Born with a rare genetic disorder, Sam Berns lays out the three principles of the personal philosophy that allowed him take charge of his own happiness in this inspiring Ted Talk.
Category Archives: TedTalks
Questions no one knows the answers to
TED curator Chris Anderson shares his obsession with questions that no one (yet) knows the answers to. A short intro leads into two questions: Why can’t we see evidence of alien life? And how many universes are there? Click through to watch this Ted Talk.
Everything happens for a reason and other lies I’ve loved
In life’s toughest moments, how do you go on living? Kate Bowler has been exploring this question ever since she was diagnosed with stage IV cancer at age 35. In a profound, heartbreaking and unexpectedly funny talk, she offers some answers and challenges the idea that “everything happens for a reason”. Kate shares hard-won wisdom about how to make sense of the world after your life is suddenly, completely changed.
Science can answer moral questions
Questions of good and evil, right and wrong are commonly thought unanswerable by science. But in this Ted Talk Sam Harris argues that science can, and should, be an authority on moral issues.
Who decides what’s in the dictionary?
While the concept of a dictionary dates back to ancient civilisations, the first English dictionary wasn’t published until the 1600s. Historically, dictionaries have been written by individual authors who chose what to include or exclude, but today it appears we have more of an input.
Ilan Stavans shares the history of Webster’s Dictionary in this Ted Talk. Click through to watch.
Comics belong in the classroom
In this Ted Talk educator Gene Luen Yang explores the history of comics in education and reveals some unexpected insights about their potential for helping kids learn.
Are Elvish, Klingon, Dothraki and Na’vi real languages?
What do Game of Thrones’ Dothraki, Avatar’s Na’vi, Star Trek’s Klingon and LOTR’s Elvish have in common? They’re all fantasy constructed languages. This Ted Talk explains why these invented languages captivate fans.
The Art of Misdirection
Hailed as the greatest pickpocket in the world, Apollo Robbins studies the quirks of human behavior as he steals your watch. In a hilarious demonstration, Robbins samples the buffet of the TEDGlobal 2013 audience, showing how the flaws in our perception make it possible to swipe a wallet and leave it on its owner’s shoulder while they remain clueless.
How creative writing can help you through life’s hardest moments
In this Ted Talk, writer Sakinah Hofler makes the case for writing as a tool to help you process difficult memories and reclaim the power they may hold.
How video game skills can get you ahead in life
What does it take to be a pro gamer? Esports expert William Collis charts the rise of the multibillion-dollar competitive gaming industry and breaks down three skills needed to master video games.