great but in reality, all that will be to a much lesser extent or even the opposite. And also, we quite poorly assess how things are going. When we assess, that is, when we try to express it, we first describe the things that come to our mind first or are easier to articulate. And based on all that, we make future decisions. When we achieve a great financial gain or, for example, become immobile, we expect that our feeling of happiness and satisfaction will always be different. In reality, after a certain time, we return to our usual level. Adaptation does its job. You know that people get used to everything. In the book, something called the "hedonistic treadmill" is described. We always seek higher and higher levels of enjoyment and when we get used to something and it's no longer enough for us, we strive for more. As if we are on a machine that always moves the goal for us and we can never reach it. And we are never satisfied.

The author calls extreme choosers "maximizers". For them, the quality of life is very low although paradoxically they always strive for the best. It's better to lower the criteria and be satisfied with good enough in most things and only in some strive for perfection, and maybe even that. Anyway, it's all the same. Although happiness is probably not the most important thing, if, in essence, you achieve the same things with good enough as with perfect, it's better to be happy with good enough than to be constantly frustrated with the best that you actually can't always achieve. The most pleasant enjoyments should be made rare so that we don't get bored with them.

Learning to choose is an arduous task. It becomes even harder when one attempts to choose well. And in a world filled with unlimited possibilities, the challenge of choosing well escalates to an almost insurmountable level.

The modern Western capitalist society inundates its citizens with an abundance of choices and possibilities. We are truly spoilt for choice in every facet of our lives. These choices are not confined to material goods alone; there is a concurrent proliferation of new ideologies, movements, and theories. While having such extensive agency and free will over our lives may seem advantageous, psychologist Barry Shwartz contends in his work that the abundance and proliferation of choice are actually harmful to our physical health and psychological well-being. In his book, Schwartz details the findings of his own independent studies as well as external research on behavior and decision-making. He is a critic of the philosophical frameworks that underpin modern Western societies, and much of his research and published works reflect his contrarian approach.

Schwartz argues that excessive autonomy leads to increasing levels of stress for the average person, who struggles even with the most trivial of daily decisions. He states, “Though modern Americans have more choice than any group of people ever has before, and thus, presumably, more freedom and autonomy, we don’t seem to be benefiting from it psychologically.”

I appreciate the challenge presented by the contrarian perspective through the medium of literature, especially when it prompts reflection on the status quo and widely accepted societal norms. It is the fact that Schwartz boldly challenges the historic belief that more choice equates to more control and a better quality of life that inspired me to listen to what he had to say. The Paradox of Choice is a work that not only gives us an opportunity to reflect on how incredibly fortunate we are to have so much agency but also compels us to truly contemplate whether this actually enriches our lives or makes us more confused and dissatisfied than ever. As Schwartz goes on to show, the latter appears to be the more common state of affairs.

Schwartz’s work is divided into four parts. He begins by explaining how we choose, then details how this causes us to suffer, and concludes with useful tips on what we can do to eliminate the stresses resulting from excessive choice. Aside from the eye-opening research that demonstrates how people actually make poorer decisions despite having more options, what particularly stood out to me was the concept of people falling into one of two categories: ‘maximisers’ or ‘satisficers’ (a term I was skeptical of until I looked it up).

A maximiser, according to Schwartz, is an individual who seeks and accepts only the best. They will go to great lengths and exert a significant amount of energy to ensure that the product or service they are selecting is of the highest quality. A satisficer, on the other hand, will settle for something that is good enough without exhaustively searching for the best of its kind. Schwartz argues that Western society’s obsession with excessive materialism, overconsumption, and social status has caused those who may naturally be satisficers to fall into the maximiser category. This makes sense when we consider how we compete with one another to lead increasingly extravagant and lavish lifestyles. This is reminiscent of what Allah says in the Qur’an regarding materialism: “Competition in [worldly] increase diverts you, Until you meet the graveyards.” [Qur’an, 102:1-2]. We often forget that this world is not our final destination and put this reality aside as we continue to accumulate wealth and possessions as if they will defend us in the afterlife.

This idea is further emphasized as Schwartz states, “I believe that the goal of maximising is a source of great dissatisfaction, that it can make people miserable – especially in a world that insists on providing an overwhelming number of choices, both trivial and not so trivial.” The more energy we expend and the more time we waste sifting through all the choices not only reduces our likelihood of actually enjoying or valuing the product or service after purchase but also diminishes our gratitude to the One who provided it to us in the first place.

It has long been said that affluence does not necessarily equate to happiness. The Western world boasts the most affluent and economically prosperous societies, particularly in terms of income per capita. It would seem reasonable to assume that this would lead to a corresponding increase in the quality of our lives, but this is not the case. Rising rates of suicide, depression, anxiety, and loneliness serve as indicators of the damage that excessive affluence and modern lifestyles can inflict on a society. Liberal Western societies place a strong emphasis on individualism, and it is this very concept that is causing so many people to experience such debilitating mental states. It is no wonder, then, that “what seems to be the most important factor in providing happiness is close social relations.” The Islamic worldview promotes and exemplifies this factor by emphasizing the importance of maintaining good social and family relationships to form a cohesive, content, and strong society. “So would you perhaps, if you turned away, cause corruption on earth and sever your [ties of] relationship?” [Qur’an, 47:22].

As an academic whose work focuses on the intersection of psychology and economics, Schwartz employs several economic theories to support his research and further illustrate the extent to which excessive choice causes us to suffer. One such example is the concept of ‘opportunity cost,’ which will be familiar to those who have studied basic economic theory. In simple terms, opportunity cost is what is sacrificed when choosing between options: “Choosing almost always involves giving up something of value. So thinking about opportunity cost is probably an essential part of wise decision making. The trick is to limit the set of possibilities so that the opportunity costs don’t add up to make all the alternatives unattractive.” One solution to streamline the time-consuming decision-making process, therefore, is to discipline oneself and limit one’s options, and this is the key advice that Schwartz offers in his book.

Overall, The Paradox of Choice is a thought-provoking read that encourages the reader to be open and honest about the ways in which they make choices and decisions. My only criticism is that I felt the book was a bit too long and repetitive. It could have been easily half the length and still been just as effective if the writing had been more concise. The volume of research and cases also contributed to the length of the book, and while I appreciated the evidence, I found it a bit overwhelming. I did, however, value the emphasis on the need to be grateful and appreciative of all that we have been given, for the very fact that we have the ‘problem’ of too much choice in the first place is a clear indication of our privilege and prosperity. “Look at those people who have less than you and never look at those who have more grants than you, this will ensure that you will not depreciate Allah’s favours.” (Muslim).