Tali Sharot

Tali Sharot is an internationally renowned neuroscientist and author whose research focuses on how humans form beliefs. She is the author of the best-selling books The Influential Mind: What the Brain Reveals About Our Power to Change Others and The Enthusiasm Effect: Use the Science of Motivation to Transform Your Life.

Sharot was born in London, England and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from University College London. She then continued her studies in the US, receiving her doctoral degree in Neurobiology from Harvard University and postdoctoral training at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in California. During her studies, Sharot worked on various topics at the intersection neuroscience and psychology. She studied a range of topics such as memory and decision making, the effects of stress on the brain and the development of neural pathways.

Since then, Sharot has focused her research on the science of optimism, positive thinking and motivation. She is an international lecturer and currently serves as a faculty member at University College London's Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience. Her research is aimed at facilitating understanding of how humans form beliefs and why some tend to become “stuck” in certain ways of thinking. She explores these topics from a variety of perspectives, including evolutionary, neurological and psychological ones. She believes that understanding the forces behind our beliefs can help us to better understand and manage human behavior.

In her first book, The Influential Mind, Sharot details her exploration into how the human brain processes and evaluates information, and how beliefs can be shaped. She speaks to readers about the advantage of integrating science, culture and psychological theory when trying to understand how others can affect us. She argues that being aware of how others formed their beliefs is the first step towards influencing them in a constructive way.

Sharot's second book, The Enthusiasm Effect, is a much more practical manual on how to become more motivated and energized. Sharot proposes her own five-step process for tapping into enthusiasm, which relies on the positive energy of emotions, environmental cues, willpower and social support. She argues that harnessing enthusiasm can have an impact on all aspects of life, from improving success in school or the workplace to becoming more successful in relationships.

Tali Sharot's writing is characterized by its accessible approach, combining science and real-life experience in a digestible and entertaining manner. Her work has been praised both by critics and readership alike, and she continues to be a driving force in uncovering the secrets of motivation and behavior.