Psychologists have long been aware that most people maintain an irrationally positive outlook on life. Tali Sharot—one of the most innovative neuroscientists at work today—takes this a step further. Optimism, she shows, may in fact be crucial to our existence.

In this absorbing exploration, Sharot 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

• how our optimistic illusions affect our financial, professional, and emotional decisions

With its cutting-edge science and its wide-ranging narrative, 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.