The Power of Beliefs

Shawn Achor, who wrote The Happiness Advantage and Big Potential, argues that the beliefs people hold about the world are the strongest predictor of their future, shifting what is possible and probable in their lives. His evidence comes from twenty years of research and from his work with NASA, the NFL and more than a third of Fortune 100 firms. He identifies seven core beliefs that predict health, success, wealth and education, describes a period he calls the Great Drift, marked by burnout, anxiety, loneliness and depression, and offers six research-based ways to change beliefs, with names such as the Disaster Elevator, the Memory DeLorean and Creating a Neural Tribe. The book became a New York Times bestseller.

Adam Grant included it in The 12 New Books to Enliven Spring and Summer, citing the mindsets that can change the course of a life and lift people higher.