Sheena Iyengar

Sheena Iyengar is a prominent business professor and researcher at Columbia Business School, recognized globally for her pioneering work on choice and decision-making. She holds the position of S.T. Lee Professor of Business and has conducted influential research examining why people want choice, what influences their decisions, and how decision-making can be improved. Her 2010 book "The Art of Choosing" became an international bestseller and was a finalist for the Financial Times and Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year Award. She has delivered multiple TED talks on choice theory and decision-making, establishing herself as a leading voice in this field. Despite losing her vision completely by age sixteen due to a rare form of retinitis pigmentosa, Iyengar pursued a distinguished academic career, earning degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Stanford University. Her research has challenged conventional wisdom about choice, including her famous "jam study" which demonstrated that too many options can actually decrease consumer purchases. The core of Iyengar's work examines the cultural, social, and psychological factors that influence how people make choices, with particular attention to cross-cultural differences in decision-making. Her most recent book "Think Bigger" (2023) builds on this foundation to explore innovation and problem-solving through the lens of choice architecture.

Readers praise Iyengar's research and insights in "The Art of Choice," though many note the book becomes repetitive. Her TED talks and lectures receive more positive responses than her written work. Likes: - Clear explanations of complex psychology concepts - Personal anecdotes about being blind - Cross-cultural examples and research studies - Practical applications for business and personal life Dislikes: - Writing style can be dry and academic - Main points could be condensed into fewer pages - Some readers found the research examples dated - Later chapters lose focus according to multiple reviews Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (8,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (280+ ratings) One reader summarized: "Fascinating research but needed better editing." Another noted: "The first half is excellent, then it meanders." Her academic papers receive more citations and engagement than her mainstream books, according to Google Scholar metrics.

The Art of Choosing (2010) A research-based examination of how humans make choices, drawing from studies in psychology, economics, and neuroscience to analyze the mechanics of decision-making across different cultures and contexts.

Think Bigger: How to Innovate (2023) An analysis of innovation through the lens of decision science, exploring how individuals and organizations can approach complex problems using structured choice architecture and creative thinking methods.

Dan Ariely focuses on behavioral economics and irrational decision-making patterns through empirical research and real-world applications. His books like "Predictably Irrational" explore similar themes to Iyengar about how humans make choices and why we often make suboptimal decisions.

Malcolm Gladwell examines decision-making, social psychology, and human behavior through research and case studies. His work on rapid decision-making in "Blink" and success factors in "Outliers" complements Iyengar's research on choice architecture.

Barry Schwartz investigates how abundance of choice affects human psychology and well-being. His research in "The Paradox of Choice" directly parallels Iyengar's work on decision paralysis and choice overload.

Daniel Kahneman explores cognitive biases and decision-making processes through psychological research. His work in "Thinking, Fast and Slow" provides frameworks for understanding choice behavior that align with Iyengar's findings on decision-making.

Richard Thaler studies behavioral economics and how people make economic decisions in real-world contexts. His research on choice architecture and nudge theory in "Nudge" connects with Iyengar's work on how to structure choices effectively.