Illusions of the Human Brain. Why We Are All Incorrigible Optimists

How does the brain generate hope? How does it encourage us to move forward? Is the brain of an optimist different from that of a pessimist? We are all inclined to envision a future where professional success, wonderful relationships with loved ones, financial stability, and good health await us. One of the most outstanding neurobiologists of our time, Tali Sharot, reveals the essence of our tendency to overestimate the chances of positive events and underestimate the risk of misfortunes.
«This book describes the greatest deception that the human brain is capable of — the tendency toward optimism. You will learn when this predisposition is beneficial and when it is harmful, and you will receive evidence that moderately optimistic illusions can support a person's inner well-being. I will pay special attention to a specific structure of the brain that allows unfounded optimism to arise and influence our perception and behavior. To understand the phenomenon of optimism bias, we first need to trace how and why the human brain creates illusions of reality.
The enormous soap bubble of the representation that we see the world as it is must finally burst.» (Tali Sharot)