Weekly Inspiration #13: TED special
Among all the ideas we have heard, some of the most inspiring ones came from TED. For those who don’t know TED, it started organizing exclusive conferences devoted to “ideas worth spreading” in 1984. It reached a truly global audience more recently when the content of the conferences was published and made freely available on the Internet under the form of videos called “TED Talks” (100+ million views).
In the past two years, TED has accompanied our rainy Sundays, motivated us to never stop questioning things and has helped us understand the world a bit better. We also have the great privilege to interact on a regular basis with TED’s European Director, Bruno Giussani, who is a member of our Advisory Board.
Here are four inspiring TED Talks that we selected for you. If you want more, check out the full list of Talks on their website. Enjoy!
1. Jill Bolte Taylor’s stroke of insight
Jill Bolte Taylor got a research opportunity few brain scientists would wish for: she had a massive stroke, and watched as her brain functions – motion, speech, self-awareness – shut down one by one. She remembers everything and tells her story.
2. Benjamin Zander on music and passion
A brilliant speaker, Benjamin Zander is the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra. He says that “everybody loves classical music”, although not everyone knows it yet.
3. Hans Rosling shows the best stats you’ve ever seen
Hans Rosling debunks myths about the so-called “developing world with the best stats you’ve ever seen.
4. Helen Fisher tells us why we love and cheat
Anthropologist Helen Fisher takes talks about romantic love and explains its evolution, its biochemical foundations and its social importance.
Antoine is a co-founder and the CEO of Sandbox. He probably watched half of the TED talks available and now especially enjoys the mobile version that allows him to always have great videos on his iPhone when on the road!
On the 28. October 2009 at 12:06 o'Clock
I would add Jonathan Harris’s talk to my list of favorites: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/jonathan_harris_tells_the_web_s_secret_stories.html