Ask HN: What is your favorite TED talk?

#1

Post by derwiki » Tue, Jan 20, 2009, 6:30 PM UTC

I really like Hans Rosling, Clay Shirky, Richard Dawkins, and Nick Bostrom's talks. I've found TED talks to be pretty hit-or-miss, so I'm reaching out to HN.

I'm also aware of this thread: http://www.imminst.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=16384 but I'm more interested in what you guys think.

Re: Ask HN: What is your favorite TED talk?

#2

Post by abossy » Tue, Jan 20, 2009, 6:38 PM UTC

I'm particularly fond of Steven Levitt after reading Freakonomics. I enjoyed his talk on the pointlessness of mandating car seats for children and what should really be done to improve their safety:

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/steven_levitt_on_child_ca...

I also like the SeaDragon/Photosynth demo (along with various other talks that have come from Microsoft Research)

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/blaise_aguera_y_arcas_dem...

Re: Ask HN: What is your favorite TED talk?

#3

Post by yan » Tue, Jan 20, 2009, 6:38 PM UTC

Ramachandaran's talk had a profound effect on me (neuroscience/brain). Mark Bittman's talk was great, but I like everything that man writes (food). Clinton's talk made me feel like I knew him better after watching it. It felt very personal. Dave Eggers' talk was beautiful (learning). Ze Frank's talk was good if you follow his stuff. Murray Gell-Mann gave a beautiful talk (physics). I bought Dan Gilbert's book after watching his. Alan Kay was, obviously, very good. Sir Ken Robinson's talk was absolutely great also (learning.)

This is just a small sample of the ones that I have seen and liked. I haven't seen most yet.

Re: Ask HN: What is your favorite TED talk?

#4

Post by garyrichardson » Tue, Jan 20, 2009, 6:58 PM UTC

I like Joshua Klein's talk about Crows: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/joshua_klein_on_the_intel...

I, for one, welcome our new crow overlords.

Re: Ask HN: What is your favorite TED talk?

#5

Post by matthall28 » Tue, Jan 20, 2009, 7:00 PM UTC

There was a really good one by the guy from Archive.org

Re: Ask HN: What is your favorite TED talk?

#6

Post by catone » Tue, Jan 20, 2009, 7:02 PM UTC

I think it's probably this one: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/william_kamkwamba_on_buil...

"When he was just 14 years old, Malawian inventor William Kamkwamba built his family an electricity-generating windmill from spare parts, working from rough plans he found in a library book."

Though the actual interview is a bit awkward at times, I found his story to be very inspiring.

Re: Ask HN: What is your favorite TED talk?

#7

Post by rsayers » Tue, Jan 20, 2009, 7:14 PM UTC

Clifford Stoll, guy was all over the place, but I found his talk rather amusing and even a bit enlightening.

Re: Ask HN: What is your favorite TED talk?

#8

Post by damada2 » Tue, Jan 20, 2009, 7:14 PM UTC

Kurzweil ftw, http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/ray_kurzweil_on_how_techn...

Re: Ask HN: What is your favorite TED talk?

#9

Post by steveplace » Tue, Jan 20, 2009, 7:18 PM UTC

The second Hans Rosling talk where he swallows a sword at the end.

Re: Ask HN: What is your favorite TED talk?

#10

Post by aikiai » Tue, Jan 20, 2009, 7:22 PM UTC

Jill Bolte's talk about her stroke.

Her talk illustrates the different processing styles of our right and left hemispheres. This is a fascinating subject, that often gets trivialized because of all the New Age BS revolving around it.

Her experience is remarkable, and very powerfully delivered. Don't be fooled by her "spiritual" overtones, the science she references is very real and convincing, and the way she ties it to her own experience is fascinating.

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/jill_bolte_taylor_s_power...