Daniel Goleman, Emotional Intelligence

The first big blow to IQ-centrism
As Daniel Goleman observes in his 2005 introduction to this audiobook, a lot has changed since Emotional Intelligence was first published in 1995. Before the book was written, IQ was the gold standard in measuring a person’s intelligence, and the educational system was geared more toward filling minds than preparing them for life’s challenges. Synthesizing a variety of sociological, psychological, and neuroscientific studies, Goleman’s groundbreaking book popularized the idea that emotional and social skills — such as self-awareness, impulse control, empathy, and conflict management — are vital to success, both personal and professional. As a direct result of this book and the research that inspired it, the concept of emotional intelligence has since become widespread, with countless schools and companies sponsoring the sort of emotional-literacy classes Goleman described and advocated. This updated audiobook includes an interview with Jon Kabat-Zinn, whose Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program complements Goleman’s prescription for a more compassionate and peaceful populace.