Dr. Seuss on the Paradox of Choice

Aug. 31, 2015 - PRLog -- Growing up, I was a big fan of Dr. Seuss books – I Wish I Had Duck Feet and Green Eggs and Ham were personal favorites. My interest was renewed once I had kids. So I am thrilled that a previously unpublished Suess book has been discovered.

What Pet Should I Get? (http://www.amazon.com/What-Pet-Should-Classic-Seuss/dp/0553524267) tells the story of a brother and sister who are given the task of picking one pet to bring home from the pet store. This mission becomes increasingly daunting as they are confronted with more and more animals to choose from. Throughout the story a voice urges the kids to “Make up your mind.” And there lies the paradox of choice that we face everyday.

Paradox of choice is the idea that although abundance and variety are suppose to make us happier, in reality they do not. According to Barry Schwartz’s research in his book The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less, abundance depletes our mental energy, sets unreasonably high expectations, and leaves us feeling unfulfilled. Put in simple terms, by buying the NFL cable package where you can watch every game, pre-game, and coverage, you are setting yourself up for disappointment.

To read more, go to www.leadersayswhat.com/2015/08/dr-seuss-on-the-paradox-of-choice