talks to make you think.

Writer Andrew Solomon has spent his career telling stories of the hardships of others. Now he turns inward, bringing us into a childhood of adversity, while also spinning tales of the courageous people he's met in the years since. In a moving, heartfelt and at times downright funny talk, Solomon gives a powerful call to action to forge meaning from our biggest struggles.

When people talk about happiness, it’s often referred to as a search—a quest to find something so elusive and out of reach, that there are now a bottomless pit of ideas on how to acquire it. But shockingly, it could be our power to choose from thousands of great experiences in life that actually keeps us from being happy. In this TED Talk, psychologist Dan Gilbert breaks down happiness into its two most basic components—the happiness we stumble upon and the happiness we create—to reveal a shocking truth.

Brené Brown is a shoot-from-the-hip Texan, who also happens to be a shame and vulnerability expert. Brown studies human connection — our ability to empathise, belong, love. In this poignant, funny talk that has been viewed over 6 million times, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity.

Reality isn’t something you perceive; it’s something you create in your mind. Isaac Lidsky learned this profound lesson firsthand, when unexpected life circumstances yielded valuable insights. In this introspective, personal talk, he challenges the concept of cognitive dissonance, and encourages us to let go of excuses, assumptions and fears, and accept the awesome responsibility of being the creators of our own reality.