The Art of Choosing
The notion of choosing is so complex that there are now two popular books on the subject. Each was written by an author who is an expert in their field of study. Scientific writer Jonah Lehrer provides examples of how the brain and neurology affect the choices we make in How We Decide. Sheena Inyegar, a professor of business at Colombia University, explores the notion of choice in her recently published book, The Art of Choosing, focusing primarily on psychology; however, she also views choice from the perspectives of business, philosophy, public policy, and medicine.
Dr. Iyengar draws upon her personal experience, a vast network of academic associates and other experts, including Lehrer, to achieve her goal of broadening the reader’s perspective and understanding of the implications of the notion of choice. She encourages her reader to engage in self-exploration in order to make more informed decisions. In true professorial style, Dr. Iyengar supports her approach with accounts of past scientific experiments, both human and animal. The tone of her writing in the opening chapter is calm and patient. It is clear that she expects the reader to pay close attention.
The story of her parents’ marriage in chapter two is engaging and thought provoking; however, other aspects of this chapter are dry and academic. There is a sharp contrast between the description of her parents’ Sikh wedding and what might easily be the text of a general survey course in psychology. One heavily-academic sentence contains 65 words.
The reader must employ perseverance in wading through Dr. Iyengar’s expansive discussion of the concept of the cultural differences between socialism and capitalism as they relate to choice. Her notion of striving “for a metaphorical multilingualism” takes on a note of proselytizing that seems out of sync for a book that purports to be about making informed personal choices. There is a disconnect between the colloquial and academic voices that Dr. Iyengar uses as she brings the reader along on her journey of exploring the concept of choice.
By the fourth chapter the book settles into a pleasant, advice-giving counselor’s voice. There are well-related concepts and suggestions for making personal choices. While these helpful hints are supported using psychological terms, Dr. Iyengar brings in popular references to illustrate her points such as the television show, “Lie to Me” and the rental of movies using Netflix.
The seventh and final chapter brings the matter of choice down to the most personal aspect, that of making medical and other unpleasant decisions. It is here that the reader is fully engaged via role-playing scenarios regarding life and death. The concepts of worth and value are well developed, and they lead the reader to the inevitable conclusion that choice involves price and responsibility. Clearly, there is no surefire solution to the challenge of making a selection given the wide array of choices available today, whether it is among the many breakfast cereals in the supermarket or in deciding which path to take in life.
The Art of Choosing illustrates several approaches to making sense of the puzzle of life that so many authors and readers find challenging. This book does a good job of providing an overall survey of the topic and, although a bit disjointed, provides the reader with food for thought. However, if this reviewer were asked to choose which book someone with an interest in the subject should purchase, it would be How We Decide. Author Jonah Lehrer begins each chapter with a compelling vignette that illustrates the aspect of deciding being addressed. His writing style is smooth, authoritative, and entertaining.