May 2020 – The paradox of choice
Psychologist Barry Schwartz takes aim at a central tenet of western societies: freedom of choice. Whether we’re buying a pair of jeans, ordering a cup of coffee, selecting a long-distance carrier, applying to college or choosing a doctor, everyday decisions, both big and small, have become increasingly complex due to the overwhelming abundance of choice. In Schwartz’s estimation, choice has made us not freer but more paralyzed, not happier but more dissatisfied.