Tali Sharot – författare

One of the most pressing questions in neuroscience, psychology and economics today is how does the brain generate preferences and make choices? With a unique interdisciplinary approach, this volume is among the first to explore the cognitive and neural mechanisms mediating the generation of the preferences that guide choice. From preferences determining mundane purchases, to social preferences influencing mating choice, through to moral decisions, the authors adopt diverse approaches to answer the question. Chapters explore the instability of preferences and the common neural processes that occur across preferences. Edited by one of the world's most renowned cognitive neuroscientists, each chapter is authored by an expert in the field, with a host of international contributors.

From one of the most innovative neuroscientists at work today, an investigation into the bias toward optimism that exists on a neural level in our brains and plays a major part in determining how we live our lives.  Psychologists have long been aware that most people maintain an often irrationally positive outlook on life. In fact, optimism may be crucial to our existence. Tali Sharot’s experiments, research, and findings in cognitive science have contributed to an increased understanding of the biological basis of optimism. In this fascinating exploration, she takes an in-depth, clarifying look at how the brain generates hope and what happens when it fails; how the brains of optimists and pessimists differ; why we are terrible at predicting what will make us happy; how emotions strengthen our ability to recollect; how anticipation and dread affect us; and how our optimistic illusions affect our financial, professional, and emotional decisions.  With its cutting-edge science and its wide-ranging and accessible narrative, The Optimism Bias provides us with startling new insight into the workings of the brain.

For fans of Thinking, Fast and Slow and The Power of Habit, a groundbreaking new study of how disrupting our well-worn routines, both good and bad, can rejuvenate our days and reset our brains to allow us to live happier and more fulfilling lives.

Have you ever noticed that what is thrilling on Monday tends to become boring on Friday? Even exciting relationships, stimulating jobs, and breathtaking works of art lose their sparkle after a while. People stop noticing what is most wonderful in their own lives. They also stop noticing what is terrible. They get used to dirty air. They stay in abusive relationships. People grow to accept authoritarianism and take foolish risks. They become unconcerned by their own misconduct, blind to inequality, and are more liable to believe misinformation than ever before.

But what if we could find a way to see everything anew? What if you could regain sensitivity, not only to the great things in your life, but also to the terrible things you stopped noticing and so don''t try to change?

A cutting-edge, research-based inquiry into how we influence those around us, and how understanding the brain can help us change minds for the better.In The Influential Mind, neuroscientist Tali Sharot takes us on a thrilling exploration of the nature of influence. We all have a duty to affect others—from the classroom to the boardroom to social media. But how skilled are we at this role, and can we become better? It turns out that many of our instincts—from relying on facts and figures to shape opinions, to insisting others are wrong or attempting to exert control—are ineffective, because they are incompatible with how people’s minds operate. Sharot shows us how to avoid these pitfalls, and how an attempt to change beliefs and actions is successful when it is well-matched with the core elements that govern the human brain. Sharot reveals the critical role of emotion in influence, the weakness of data and the power of curiosity. Relying on the latest research in neuroscience, behavioral economics, and psychology, the book provides fascinating insight into the complex power of influence, good and bad.

Selected as a best book of 2017 by Forbes, The Times, Huffington Post, Bloomberg, Greater Good Magazine, Stanford Business School and more.''A timely, intriguing book'' Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Originals and Give and Take''This profound book will change your life. An instant classic'' Cass R. Sunstein, bestselling co-author of NudgePart of our daily job as humans is to influence others; we teach our children, guide our patients, advise our clients, help our friends and inform our online followers. We do this because we each have unique experiences and knowledge that others may not. But how good are we at this role? It turns out we systematically fall back on suboptimal habits when trying to change other''s beliefs and behaviors. Many of these instincts-from trying to scare people into action, to insisting the other is wrong or attempting to exert control-are ineffective, because they are incompatible with how the mind operates.

Winner of the British Psychological Society Book Award for Popular Psychology

Psychologists have long been aware that most people tend to maintain an irrationally positive outlook on life. In fact, optimism may be crucial to our existence. Tali Sharot''s original cognitive research demonstrates in surprising ways the biological basis for optimism. In this fascinating exploration, she takes an in-depth, clarifying look at how the brain generates hope and what happens when it fails; how the brains of optimists and pessimists differ; why we are terrible at predicting what will make us happy; how anticipation and dread affect us; and how our optimistic illusions affect our financial, professional, and emotional decisions.

With its cutting-edge science and its wide-ranging and accessible narrative, The Optimism Bias provides us with startling new insight into how the workings of the brain create our hopes and dreams.

Das Gehirn ist die Zuversicht in Person

Wie erzeugt unser Gehirn Hoffnung? Wie bringt es uns dazu, positiv in die Zukunft zu blicken? Was geschieht, wenn ihm das nicht gelingt? Wie unterscheiden sich die Gehirne von Optimisten und Pessimisten? Warum ist für die einen das Glas halbvoll, für die anderen halbleer? Tali Sharots These: Optimismus ist so überlebenswichtig für uns, dass er in unserem kompliziertesten Organ, dem Gehirn, fest verankert ist.

„Wir haben die rosarote Brille auf, als Acht- wie als Achtzigjährige … Dabei sind wir uns unserer Neigung zum Optimismus oft gar nicht bewusst. Im Grunde ist der unrealistische Optimismus gerade deshalb so machtvoll, weil er – wie viele andere Illusionen – gar nicht vollständig unserer bewussten Entscheidung zugänglich ist.“

Faszinierend … Selbst wenn Sie ein eingefleischter Zyniker sind, werden Sie überrascht sein zu erfahren, dass Ihr Gehirn eine rosarote Brille aufhat, ob Sie das nun mögen oder nicht.National Public Radio

Sharot beschreibt ihre Forschung in packenden Geschichten und macht dabei die komplizierte Wissenschaft leicht zugänglich. Ein Buch für alle, die jene biologischen Prozesse verstehen wollen, die unsere Sicht auf die Welt bestimmen. Positive Psychology News Daily

Ein intelligent geschriebener Bericht über die Neigung der meisten Menschen, das Leben optimistisch zu sehen. New York Journal of Books  

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Die Neurowissenschaftlerin Tali Sharot erkundet in diesem Buch unsere Neigung zum Optimismus, die auf neuronaler Ebene in unserem Gehirn festgeschrieben ist und entscheidend darüber mitbestimmt, wie wir unser Leben leben. Die meisten Menschen besitzen, wie die Psychologie schon lange weiß, eine unverbesserlich positive Weltsicht – auch wenn es ihnen selbst gar nicht bewusst ist. Vielleicht ist Optimismus sogar entscheidend für unsere Existenz. Tali Sharots Untersuchungen und Experimente auf dem Gebiet der Kognitionswissenschaft gewähren uns tiefe Einblicke in die biologischen Grundlagen des positiven Denkens. In ihrem leicht lesbaren Sachbuch zum Thema geht sie vielen spannenden Fragen auf den Grund: warum wir mit unseren Vermutungen darüber, was uns glücklich machen wird, so oft danebenliegen, welche Wirkung es hat, wenn wir Ereignisse vorwegnehmen oder fürchten, wie unser Gehirn Gefühle der Zuversicht und Hoffnung erzeugt und was passiert, wenn es sich irrt, wie sich die Gehirne von Optimisten und Pessimisten unterscheiden, wie Emotionen unser Erinnerungsvermögen beeinflussen oder wie unser unrealistischer Optimismus unsere finanziellen, beruflichen und emotionalen Entscheidungen prägt.   

Das optimistische Gehirn ist eine wissenschaftlich anspruchsvolle und gleichzeitig unterhaltsame Lektüre, die uns einen neuen Blick auf die Funktionsweise des Gehirns vermittelt.