Malcom Gladwell talks (literally) about the perfect tomato sauce being the perfect tomato sauce(s) – i.e you need many options to satisfy the many differing tastes of consumers.

Dan Gilbert talks (metaphorically) about how you can believe that you’re happy with any tomato sauce providing any concept of choice is removed.

And finally, Barry Schwartz does his ‘Paradox Of Choice’ talk – claiming that all of the choices that we are presented with in contemporary society are the principal cause for unhappiness in our lives.

All of the talks make entertaining and compelling arguments, but I do remain more convinced by the assertions of Dan Gilbert and Barry Schwartz. Malcolm Gladwell’s talk indirectly equates business and marketing success with happiness – that a succesful product automatically means happy consumers. Nonetheless, three great talks that are well worth a listen.