Shankar's work as a cognitive scientist uniquely positions her to offer advice from life stories

From lauded scientist and podcast host Maya Shankar comes a unique coupling of science and introspection.

Shankar, a cognitive scientist who has served as a senior advisor in the White House under the Obama administration, as well as the first behavioral science advisor to the United Nations, has well established her expertise in understanding why humans do the things we do. On her podcast A Slight Change in Plans, which was dubbed the Best Show of the Year 2021 by Apple, Shankar invites guests whose stories are illuminated by her knowledge of human behavior.

Now, her new book is pointing the mirror inward and drawing on her personal stories that drove her research. The Other Side of Change brings fans even more powerful stories from individuals of all walks of life to offer further insight into our patterns of thinking — and, when necessary, how to break free.

"Drawing on the latest scientific research, Shankar invites us to explore who we can become on the other side of seismic change," the book's synopsis reads. "With the right perspective, what begins as a destabilizing and frightening experience has the potential to set off a process of discovery that can crack open a deeper understanding of who we are and the potential within us."