According to Wikipedia, TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is:

An academic organization owned by The Sapling Foundation, a private nonprofit foundation.^[1] TED is well-known for its annual, invitation-only conference devoted to “ideas worth spreading.”^[2] TED is famous for its lectures, known as TED Talks, which originally focused on technology, entertainment and design, but have now expanded in scope to a broad set of topics including science, arts, politics, education, culture, business, global issues, technology and development. Speakers have included such people as former U.S. President Bill Clinton, U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown, molecular biologist James D. Watson, physicist Murray Gell-Mann, former Vice President of the United States Al Gore, political scientist Bruce Bueno de Mesquita, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, Zoologist Jane Goodall, and Evangelist Billy Graham.^[3]

I have never come across a more extensive library of innovative, thought provoking, or moving presentations. All of which are available to you with the click of a button, by visiting TED.com.  I’ve seen only a portion of the hundreds of videos the website hosts.  Trying to pick which ones were my favorite, proved tough, but there are some in particular that have stuck with me over the years, and I’ve shared them with you here.  In the comment section below, feel free to share your favorite TED presentations!

Tim Ferriss: Smash fear, learn anything

“Productivity guru Tim Ferriss’ fun, encouraging anecdotes show how one simple question — “What’s the worst that could happen?” — is all you need to learn to do anything.”

Rick Warren on a life of purpose

Pastor Rick Warren, author of The Purpose-Driven Life, reflects on his own crisis of purpose in the wake of his book’s wild success.

Chris Abani muses on humanity

“Chris Abani tells stories of people: People standing up to soldiers. People being compassionate. People being human and reclaiming their humanity.”

Chimamanda Adichie: The danger of a single story

“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.”

Publisher Felix Dennis’ odes to vice and consequences

“Media big shot Felix Dennis roars his fiery, funny, sometimes racy original poetry, revisiting haunting memories and hard-won battle scars from a madcap — yet not too repentant — life.”

John Wooden on true success

“With profound simplicity, Coach John Wooden redefines success and urges us all to pursue the best in ourselves. In this inspiring talk he shares the advice he gave his players at UCLA, quotes poetry and remembers his father’s wisdom.”

Dave Eggers’ wish: Once Upon a School

“Accepting his 2008 TED Prize, author Dave Eggers asks the TED community to personally, creatively engage with local public schools. With spellbinding eagerness, he talks about how his 826 Valencia tutoring center inspired others around the world to open.”

Barry Schwartz on our loss of wisdom

“Barry Schwartz makes a passionate call for “practical wisdom” as an antidote to a society gone mad with bureaucracy. He argues powerfully that rules often fail us, incentives often backfire, and practical, everyday wisdom will help rebuild our world.”

Jonathan Harris: the Web’s secret stories

“At the EG conference in December 2007, artist Jonathan Harris discusses his latest projects, which involve collecting stories: his own, strangers’, and stories collected from the Internet, including his amazing “We Feel Fine.”

A.J. Jacobs’ year of living biblically

“Speaking at the most recent EG conference, author, philosopher, prankster and journalist A.J. Jacobs talks about the year he spent living biblically — following the rules in the Bible as literally as possible.”