5.0 out of 5 based on 4 reviews. – Customer review on 02/01/2007

I must admit I'm torn between a thumbs up and a thumbs down for this book (hence, 3 stars). Author Daniel Goleman does a fine job of employing a vast library of behavioral research in support of the premise that emotional conditioning plays a dominant role in what we perceive as "intelligence." Even though one can learn lots from Goleman's work, the overriding theme here seems to me to be ridiculously simple: good nurturing (rather than aptitude) is more likely to produce exceptional humans; bad nurturing creates people with a bunch of problems.

The book starts off great, with a look at what happens in the brain at the molecular level under all sorts of emotional experiences. That's Part One (Goleman recommends skipping this if you're not into neurological details), which turned out to be the most interesting for me, as I had never before learned much about the emotional "architecture" of the brain.

In Parts Two through Five, the author expounds on feelings (e.g., anger, empathy, passion, depression), personality, upbringing, aptitude, and treatment, etc., citing study after study to show that today's children are most decidedly a product of how they were treated in their earliest years, but nevertheless are winding up far less able then their ancestors were to handle even the slightest emotional dilemma. In fact, the further on you read, the more you'll realize that "Emotional Intelligence" is a book about children. Why is their character deteriorating, and what can we do to mold them into more emotionally strong (intelligent) beings? That's okay: if you're a parent, educator, or child psychologist, definitely buy this book. It will help.

As for me, I appreciated Goleman's connection of personality with science in an unexpected, enlightening way. However, except for Part One, I got so bogged down in page after page of studies and stats, all concluding the same thing over and over again, that it became a chore to plow through to the end. Overall, this is a monumental work, but I can't recommended it to everyone.

2.0 out of 5 based on 4 reviews. – Customer review on 18/11/2006

Emotional Intelligence was well written for intellectuals who have little idea about the importance of the emotions and for this purpose it is served up well. As far as taking that next step and doing something about really developing emotional intelligence it does very little. Still having an awareness is the first step. For people looking to get deeper take a look at “the power of now� and to get to the root look up some books on Vipassana.

4.0 out of 5 based on 4 reviews. – Customer review on 07/01/2011

Daniel Goleman's new revalations into the complex study of emotional intelligence is to be commended. It is so essential in today's world as it covers fundamental behavioural issues, and how children can be taught and nutured to give them a better quality of life. His writings on topics such as self awareness,empathy,motivation and impulse control etc is an eye opener to the everyday person. I think it is essential reading for all parents and teachers.

3.0 out of 5 based on 4 reviews. – Customer review on 19/05/2006

There are so much publicity about this book in the past and so I finally pluck up a courage to read the whole thing. It is a pity that the whole book actually do not connect to the audience. In other words, it is a very complex book.

In the first part, Goleman suggested that those who are not interested in the anatomy of brain can skip the first bit. Unfortunately, the first bit is the dummy guide of the scientific words that's in all over the book. My suggestion is actually to read the whole thing.

In second part, he goes on and on about different psychological problems in life, unless you like psychology in a scientific way, it is hard to enjoy the book.

Personally, from point of view as a medical student, I think this book is a must for anyone considering or doing psychology as a career (see whether you can stand the real psychology). Not for any audience. Goleman is trying to promote an ideal life, with his proven tests, that is too hard for a common-life-audience to comprehend.