Tal Ben-Shahar
Tal Ben-Shahar (Hebrew: טל בן-שחר; born 1970), also known as Tal David Ben-Shachar, is an American and Israeli
teacher
A teacher, also called a schoolteacher or formally an educator, is a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence, or virtue, via the practice of teaching.
''Informally'' the role of teacher may be taken on by anyone (e.g. whe ...
, and
writer
A writer is a person who uses written words in different writing styles and techniques to communicate ideas. Writers produce different forms of literary art and creative writing such as novels, short stories, books, poetry, travelogues, p ...
in the areas of
positive psychology and
leadership
Leadership, both as a research area and as a practical skill, encompasses the ability of an individual, group or organization to "lead", influence or guide other individuals, teams, or entire organizations. The word "leadership" often gets vi ...
. As a lecturer at Harvard University, Ben-Shahar created the most popular course in Harvard's history. He has subsequently written several best-selling books and in 2011 co-founded Potentialife with Angus Ridgway, a company that provides leadership programs based on the science of behavioral change to organisations, schools and sports organisations globally.
Early life and education
Ben-Shahar received his PhD in Organizational Behavior from Harvard University. His dissertation, completed in 2004, was titled "Restoring Self-Esteem's Self-Esteem: The Constructs of Dependent and Independent Competence and Worth." He has a bachelor's degree from Harvard in Philosophy and Psychology. His undergraduate thesis, completed in 1996, is titled "Honesty Pays: Bridging the Gap Between Moral Theory and Practice."
Career
Ben-Shahar consults and lectures internationally. Topics include leadership, education, ethics, happiness, self-esteem, resilience, goal setting, and
mindfulness.
In 2011, Ben-Shahar co-founded Potentialife to bring positive psychology to people's daily lives.
He is the author of the international best sellers Happier and Being Happy, which have been translated into 25 languages.
* ''Being Happy: You Don't Have to Be Perfect to Lead a Richer, Happier Life'' (2010) originally published in hardcover as ''The Pursuit of Perfect'' (2010)
* ''Happier: Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment'' (2007)
* ''A Clash of Values: The Struggle for Universal Freedom'' (2002)
* ''Heaven Can Wait: Conversations With Bonny Hicks'' (1998)
He has also written two children's books in collaboration with Shirly Yuval-Yair in Hebrew; one about
Helen Keller and the other about
Thomas Edison
Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847October 18, 1931) was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices in fields such as electric power generation, mass communication, sound recording, and motion pictures. These inventi ...
. The books aim to teach children about happiness.
He is the narrator of the 2012 documentary ''Israel Inside: How a Small Nation Makes a Big Difference'', produced by
Raphael Shore
Raphael Shore is a Canadian- Israeli film writer, producer, and rabbi. He is the founder of OpenDor Media, a Jewish educational organization, and Clarion Project, whose stated mission is "exposing the dangers of Islamist extremism".
Early life a ...
.
Ben-Shahar taught at Harvard, where his classes on Positive Psychology and The Psychology of Leadership were among the most popular courses in the university's history.
References
Books
*Tal Ben-Shahar (2007) ''Happier: Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment'', McGraw-Hill Professional.
*Tal Ben-Shahar (2009) ''The Pursuit of Perfect: How to Stop Chasing Perfection and Start Living a Richer, Happier Life'', McGraw-Hill Professional.
*Tal Ben-Shahar (2010) ''Even Happier: A Gratitude Journal for Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment'', McGraw-Hill Professional.
External links
* https://www.happinessstudies.academy/
Potentialife Limited* Personal http://www.talbenshahar.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ben-Shahar, Tal
Positive psychologists
Harvard College alumni
Reichman University faculty
American self-help writers
1970 births
Living people
Israeli Jews
Jewish agnostics
Harvard Extension School faculty