# Friday math movie: How to make choosing easier

By Murray Bourne, 24 Feb 2012

Sheena Iyengar gets us to think about the choices we make every day.

We not only have information overload but choice overload as well. How to cope with so many consumer, time and life choices?

This reminds me of Malcolm Gladwell's book Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking. This gives you a good insight into the process of choice. We kid ourselves when we say we are giving rational thought to our big decisions.

It also reminds me of the mantra of good design: have only as many buttons as you actually need. Think iPhone.

There are good lessons here for curriculum planning (and lesson planning) - categorize things; make it concrete; and less is certainly more.

Sheen's blindness is rarely an issue in this thought-provoking talk.

### 2 Comments on “Friday math movie: How to make choosing easier”

1. Jo Lin says:

I kinda realized this after my bazaar (mid march 2012) of preloved clothes closed with lukewarm takings. I thought I was increasing chances of sales by increasing variety n number of items displayed. Wish I watched this first! Totally sensible!!!

2. Murray says:

Sounds like one item at a time on eBay might do it!

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