7 Books On Emotional Intelligence

BookSummaryClub Blog 7 Books On Emotional Intelligence

Ever questioned why some people manage their emotions so successfully while others find it difficult? The answer, however, may be found in the interesting science of emotional intelligence. And fortunately for you, there are many books available that can guide you in understanding this enigmatic idea and enhancing your emotional health.

The best way to understand and control your emotions is with the help of books on emotional intelligence. Because they provide helpful advice, relevant case studies, and attainable narratives that help the audiences understand the topic.

Even if you’ve never read anything on psychology or self-help before, you’ll still find these books to be interesting and engaging. Imagine being able to deal with stress, build stronger bonds with others, and make wiser decisions while navigating life’s ups and downs. 

That’s precisely what books on emotional intelligence are designed to assist you in achieving. They equip you with the knowledge and proficiency to acknowledge and control your own emotions, pay attention to those of others, and effectively communicate with people.

What Is Emotional Intelligence?

Emotional Intelligence is the ability to identify, make sense of, and control one’s own emotions as well as the emotions of others. It entails being conscious of, in charge of, and able to relate to one’s own emotions as well as those of others. 

Also, Emotional Intelligence can be seen as varieties of abilities and characteristics that support fruitful interpersonal interactions, healthy relationships, and general well-being.

Furthermore, in the 1990s, psychologists Peter Salovey and John Mayer established the idea of emotional intelligence, and Author and psychologist Daniel Goleman later developed it. 

Now, without further ado, let’s take a look at the seven best books on Emotional Intelligence you should include in your library.

1• Emotional Intelligence 2.0 By Jean Greaves and Travis Bradberry

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How Successful you are in life has a lot to do with being emotionally Intelligent. Emotional Intelligence 2.0, written by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves, explains what EQ is, how to assess your EQ levels, and how to apply the step-by-step program (with 66 tested tactics) to enhance four main sets of EQ skills. 

Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves’ self-help book Emotional Intelligence 2.0, which was published in (2009), offers readers a toolset and guidance to improve their Emotional Intelligence (EQ), which the authors claim can be useful in both professional and interpersonal relationships.

The Authors made use of the story of a surfer in the opening chapter to highlight the significance of emotional control. The surfer must overcome his fear as he is attacked by a huge white shark to find a way out and get to safety. 

Furthermore, they described how the brain has been programmed to respond emotionally. It is crucial to understand that many people may not act logically in times of crisis. The rest of the information in the book is built upon these insights.

Bradberry and Greaves defined the skills related to EQ in practical ways. They emphasize that while some people have greater EQ naturally, it is not a born ability and can be learned by anyone who wishes to.

In addition, the book includes a few easy tasks that can help readers raise their EQ. Self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management can all be used to achieve this. This is a book for any individual who wants to build his/her own emotional intelligence.

2•     Emotional Intelligence By Daniel Goleman

Why It Can Matter More Than IQ

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With over 5 million copies sold, “Emotional Intelligence” is the number one best-selling book worldwide, and it was written by Daniel Goleman. The book describes emotional intelligence and demonstrates its huge influence on various aspects of life. 

It also explains how to increase emotional intelligence and how you can develop emotional agility. The Author used the book to provide a fresh perspective in contrast to the highly rationalistic approach that is so common in psychology departments.

Daniel Goleman offers practical advice for boosting EQ alongside new insights into the relationship between achievement, emotional skills, and perceptual skills.

This book is for anyone who questions whether success is determined by IQ, who disagrees with conventional methods of assessing intellect, or who wants to reach their full potential in life. It’s also for anyone looking to work on his/her personal and professional relationships.

Some people believe that emotions have to do with only romantic relationships or cause conflicts between people. However, in the real world, emotions are extensive and play a significant part in all of our relationships with others as well as the way we make decisions and make sense of the environment we live in. 

This book provides a detailed explanation of how emotions affect our day-to-day existence, which is occasionally beneficial but often wrong. 

It also highlights the significance of emotional intelligence (EI), which teaches us how to use our own emotions wisely to produce beneficial results and keep away from negative events, thereby achieving workplace success.

3•   “Raising An Emotionally Intelligent Child” By John Gottman, Ph.D. and Joan Daclaire

The Heart of Parenting

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Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child by John Gottman, Ph.D., and John Declaire is a book that contains tons of information that is quite useful for parents who have an emotionally intelligent child. 

Gottman explains how parents might act as their children’s “Emotion Coaches” in particular. Emotion Coaching is a model for how parents can react to a kid’s emotions in the best way possible, especially when the child is displaying strong emotions like fear, grief, or rage.

Parents who are conscious of their own emotions are able to read their children’s emotions better. But just because you’re sensitive and aware of your emotions doesn’t imply you’ll always be able to figure out how your youngster is feeling.

Children often convey their feelings subtly and in manners that baffle adults. However, the book teaches that if we pay close attention and observe with an open heart, we can always decode signals that kids unknowingly hide in their actions, play, and routine behavior. It’s a must-have for every parent.

4   “Emotional Agility” By Susan David

Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life  

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“Emotional Agility” is a self-help book on Emotional Intelligence by Susan David which teaches readers how to control challenging emotions, accept changes and uncertainty, and also create satisfying connections, make constructive adjustments, reach goals, and fully experience life. 

Reading this book will open your eyes to understanding what emotional agility is and how to free yourself from destructive patterns. Dr. Susan David is a psychologist and executive coach who has spent more than 20 years researching people’s feelings and interactions. 

In this book, she describes how we become “hooked” on negative behaviors and how to break free using four simple methods. 

Furthermore, she teaches that emotional Agility is about better controlling challenging ideas, feelings, and behaviors based on studies and her account of growing up in poverty. She makes mention of despair and anxiety as well as provides practice advice for enhancing our adaptability and resilience. 

5•   Master Your Emotions By Thibaut Meuissee 

A Practical Guide to Overcome Negativity and Better Manage Your Feelings

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“Master Your Emotions” is one of the best books on emotional Intelligence you should read if you’re looking to build an emotionally intelligent organization. Thibaut Meuissee teaches readers about the six universal emotions that everyone is familiar with, such as Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust, Anger, and Surprise. 

Most times, we may relate to Fear the most out of these six emotions since we are all terrified of something, whether it be losing our parents, losing our jobs, or missing out on opportunities. We all know that people have both positive and negative thoughts, and the author of “Master Your Emotions”, Thibaut Meurisse, discusses how everyone should take control of their emotions. 

The author also teaches readers how to take control and make better decisions for their lives using cognitive skill-building techniques. This book explains why you are predisposed to focus on the negative and offers strategies for overcoming this tendency. Additionally, you’ll learn how your beliefs affect your emotions. 

Additionally, readers will discover how negative emotions function and why they are such a challenge. You’ll understand how your body, mind, speech, or sleep affect your life and how you can utilize them to alter your emotions. 

6•   The Emotionally Intelligent Manager By David R. Caruso and Peter Salovey

How to Develop and Use the Four Key Emotional Skills of Leadership 

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“The Emotionally Intelligent Manager” is a book written by David R. Caruso and Peter Salovey. David R. Caruso is a psychologist and researcher who has contributed significantly to the study of emotional intelligence. He is known for his work on the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT), which is a widely used assessment tool for measuring emotional intelligence.

Peter Salovey is a psychologist and the current president of Yale University. He is also one of the pioneers in the field of emotional intelligence. Salovey, along with John D. Mayer, proposed the original framework of emotional intelligence, which includes the ability to perceive, understand, use, and manage emotions.

The idea of emotional intelligence (EI) and its application in the context of administrative jobs are the main topics of the book. The ability to identify, understand, and control one’s own emotions as well as the emotions of others is referred to as emotional intelligence. 

Empathy, self-awareness, self-regulation, and social awareness are among the skills abilities call for. The authors of the book, “The Emotionally Intelligent Manager,” Caruso and Salovey, as well, examined how managers might use emotional intelligence to improve their leadership performance. 

They also shared about how emotional intelligence affects team dynamics, employee motivation, communication, decision-making, and overall organizational effectiveness. Insights, case examples, and useful techniques for enhancing and using emotional intelligence abilities in a managerial setting may be found in this book.

7•   “Emotional Intelligence for Sales Success” By Colleen Stanley 

Connect With Customers and Get Results 

Emo Intel for Sales

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“Emotional Intelligence for Sales Success” is a self-help book by Colleen Stanley that aims at teaching readers all that is needed for Sales Success.” It emphasizes the use of emotional intelligence in the sales industry and offers suggestions and strategies for boosting sales effectiveness through increased emotional intelligence.

The book emphasizes the integral role that emotional intelligence plays in establishing connections, understanding client demands, and successfully influencing people. The following are some of the themes the author touched on:

Understanding Emotional Intelligence 

Understanding emotional intelligence is one of the themes discussed by Colleen Stanley in this book. He explained the ideas of emotional intelligence, which includes self-awareness, self-regulation, drive, empathy, and social skills. It also demonstrates how the aforementioned skills are important to the sales process and the impact of the final results.

Developing Self-Awareness 

One of the core aspects of emotional intelligence is self-awareness. The exercises and methods in the book are designed to provide salespeople with a greater understanding of their own emotions, motivations, and actions. Salespeople can better control their emotions and engage with consumers by being more self-aware.

Managing Emotions 

Rejection management, stress management, and motivation are skills that an effective salesman must possess. This book, “Emotional Intelligence for Sales Success” provides methods for controlling emotions in high-pressure sales circumstances, such as ways to reframe unpleasant memories and keep an optimistic outlook.

Building Empathy 

Sales workers need empathy because it enables them to understand and connect well with clients on a deeper level. The book includes guides to emotional intelligence and helps readers learn how to cultivate empathy as well as practical advice on how to actively listen, interpret body language, and pick up on emotional signs.

To assist sales professionals in developing their emotional intelligence and enhancing their sales performance, the book, “Emotional Intelligence for Sales Success” mixes helpful guidance with real-world examples and case studies.

Frequently Asked Questions In Books On Emotional Intelligence

What Are The 4 Skills Needed For Emotional Intelligence

The four skills essential for Emotional Intelligence are as follows:

  • Self-management 
  • Self-awareness 
  • Relationship management 
  • Social awareness

What is More Important, IQ or EQ?

There is a continuous discussion regarding the relative weights of IQ (Intelligence Quotient) and EQ (Emotional Quotient). Both IQ and EQ add to a person’s all-around skills and can be useful in various situations.

Cognitive intelligence includes skills like logical reasoning, problem-solving, memory, and linguistic proficiency, as measured by IQ. However, EQ stands for emotional intelligence, which includes the capacity to identify, understand, and control emotions in both oneself and others. Both are crucial to our daily lives. None is more important.

How Can Reading Books On Emotional Intelligence Improve My Personal and Professional Life?

Reading books on emotional intelligence can have a significant impact on your personal and professional life in several ways, which include:

  • Emotional regulation 
  • Empathy and interpersonal skills 
  • Conflict resolution 
  • Adaptability and resilience
  • Decision-making
  • Leadership and teamwork 
  • Stress management

Are There Books That Focus On Applying Emotional Intelligence In Leadership or Management Roles?

Yes, there are so many books that focus on applying emotional intelligence in leadership or management roles. Take a look at a few of them below:

  • “The Emotionally Intelligent Manager by David R. Caruso and Peter Salovey 
  • Leadership: The Power of Emotional Intelligence” by Daniel Goleman 
  • “HBR’s 10 Must Reads on Emotional Intelligence” by Harvard Business Review
  • “Primal Leadership: Realizing the Power of Emotional Intelligence” by Daniel Goleman, Richard E. Boyatzis, and Annie McKee

Final Thought On Books On Emotional Intelligence

Finally, knowing the best book on emotional intelligence to read can be difficult for most people looking to build high emotional intelligence skills. Some emotionally intelligent people also find it hard to decide on the emotional intelligence books to read to help them improve more.

However, this post has a detailed summary of some of the best books on emotional intelligence that contains practical advice, basic principles, and practical exercises to help readers who are looking to build their own emotions. 

Furthermore, the authors ensured to use an engaging style in their writings to see that readers are engaged. So, if you desire to develop emotional intelligence and build personal and professional success, these best emotional intelligence books should be your go-to.

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