Analysis Paralysis

You’re scrolling through Netflix, thinking about what to watch—you have the next two hours unexpectedly free, and you want to see what’s available. There are some great horror TV shows there now, but maybe a sci-fi series is more your speed. On the other hand, there are some really amazing original dramas… or maybe it’s a movie you’re looking for.

Five minutes of scrolling goes by. Then ten minutes. Then thirty.

Two hours later, you’re on the fence between One Piece and The Fall of the House of Usher.

What just happened?

The Bounty of Choices

31 flavors of ice cream. A closet full of clothes and nothing to wear. 57 channels and nothing on.

This phenomenon has a name: Fredkin’s Paradox.

Computer scientist Edward Fredkin described the phenomenon in a 1995 book where he explained that he would often spend more time making decisions about trivial matters, like choosing a peanut butter, than he would on really important decisions that affected the rest of his life.

Our world is inundated with …