Iconoclastic Individualism - Henry David Thoreau

Henry David Thoreau (12 July 1817 -- 6 May 1862) born David Henry Thoreau was an American author, naturalist, transcendentalist, tax resister, development critic, philosopher, and abolitionist who is best known for Walden, a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings, and his essay, Civil Disobedience, an argument for individual resistance to civil government in moral opposition to an unjust state.

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Steven Johnson: Where good ideas come from

People often credit their ideas to individual "Eureka!" moments. But Steven Johnson shows how history tells a different story. His fascinating tour takes us from the "liquid networks" of London's coffee houses to Charles Darwin's long, slow hunch to today's high-velocity web. 



Listen to the his Latest Book (Where good ideas come from) talk.

A feminine response to Iceland's financial crash

Halla Tomasdottir managed to take her company Audur Capital through the eye of the financial storm in Iceland by applying 5 traditionally "feminine" values to financial services. At TEDWomen, she talks about these values and the importance of balance.

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Hanna Rosin: New data on the rise of women

Hanna Rosin reviews startling new data that shows women actually surpassing men in several important measures, such as college graduation rates. Do these trends, both US-centric and global, signal the "end of men"? Probably not -- but they point toward an important societal shift worth deep discussion.

Debate: Does the world need nuclear energy?

Nuclear power: the energy crisis has even die-hard environmentalists reconsidering it. In this first-ever TED debate, Stewart Brand and Mark Z. Jacobson square off over the pros and cons. A discussion that'll make you think -- and might even change your mind.

A call to men everywhere: Don’t “act like a man.”

At TEDWomen, Tony Porter makes a call to men everywhere: Don’t “act like a man.” Telling powerful stories from his own life, he shows how this mentality, drummed into so many men and boys, can lead men to disrespect, mistreat and abuse women and each other. His solution: Break free of the “man box.”

William Ury: Negotiating for Sustainable Agreements

About William Ury: William Ury is a mediator, writer and speaker, working with conflicts ranging from family feuds to boardroom battles to ethnic wars. He's the author of "Getting to Yes."

Kiran Bedi: A police chief with a difference

Kiran Bedi has a surprising resume. Before becoming Director General of the Indian Police Service, she managed one of the country's toughest prisons -- and used a new focus on prevention and education to turn it into a center of learning and meditation. She shares her thoughts on visionary leadership at TEDWomen.

Viktor Frankl: Why to believe in others

In this rare clip from 1972, legendary psychiatrist and Holocaust-survivor Viktor Frankl delivers a powerful message about the human search for meaning -- and the most important gift we can give others.

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Larry Lessig on laws that choke creativity

Larry Lessig, the Net’s most celebrated lawyer, cites John Philip Sousa, celestial copyrights and the "ASCAP cartel" in his argument for reviving our creative culture.  Watch:

Eric Berlow: How complexity leads to simplicity

Ecologist Eric Berlow doesn't feel overwhelmed when faced with complex systems. He knows that more information can lead to a better, simpler solution. Illustrating the tips and tricks for breaking down big issues, he distills an overwhelming infographic on U.S. strategy in Afghanistan to a few elementary points.

WE: ARUNDHATI ROY

"We" is a fast-paced 64 minute documentary that covers the world politics of power, war, corporations, deception and exploitation.

"We" visualizes the words of Arundhati Roy, specifically her famous Come September speech, where she spoke on such things as the war on terror, corporate globalization, justice and the growing civil unrest.

"We" is almost in the style of a continuous music video. The music used sets the pace and serves as wonderful background for the words of Ms. Roy and images of humanity in the world we live all in today.

In 2004 she was awarded Sydney Peace Prize. This film is not about her. It is about her words.

David Bismark: E-voting without fraud

David Bismark demos a new system for voting that contains a simple, verifiable way to prevent fraud and miscounting -- while keeping each person's vote secret."

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David Frost - Ideas Stimulated by Extreme Events

David Frost - "Ideas Stimulated by Extreme Events"
Director of Georgia Tech, Savannah, and Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Editing generously underwritten by Georgia Tech Savannah: http://www.gtsav.gatech.edu/
Full biography: http://tedxcreativecoast.com/David_Frost

Dr. David Frost is an educator, a scientist, an administrator, and an earthquake chaser. David ties all of his experiences together holistically into a challenge for educators everywhere: enable memorable, life-changing experiences and the learning will follow. 

Andrew Bird's one-man orchestra of the imagination

Musical innovator Andrew Bird winds together his trademark violin technique with xylophone, vocals and sophisticated electronic looping. Add in his uncanny ability to whistle anything, and he becomes a riveting one-man orchestra.

Open Source Intelligence

Ideas About Spreading Ideas

Bruno Giussani, the European Director of TED, shares TED vision for spreading ideas by making talks accessible, setting up spaces for dialog and calling out to the TED community to extend the effort via self-organized events.