Sheena Iyengar on the Power of Choice – and Why It Doesn’t Always Bring Us What We Want

In March 2010, Sheena Iyengar, a professor at Columbia Business School, published a book titled, The Art of Choosing. Iyengar, who is blind, says the book reflects her interest in how people make choices, including how they are able to navigate both the opportunities and responsibilities that an abundance of choice can bring. In a video presentation, Iyengar offers Knowledge@Wharton viewers her perspectives on the need to separate choices that are "meaningful and uplifting" from those that tend to distract us or that lead to unwise decisions. Choice, she says, is "the most powerful tool that we have in our lives. It enables us to go from who we are today to whom we want to be tomorrow. But it does not fulfill all our needs."