Book Review: The Art of Choosing

I love a good novel as much as the next person, but I also really love reading books of the "pop-psychology" variety which is how I would describe this book.  If you enjoyed reading books like The Tipping Point and Blink, then this book is for you.  The Art of Choosing centers around the research of Sheena Iyengar on the subject of choice.  The book delves into how different cultures (and Americans in particular) value choice and how decision making  impacts many aspects of our lives.  Reading this book made me realize that Western cultures view choice as a right, but this is not the case in other cultures around the world.  Iyengar references her own life experiences in the book as well as specific studies that she spearheaded and how her research has shaped her views on choice.  Iyengar also references pop culture and film sequences that would be familiar to many people which I found particularly interesting because Iyengar happens to be blind (you'll have to read the book to learn more about her personal story).

Western society has evolved into a cultural perspective where variety of choice is seen as a right and not just a way of life for some people.  As a person who loves fashion and the options that come with being a consumer of goods like clothing, personal items (make up) and technology, I love having fashion choices and would be a sad Shen Dove if I had to wear the same thing every day.  But I enjoyed reading this book because it pointed out the pros and cons of living in a society of plentiful choices and made me realize that sometimes a variety of choices doesn't always translate to better; in fact sometimes numerous choices can be overwhelming.  I found this book to be well written and researched, so check it out if you are looking for a thought-provoking read this fall.