5 Best Emotional Intelligence Books

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Last Updated on December 20, 2023

What is emotional intelligence? It is the ability to understand, utilize, and handle your own emotions in beneficial and constructive ways.

Emotional Intelligence plays a highly important intangible role in helping us comprehend and handle emotions in positive ways to alleviate stress, communicate successfully, understand and empathize with others, address problems, overcome challenges and neutralize conflict.

The numerous applications of cognitive empathy and social intelligence extend from organizational aspects to family life, companionship, romantic relationships, and more. Whatever the aspect, we have compiled a list of some of the best Emotional Intelligence books from leading academic authors and experts on EI.

1. Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ

Daniel Goleman developed a major interest in Salovey and Mayer’s Emotional Intelligence Theory during the 90s, which led to his publication of the bestselling Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ in 1995. Goleman’s view of emotional intelligence developed from but is somewhat different than Salovey and Mayer’s.

His first book on the topic immediately became an international bestseller. By narrating through a business point of view this bestselling narrative redefines the concept of intelligence and its effect on workplace success. His basic supposition is that cognitive intelligence (IQ) is not the only explanatory variable of workplace prosperity and that emotional intelligence stands as an equally significant non-cognitive skill. When it comes to emotional intelligence books – this one is the Bible.

2. Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves’ Emotional Intelligence 2.0

Considered as one of the best emotional intelligence books by its readers, this publication connects theory to empirical research and provides shrewd answers to some of the most prevalent EI research enquiries. By analyzing data gathered from over 500k participants in their research, Bradberry and Greaves were able to find recurring EQ patterns within cultures, age groups, and gender, thus providing an explanation to what Emotional Intelligence actually is and what it is not. 

Emotional Intelligence 2.0 offers numerous strategies for increasing EQ in the four main domains of self and relationship management, as well as social and self-awareness.

3. Daniel Goleman’s Working with Emotional Intelligence

Goleman’s second book examines more closely into how EQ competencies investigated in his first narrative can be applied within the work domain. Admittedly, it is once again substantially focused on the business world and offers useful tools for collectives, managers, leaders, and the organization itself.

Working with Emotional Intelligence includes stories and Emotional Intelligence screenplays featuring bosses, directors, and managers. Furthermore, it also addresses some of the main concepts associated with EI, in particular the link between stress, impulse management, and hormones.

4. Stephen Neale, Lisa Spencer-Arnell and Liz Wilson’s Emotional Intelligence Coaching: Improving Performance for Leaders, Coaches and the Individual

Emotional Intelligence Coaching discusses the critical role emotions, habits and routines play in performance. What is emotional intelligence and what it can do – help leaders, managers and coaches understand how both their own attitudes, alongside with those of the people they teach, can stop individuals from reaching their full potential – is all detailly explained in this prominent edition.

Substituting these practices with more beneficial feelings and thoughts can produce powerful tools for enhancing performance. This acclaimed publication, when it comes to emotional intelligence books, describes the principles of emotional intelligence and the way they relate to coaching for efficiency and performance. It involves practical activities for individuals that want to identify and adjust their attitudes and behavior with the purpose of achieving more.

5. Goleman, Boyatzis & McKee’s Primal Leadership: Unleashing the Power of Emotional Intelligence

From bestselling authors and leading experts in the field of Emotional Intelligence, this innovative book lingers as compulsory reading for leaders or those aspiring to lead. 

Primal Leadership once again confirms the significance of emotionally intelligent management. Its influence stretches even beyond the world of business since the book and its concepts are nowadays frequently used in universities, business schools, and other training programs, and by an increasing number of professional tutors.

[1] “26 Best Emotional Intelligence Books (Reviews And Summaries).” PositivePsychology.com, [Online] Available at: positivepsychology.com/best-emotional-intelligence-books/. [Accessed on: 14 June 2020]

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