Want to take your mind off college for the holidays? I don’t blame you.
Here’s my suggestion to do just that. Sit back and listen to some fascinating lectures from some of the most intriguing people on the planet.
You can find countless lectures by visiting the website of TED, a nonprofit which originally got its name by bringing together people from technology, entertainment and design, but its universe of topics has long since been expanded. TED, which promotes “Ideas Worth Spreading,” has attracted such speakers as Bono, Bill Clinton, Richard Branson, Richard Dawkins, Michael Pollan and countless others in such fields as religion, architecture, science, politics, engineering and literature.
Don’t have time to fidget through a long talk? TED limits all speakers to presentations that can’t last more than 18 minutes. Even better, TED breaks up your choices into convenient categories such as the following:
- Rated jaw-dropping
- Persuasive
- Courageous
- Fascinating
- Inspiring
- Beautiful
- Funny
- Informative
TED offers talks related to:
- Technology
- Entertainment
- Design
- Business
- Science
- Global issues
I just listened to a lecture featuring Malcom Gladwell, a New Yorker writer and prolific author of bestsellers, including Blink and Outliers, who spoke about spaghetti sauce. Fascinating. Really.
Here are three TED talks that I especially like:
Jill Bolte Taylor’s Stroke of Insight
Steve Jobs: How To Live Before You Die
Sir Ken Robinson: Bring On The Learning Revolution
I’d suggest that you find something you’d like to listen to as well and kick back during this holiday season.
Lynn O’Shaughnessy is the author of The College Solution, which she is busy revising for a second edition.