Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman: 

Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence (1995) fundamentally changed how people think about intelligence and success. Goleman argues that, contrary to the traditional emphasis on IQ as the main predictor of achievement, emotional intelligence (EQ) is equally—if not more—important in determining how we navigate life, relationships, and work15.

What Is Emotional Intelligence?

Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize, understand, and manage our own emotions as well as recognize, understand, and influence the emotions of others. Goleman builds on the foundational work of psychologists Peter Salovey and John Mayer, who defined emotional intelligence as a set of skills related to perceiving, using, understanding, and managing emotions15.

Goleman organizes emotional intelligence into four core domains, each with specific competencies2:

Key Insights and Arguments

Goleman explains the biological basis for emotions, focusing on the interplay between the rational brain (neocortex) and the emotional brain (limbic system, especially the amygdala). He describes how “emotional hijackings” can occur when the amygdala reacts before the rational brain can intervene, leading to impulsive actions14. This evolutionary wiring, he argues, means that emotions often override reason, making emotional intelligence crucial for effective decision-making14.

He also presents research showing that high IQ does not guarantee success or happiness. Instead, people with high emotional intelligence tend to have better mental health, job performance, and leadership skills15. Goleman advocates for teaching emotional skills in schools, emphasizing that these abilities can be learned and developed at any age45.

Strengths of the Book

Weaknesses of the Book

Why Has It Become So Important?

Emotional Intelligence became a global phenomenon because it addressed a widespread need to understand the complexities of human interaction and offered a framework for developing compassion, empathy, and wisdom in both personal and professional settings5. The book’s timing coincided with a growing recognition that technical skills and IQ alone do not guarantee success or happiness. Its influence is seen in business, education, and even government, where EQ training is now common5.

Goleman’s work resonated because it offered hope: emotional skills can be learned and improved, leading to better decisions, healthier relationships, and more fulfilling lives. In a world increasingly aware of the importance of mental health and social connection, Emotional Intelligence provided a language and toolkit for navigating the emotional complexities of modern life5.

In sum, while Goleman’s book is not without flaws—particularly regarding scientific rigor and measurement—it remains a landmark work that reframed how we understand intelligence and success, making emotional intelligence a household term and a core component of leadership and personal development.