Tal Ben-Shahar

Tal Ben-Shahar

Positive Psychologist and Author, “Happier, No Matter What”

A middle-aged man with short, gray hair and glasses, wearing a light purple collared shirt, is smiling at the camera against a plain background.

Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar is an internationally renowned teacher and author in the fields of happiness and leadership. After graduating from Harvard with a B.A. in philosophy and psychology and a Ph.D. in organizational behavior, Dr. Ben-Shahar taught two of the most popular courses in Harvard’s history: Positive Psychology and The Psychology of Leadership. He then taught Happiness Studies at Columbia University. A prolific writer, Ben-Shahar’s books have appeared on bestsellers lists around the world and have been translated into more than 30 languages.

Dr. Ben-Shahar consults and lectures to executives in multinational corporations, educational institutions, and the general public. Topics include leadership, education, ethics, happiness, self-esteem, resilience, goal setting, and mindfulness.

Dr. Ben-Shahar is the co-founder of the Happiness Studies Academy, as well as the creator and instructor of the Certificate in Happiness Studies and the Happier School programs.

Tal is an avid sportsman and a certified yoga instructor whose work bridges Eastern and Western traditions, ancient wisdom and modern technology, and science and art.

29 min
A conversation with the author of “The Pursuit of Perfect” and “Happier.”
2 min
Tal Ben-Shahar’s most important lesson to his students to be sure to fail, and to fail well. He explains why this is and introduces us to the most successful individual […]
1 min
Tal Ben Shahar wrote the book on avoiding the drive for perfectionism and enjoying an imperfect life. So what does he say about his own career regrets?
1 min
Tal Ban Shahar’s best career advice involved getting some important words on paper.
1 min
Tal Ben Shahar is very concerned about the state of education in our country: he explains why a “happiness curriculum” starting in childhood is a key to fixing what’s wrong […]
2 min
Happiness expert Tal Ben Shahar has dedicated ample time to his research on how romantic relationships can promote—and prevent—happiness. He tells Big Think what makes a winning relationship.
3 min
Why are corporations paying positive psychologists big fees to repair their cultures? Tal Ben Shahar, an expert in the field, explains how corporations can benefit from a focus on the […]