A reasoned and urgent call to embrace and protect the essential human quality that has been drummed out of our lives: wisdom. In their provocative new book, Barry Schwartz and Kenneth Sharpe explore the insights essential to leading satisfying lives. Encouraging individuals to focus on their own personal intelligence and integrity rather than simply navigating the rules and incentives established by others, Practical Wisdom outlines how to identify and cultivate our own innate wisdom in our daily lives.
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.
This text argues that market freedom is undermining much that is good in life and offers ways to put an end to this erosion. People value their freedom, family, friends, work, education, health and leisure - the things that are regarded as the best things in life. However, the pressure to satisfy both the bottom line and the seemingly insatiable need to consume is eroding these best things.
An analysis of the purpose of work in people's lives demonstrates how work operates in American culture and how everyday people can find happiness in the workplace, explaining the importance of career goals.
This retelling explores the biblical story of Jonah, focusing on his journey of faith and redemption after being swallowed by a whale. It delves into themes of obedience, mercy, and the struggle against one's fears, offering a fresh perspective on Jonah's internal conflicts and the lessons learned during his time in the depths of the sea. The narrative brings to life the emotional and spiritual challenges he faces, highlighting the transformative power of second chances.
Der Psychologieprofessor Barry Schwartz findet in seinem TED-Book ›Warum wir arbeiten‹ eine ganz überraschende, komplexe und eindringliche Antwort auf diese auf den ersten Blick so simple Frage. Er zerstört den Mythos, dass es bei der Arbeit nur ums Geldverdienen gehe und fordert – unterstützt durch zahlreiche Studien und Anekdoten –, dass wir neue Wege finden müssen, um unser Verhältnis zur Arbeit neu zu definieren. Schwartz nimmt uns mit in Krankenhäuser und Friseursalons, Fabriken und Vorstandsetagen und zeigt, welche unterschiedlichen Formen die Arbeit annehmen kann, welche Funktion sie für unsere Kultur innehat und wie jeder von uns seinen eigenen Weg zum Glück am Arbeitsplatz findet.
