We live in a world that gives us seemingly infinite choices and prizesfreedom above all else. We have an unprecedented number of optionsregarding what to do, who to be, and how to spend our time. All thatchoice is wonderful; it is also overwhelming. The irony is that totalfreedom can be paralyzing, and unlimited resources don’t necessarilylead to the biggest breakthroughs. In fact, overvaluing complete freedomcan be disastrous for everything from starting a company to harnessingcreativity to finding personal satisfaction.David Epstein argues that all of us—individuals, businesses,institutions, even societies—can benefit from narrowing our options. Hedives into the science and practice of constraints, exploring exactlywhen and how guardrails can be beneficial, whether we’re working withlimited resources or using self-imposed boundaries to tap unexpectedwells of focus and innovation.Original, galvanizing, and deeply researched, Inside the Box tellsabsorbing stories of people and organizations that embraced constraintsto transform themselves, and the world—as well as a few that struggledfrom a lack of limits. Epstein reveals how boundaries createbreakthroughs, and how setting the right constraints can help you becomethe most creative, productive, and satisfied version of yourself.
