Herminia Ibarra
Charles Handy Professor of Organisational Behaviour, London Business School | Thinkers50 Leadership Award
Barry Schwartz
World-Renowned Psychologist & Author of The Paradox of Choice | Emeritus Professor at Swarthmore & Visiting Professor at UC Berkeley | TED Speaker with 25M+ Views
Barry Schwartz is a world-renowned psychologist and the author of the bestseller The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less. An emeritus professor at Swarthmore College and visiting professor at UC Berkeley, he has spent his career studying choice, decision-making, and what actually makes us happy. His TED talks have been viewed more than 25 million times. On stage, he reveals why more choice often leaves us less satisfied.
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Barry Schwartz biography
Psychology speaker Barry Schwartz is one of the most influential thinkers of his generation on how we choose, and why our choices so often fail to make us happy. His landmark book The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less overturned a core assumption of modern life, that more options mean more freedom and more satisfaction, and showed instead that an overload of choice can leave us paralyzed, anxious, and dissatisfied, even with good decisions. Few ideas have reshaped how we think about consumers, decisions, and well-being as profoundly.
A psychologist whose work sits at the intersection of psychology and economics, Schwartz is the Dorwin Cartwright Emeritus Professor of Social Theory and Social Action at Swarthmore College, where he taught for four decades, and a visiting professor at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. His research addresses decision-making, morality, and the relationship between behavioral science and society, and his ideas, like the distinction between “maximizers” and “satisficers,” have entered everyday language.
The Paradox of Choice
Beyond his bestseller, Schwartz is the author of Practical Wisdom (with Kenneth Sharpe), Why We Work, and The Costs of Living, each challenging the assumptions of modern Western society while offering practical ways to live and work better. His TED talks have been viewed more than 25 million times, making him one of the platform’s most-watched speakers, and his memorable insight that “the secret to happiness is low expectations” captures his gift for turning rigorous research into wisdom people can actually use.
As a speaker, Barry Schwartz is engaging, witty, and genuinely enlightening, translating decades of research into practical guidance for decisions, work, and life. He speaks on the paradox of choice and how to decide well, the psychology of happiness and satisfaction, why we work and how to make work more meaningful, and the wisdom that good judgment requires. Audiences leave with a liberating new perspective on choice, and concrete ways to feel better about the decisions they make.
Barry Schwartz Speaking Videos
The paradox of choice | Barry Schwartz | TED
TEDxAmsterdam 2011 - Barry Schwartz
Barry Schwartz Keynote Topics
In his signature talk, Barry Schwartz overturns one of modern life's most cherished beliefs, that more choice is always better. He shows how an explosion of options, from the products we buy to the biggest decisions of our lives, can leave us paralyzed, anxious, and dissatisfied even when we choose well. With humor and vivid examples, he explains the psychology behind "choice overload" and offers practical ways to make decisions that leave us happier, not more stressed.
Why do some people agonize over every decision while others choose easily and move on? Schwartz introduces his influential distinction between "maximizers," who exhaustively seek the best, and "satisficers," who seek good enough, and reveals why the pursuit of the very best so often makes us miserable. He gives audiences research-backed strategies for making better decisions, at work and in life, with less regret and more satisfaction.
Drawing on decades of research, Schwartz explores a deceptively simple question: what actually makes us happy? He challenges the assumptions of a consumer culture that equates more, freedom, and abundance with well-being, and reveals the surprising psychology of satisfaction, including his famous counsel that "the secret to happiness is low expectations." A thought-provoking, liberating talk that reframes how audiences think about success and contentment.
What makes work worth doing, and why do so many organizations get it wrong? Drawing on his books Why We Work and Practical Wisdom, Schwartz examines what truly motivates people, why the assumption that we work only for pay is both false and damaging, and how leaders can design work that is more meaningful, ethical, and effective. A rich, humane keynote on human nature, motivation, and the wisdom that good work and good leadership require.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Barry Schwartz
Why Barry Schwartz?
Booking Barry Schwartz brings audiences one of the most influential and beloved thinkers in modern psychology, the mind behind The Paradox of Choice and one of the most-watched speakers in TED history. He has a rare ability to take rigorous research about decision-making, happiness, and human nature and turn it into ideas that are witty, surprising, and immediately useful. His work speaks directly to anyone who designs products, leads people, or simply wants to make better decisions and live more happily. Warm, funny, and genuinely enlightening, he leaves audiences seeing their choices, and their lives, in a new light. He is ideal for events on decision-making, consumer behavior, happiness and well-being, and the future of work. To bring Barry Schwartz to your next event, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
Who is Barry Schwartz?
Barry Schwartz is an American psychologist widely known for his work on choice, decision-making, and happiness. He is the Dorwin Cartwright Emeritus Professor of Social Theory and Social Action at Swarthmore College, where he taught for about four decades, and a visiting professor at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. His research focuses on the intersection of psychology and economics, including morality, decision-making, and human well-being. He is the author of the bestselling The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less, as well as Practical Wisdom, Why We Work, and other books, and his TED talks have been viewed more than 25 million times.
What is The Paradox of Choice about?
The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less (2004) is Barry Schwartz's influential book challenging the widespread belief that more choice always makes us better off. Schwartz argues that while some choice is essential to freedom and well-being, the overwhelming abundance of options in modern life, from consumer goods to major life decisions, can actually make us less happy. Too much choice, he shows, leads to paralysis, unrealistic expectations, second-guessing, and self-blame, and can leave us dissatisfied even with good decisions. Drawing on research in psychology and economics, the book explains the difference between "maximizers" and "satisficers" and offers practical strategies for limiting choice, focusing on what matters, and deriving greater satisfaction from the decisions we make.
What topics does psychology speaker Barry Schwartz cover?
Barry Schwartz speaks on the paradox of choice and choice overload, how to make better decisions, the psychology of happiness and satisfaction, and why we work and how to make work more meaningful. His keynotes suit events on decision-making, consumer behavior and marketing, happiness and well-being, leadership, and the future of work. To book Barry Schwartz as a speaker, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
How to book Barry Schwartz as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Barry Schwartz as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Barry Schwartz's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Barry Schwartz or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Barry Schwartz speaking fee?
Barry Schwartz speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Barry Schwartz to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Barry Schwartz.
How can I contact Barry Schwartz?
We only work with Barry Schwartz on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Barry Schwartz and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Barry Schwartz speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Barry Schwartz for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Barry Schwartz for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Barry Schwartz is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Barry Schwartz for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
