The Optimism Bias
A Tour of the Irrationally Positive Brain
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
Psychologists have long been aware that most people maintain an irrationally positive outlook on life—but why? Turns out, we might be hardwired that way.
In this absorbing exploration, Tali Sharot—one of the most innovative neuroscientists at work today—demonstrates that optimism may be crucial to human existence. The Optimism Bias explores 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; how our optimistic illusions affect our financial, professional, and emotional decisions; and more.
Drawing on cutting-edge science, The Optimism Bias provides us with startling new insight into the workings of the brain and the major role that optimism plays in determining how we live our lives.
Customer Reviews
Incredible! Amazing!
This is one of my top 5 favorite books of all time. There are two different regions of the brain that are independently responsible for processing positive and negative information. The part that is processing negative isn't doing a good job. So we develop a biased perspective of reality. But we're oblivious to the fact.
This was an amazing book. I couldn't put it down!