Thomas Schelling is a political economist “conspicuous for wandering”—an errant economist. In Choice and Consequence, he ventures into the area where rationality is ambiguous in order to look at the tricks people use to try to quit smoking or lose weight. He explores topics as awesome as nuclear terrorism, as sordid as blackmail, as ineffable as daydreaming, as intimidating as euthanasia. He examines ethical issues wrapped up in economics, unwrapping the economics to disclose ethical issues that are misplaced or misidentified. With an ingenious, often startling approach, Schelling brings new perspectives to problems ranging from drug abuse, abortion, and the value people put on their lives to organized crime, airplane hijacking, and automobile safety. One chapter is a clear and elegant exposition of game theory as a framework for analyzing social problems. Another plays with the hypothesis that our minds are not only our problem-solving equipment but also the organ in which much of our consumption takes place. What binds together the different subjects is the author’s belief in the possibility of simultaneously being humane and analytical, of dealing with both the momentous and the familiar. Choice and Consequence was written for the curious, the puzzled, the worried, and all those who appreciate intellectual adventure.

School's back in session and there's a lot of unfinished business to handle. As Lena prepares for her wedding day, she can't help but think about Denise, her sexy b-ball roommate who almost stole her away. A summer isn't enough time to get over a true love. Denise just can't shake the feelings she developed for soon-to-be-married Lena. Should she go for what she wants or leave well enough alone? Cooley let Misha walk away, but she can't take no for an answer. Will her determination to win back her first love bring Misha back or push her further away? Carmen worked hard to get her life back on track. . .but will fears of the past wreck her future with new love Nic? This fast-paced sequel to Choices will leave you on an emotional roller coaster you won't want to get off.

Every day, young people make large and small decisions that affect them and the people around them. Evaluating consequences is a critical step in good decision making at any age. Readers will explore strategies for identifying and weighing their options before making a decision. They will be encouraged to look ahead, imagine the consequences of different actions, take the perspective of others, and make the best choice. Familiar scenarios and full-color photographs help readers connect the ideas in the text to their own lives.

12-year-old Paul who is visually impaired starts to play soccer for his school, and begins to remember the incident that lost him his sight.

Whether we're buying a pair of jeans, ordering a cup of coffee, selecting a long-distance carrier, applying to college, choosing a doctor, or setting up a 401(k), everyday decisions—both big and small—have become increasingly complex due to the overwhelming abundance of choice with which we are presented. As Americans, we assume that more choice means better options and greater satisfaction. But beware of excessive choice: choice overload can make you question the decisions you make before you even make them, it can set you up for unrealistically high expectations, and it can make you blame yourself for any and all failures. In the long run, this can lead to decision-making paralysis, anxiety, and perpetual stress. And, in a culture that tells us that there is no excuse for falling short of perfection when your options are limitless, too much choice can lead to clinical depression. In The Paradox of Choice, Barry Schwartz explains at what point choice—the hallmark of individual freedom and self-determination that we so cherish—becomes detrimental to our psychological and emotional well-being. In accessible, engaging, and anecdotal prose, Schwartz shows how the dramatic explosion in choice—from the mundane to the profound challenges of balancing career, family, and individual needs—has paradoxically become a problem instead of a solution. Schwartz also shows how our obsession with choice encourages us to seek that which makes us feel worse. By synthesizing current research in the social sciences, Schwartz makes the counter intuitive case that eliminating choices can greatly reduce the stress, anxiety, and busyness of our lives. He offers eleven practical steps on how to limit choices to a manageable number, have the discipline to focus on those that are important and ignore the rest, and ultimately derive greater satisfaction from the choices you have to make.

This funny, charming story is the perfect way to introduce young children to choices, and helps them find ways to make decisions and understand consequences. Also included are suggestions for activities and ideas to talk through together to help children understand their behaviour.