Book Review/ Giveaway/CLOSED: The Art of Choosing by Sheena Iyengar

I minored in Social Psychology, so any time I can read an interesting book on the subject, I'm quick to buy it!

Valerie over at Hachette sent me a great book, involving psychology, that is wonderful for ANYONE to read. I also think that is is a super book for PARENTS to read, as it offers great insight into choices that our kdis may make and the reasons behind them!

Synopsis:
An Apple Store customer asks for the latest iPhone in black but suddenly changes his preference to white when he sees the choices others are making. A resident of a former communist country is offered a fizzy drink from a wide selection but picks at random; soda is soda, he says. Though the child knows she shouldn't press the big red button (absolutely not!), she finds her hand inching forward. A young man and woman decide to marry -- knowing that the first time they meet will be on their wedding day.

How did these people make their choices? How do any of us make ours? Choice is a powerful tool to define ourselves and mold our lives -- but what do we know about the wants, motivations, biases, and influences that aid or hinder our endeavors?

Every day we make choices. Coke or Pepsi? Save or spend? Stay or go? Whether mundane or life-altering, these choices define us and shape our lives. Sheena Iyengar asks the difficult questions about how and why we choose: Is the desire for choice innate or bound by culture? Why do we sometimes choose against our best interests? How much control do we really have over what we choose? Sheena Iyengar's award-winning research reveals that the answers are surprising and profound. In our world of shifting political and cultural forces, technological revolution, and interconnected commerce, our decisions have far-reaching consequences.

Hear from the author herself:



About the Author: Sheena Iyengar's innovative research on choice has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the National Security Education Program. She holds degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, the Wharton School of Business, and Stanford University. She is a professor at Columbia University and a recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award. Her work is regularly cited in such periodicals as the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, Fortune and TIME magazines, and in books such as Blink and The Paradox of Choice. She lives in New York City with her family.

Review: Let me sat this first- I give Mrs. Iyengar a huge round of applause for what she has achieved. You see she has a retinal degeneration disease since she was a toddle and by High School she had lost her site. That's right, she earned all her degrees and has done all her research while BLIND. When you read this book you will be ASTOUNDED by the amount of work that went into this book. I kept thinking back to when I had to write a college thesis in order to graduate and how MUCH work and notes I had to keep track of. I could visually sort and resort. I can NOT imagine how Ms. Iyengar wrote this book and kept track of all the info. She is AMAZING. Truly, teens should have to read the first part of this book, just so they will understand you CAN surmount obstacles, no matter what they are!


This book is literally full of wonderful info and insight on EVERY page. Mrs. Iyengar makes scientific studies behind how we act easy to understand and relates them to her own surveys in a very approachable manner that anyone can understand! I really had to go slow thru this book, as I wanted to read carefully ALL the details she provided! In fact, once I get caught up, I will probably read it again!

I can't recommend this book enough- it's not just water cooler trivia- it's basic knowledge that will help you see things in your own life differently and give you pause when you and/or your family makes decisions. It will also help you to understand why other's make the decisions they do and help you in your work and social experiences!

Giveaway:
THREE lucky winners will receive their own copy of The Art of Choosing!

ENTRIES:

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Contest will end on April 24th, at midnight. Winner will be picked by Random Number (random.org) on April 25th, and emailed. As soon as winners' info is received from all the winners, Hachette will be advised and they will mail the books to the winners!

Disclosure: This book was sent to me free of charge, for review purposes, by Hachette Publishing. I was not told how to review it however.