Why 1.5 billion people eat with chopsticks | Small Thing Big Idea, a TED series

Author Jennifer 8. Lee explains how the chopstick spread from the East to the West -- and was designed to give you the perfect bite.

Small Thing Big Idea, a TED original series, celebrates the lasting genius of everyday objects so perfectly designed that they changed the world around them.

[deepakvpd]

This visuals and her explaining together are like Sherlock Holmes explaining his deduction in a crime scene .

[maryamhussain]

I'm from Asia too but not in the chopsticks sphere and where I'm from (Bangladesh) we don't use knives n forks or chopsticks. We use our HANDS.OUR HANDS

[arinaz]

Everyone in the comment section saying, “I eat with chpopsticks, I eat with my hands”
Ha, losers, I just perform photosynthesis

[eekahai]

Chinese:- Chopsticks
Westerners:- spoons and forks
Indian:-hold my hand ✋😅

[colettebyfield]

Never knew that Chinese, Korean, and Japanese chopsticks had different shapes! 🥢

[RascalCase]

“1.5 billion people”

So China and a few more guys

[relaxivegotthis]

That was a really long explanation to just say “they eat with chopsticks because they eat with chopsticks.”

[Creepy-Girl]

Legend has it that after decades of practice you will have mastered the art of chopstick to such an extent to even eat soup with it.

[chrismachado]

That heavenly story at the end was adorable

[faevau]

In Korea when I was little, our teacher gave us a homework which was to pick up little green beans with the chopsticks. So that night my mom was just frustratingly watching me popping all the little green beans all over the house. But after that severe training I got used to picking up little rice soon😎Was so happy as a kid

[automanic]

What gives people feelings of power:
- Money
- Status
*GOLD CHOPSTICKS*

[tay.joh.]

I noticed that no one has mentioned how much quieter it is to eat with chopsticks as compared to silverware. Any time I have to use silverware I always forgot about it actually being a bit louder when it hits a plate/bowl. It's the the little things you appreciate I guess

[inari.]

dont forget, man who grab fly with chopsticks can do anything.

[bangtanobsessed]

its funny how people think south asians eat everything with hands.we dont and we also know how to use spoons and forks.Its just that we're comfortable eating with hands(not everything tho)

[hanaday]

ok i'm not asian but i love using chopstick when it comes to eating snacks bc I hate getting my fingers dirty

[JohnChangMBA]

So, after an interesting 3 and a half minutes journey through the history of chopsticks - never mind wondering why I'm even watching the video, I'm still not sure why 1.5 billion people eat with chopsticks.. 😳 well-played, TED talk, well-played

[sampada.]

Im from nepal, we eat with our hands. Right hand.

[Min-Taro]

"You can eat rice if you are really skilled"
Turn to my 1.4 billion chinese fellows...

[romangalich]

The way Jennifer B. Lee narrates this story combined with the great visuals make this just an absolutely joy to watch.

[zeshanmajeed]

She: 'Can't eat with long chop sticks'

Me: *break them and now we have two pair of Chopsticks, HURRY*