TED Theme: The Official TED Talk Guide

There is no single formula for a great talk, but there is a secret ingredient that all the best ones have in common – an idea worth spreading. Watch over 40 talks mentioned in Chris Anderson’s latest book, “TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking”.

Latest Episodes:

The emergent genius of ant colonies | Deborah Gordon Jan 08, 2008

Show notes

Deborah Gordon studies ant colonies in the Arizona desert to understand their complex social system. She asks: How do these chitinous creatures get down to business -- and even multitask when they need to -- with no language, memory or visible leadership? Her answers could lead to a better understanding of all complex systems, from the brain to the Web. Thanks, ants.

How electroshock therapy changed me | Sherwin Nuland Oct 30, 2007

Show notes

Surgeon and author Sherwin Nuland discusses the development of electroshock therapy as a cure for severe, life-threatening depression -- including his own. It’s a moving and heartfelt talk about relief, redemption and second chances.

3 clues to understanding your brain | Vilayanur Ramachandran Oct 21, 2007

Show notes

Vilayanur Ramachandran tells us what brain damage can reveal about the connection between celebral tissue and the mind, using three startling delusions as examples.

The surprising decline in violence | Steven Pinker Sep 10, 2007

Show notes

Steven Pinker charts the decline of violence from Biblical times to the present, and argues that, though it may seem illogical and even obscene, given Iraq and Darfur, we are living in the most peaceful time in our species' existence.

Dangerous memes | Dan Dennett Jul 02, 2007

Show notes

Starting with the simple tale of an ant, philosopher Dan Dennett unleashes a devastating salvo of ideas, making a powerful case for the existence of memes -- concepts that are literally alive.

I'm going to the moon. Who's with me? | Bill Stone Jun 27, 2007

Show notes

Bill Stone, a maverick cave explorer who has plumbed Earth’s deepest abysses, discusses his efforts to mine lunar ice for space fuel and to build an autonomous robot for studying Jupiter’s moon Europa.

The paradox of choice | Barry Schwartz Sep 26, 2006

Show notes

Psychologist Barry Schwartz takes aim at a central tenet of western societies: freedom of choice. In Schwartz's estimation, choice has made us not freer but more paralyzed, not happier but more dissatisfied.

The surprising science of happiness | Dan Gilbert Sep 26, 2006

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Dan Gilbert, author of "Stumbling on Happiness," challenges the idea that we’ll be miserable if we don’t get what we want. Our "psychological immune system" lets us feel truly happy even when things don’t go as planned.

The radical promise of the multi-touch interface | Jeff Han Aug 01, 2006

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Jeff Han shows off a cheap, scalable multi-touch and pressure-sensitive computer screen interface that may spell the end of point-and-click.

Do schools kill creativity? | Ken Robinson Jun 27, 2006

Show notes

Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining and profoundly moving case for creating an education system that nurtures (rather than undermines) creativity.