Our lives, our cultures, are composed of many overlapping stories. Novelist Chimamanda Adichie tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice -- and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding.

Why do we love our favorite stories? Do they need a beginning, middle and end, and a character who changes by the conclusion? Masters of storytelling explore new answers to age-old questions of the craft.

5 writers share deft musings and observations pulled from the pages of their own work, fellow wordsmiths and the world around them.

These unforgettable stories will carry you through the slog of your everyday commute.

Welcome to the global archive of TED Talks! To dive in, start with these popular talks.

When you’re just too busy to curl up with a good book, these talks bring the beauty of literature in audio form.

Novelist Elif Shafak says, "Even long after I listened to these talks, I noticed I was carrying the words with me wherever I traveled. I can listen to these speakers again and again, hearing something new each time."

Droids, mushrooms, pranks, fractals -- Reggie Watts shares some simple tools for brain expansion.

These talks analyze the ways a story can enhance, alter and transform how we see the world around us.

These well-known writers weave beautiful words on the page ... and on the stage.

Color bravery. A headset for brainwaves. His/hers healthcare. 10 big, bold talks from female speakers.

Need an introduction to TED? Enjoy a mixture of some of our most well-known, hard-hitting and and perspective-shifting talks.

What is TED? This primer of 11 classic TED Talks show you the wide range of topics covered -- and introduce you to beloved speakers like Amy Cuddy, Brené Brown, Sir Ken Robinson and Chimamanda Adichie. Find your next favorite talk ...

From string theory to geopolitics, neuroscience to tissue engineering, watch these talks that make complex topics more understandable.

A collection of talks from creative individuals striving to bring light to some of the world's most pressing issues.

Traveling to new destinations is always an experience. Let these talks encourage you to think differently about the places you visit and the people you see.

Insightful talks that offer fresh, thoughtful perspectives on Black identity.

A thoughtful selection of engaging TED Talks, translated into 40+ languages thanks to our wonderful TED Translators community!

These are some of the TED Talks that had you looking at the world differently by the time the credits rolled (in no specific order).

Are schools killing creativity? What makes a great leader? How can I find happiness? These 25 talks are the ones that you and your fellow TED fans just can't stop sharing.

Imagine a country where girls must sneak out to go to school, with deadly consequences if they get caught learning. This was Afghanistan under the Taliban, and traces of that danger remain today. 22-year-old Shabana Basij-Rasikh runs a school for girls in Afghanistan. She celebrates the power of a family's decision to believe in their daughters ...

About this event: Keeping an open mind allows each individual to embrace different possibilities, opportunities, people, views, suggestions and interests. Trying to understand someone’s point of view could change and free the mind in a way one might never expect. We will be viewing the following TED talks: My year reading a book from every country in the world: W...

About this event: The North Olympic Library System (NOLS) will present TEDxSequimLibrary, and independently organized TED Talks event, at 6pm on Tuesday, June 21 at the Sequim Branch Library. This free event will take place in the library meeting room and feature four thought-provoking talks that will explore the sea, air, and earth. Stop in for one video or more...

In 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt legendarily spared the life of a black bear -- and prompted a plush toy craze for so-called "teddy bears." Writer Jon Mooallem digs into this toy story and asks us to consider how the tales we tell about wild animals have real consequences for a species' chance of survival -- and the natural world at large.

About this event: Wanderlust = A strong desire or urge to wander or travel and explore the world. But is ‘wandering the world’ a must in becoming a global citizen? And what does that mean for us as a student, lecturer and professional? The world is changing, borders are fading and we’re all part of a global society. Our environment seems to be local, but how c...

Joe Gebbia, the co-founder of Airbnb, bet his whole company on the belief that people can trust each other enough to stay in one another's homes. How did he overcome the stranger-danger bias? Through good design. Now, 123 million hosted nights (and counting) later, Gebbia sets out his dream for a culture of sharing in which design helps foster c...

Vaccine-autism claims, "Frankenfood" bans, the herbal cure craze: All point to the public's growing fear (and, often, outright denial) of science and reason, says Michael Specter. He warns the trend spells disaster for human progress.

One in five women in the United States will not have a biological child, and Christen Reighter is one of them. From a young age, she knew she didn't want kids, in spite of the insistence of many people (including her doctor) who told her she'd change her mind. In this powerful talk, she shares her story of seeking sterilization -- and makes the ...

About this event: TEDxMajengo aims to showcase different stories, spark curiosity, open minds, and bring together unexpected connections leading to new community-centric initiatives, collaborations, or movements in Arusha. The event will generate networking, interactioning and linking between 100 attendees from a range of backgrounds and professions. Of these att...

(TED is on its annual two-week vacation. During the break, we’re posting playlists from the TEDTalks archive. We’ll be back with new talks on August 29th.) Elif and Chimamanda's perspectives bring us to look at stories through the eyes of those who weave them and Jonathan offers his own story up as one who covets the tales of others. This col...