Rating: 
Summary: Insightful yet too scientific
Review: The book was interesting to learn about the causes for different emotional levels in a variety of people, but the overall theme of the book became repetitive. The examples that were used in each chapter were helpful in understanding Goleman's theory. It is encouraging to learn that not only are we academically evaluated, but we are emotionally evaluated when figuring out a person's overall intelligence. I agree with Goleman's theories and believe that there is yet more to the intelligences which we have not yet discovered.
Rating: 
Summary: An "of course!" kind of book, instantly applicable
Review: With this book, Goleman makes a compelling argument that has the potential to impact education, business, and other fields. His writing is clear and concise -- neither overly technical nor pedantic -- and he moves fluidly from the biological to the socioeconomic aspects of his subject. I had heard about Emotional Intelligence years before I finally read it, and I'm glad I did...you will see that it is easy to imagine infinite situations -- from client meetings in business settings to working with children, where EI principles could apply. In my opinion, this is one of those rare books which is both practical and important.
Rating:
Summary: MARVELLOUS BOOK - FANTASTIC AUTHOR!
Review: I love Goleman's literary style. He has the ability to be able to relate to people through the pages of a self-help book without coming across as self-righteous and patronizing. So many self-help books deliver the message, "This is what you must do, this is how you do it, and you will live happily ever after" - rather like a fairy-tale for adults! I have often wondered what would happen if you didn't follow those books in, precise, exact detail. Would you suddenly drop off the face of the Earth? Go to that dreaded, not-so-nice "hot blazing furnace down below"? Or, do you simply waste the money you spent on the book in the first place? You will not find that self-serving approach here. Emotional Intelligence in this book is based on self-awareness, altruism, personal motivation and our ability to love and be loved. Our chances of success in life depend to a certain degree how in-tune we are with each of those factors. Goleman explains how we can improve our relationships with others around us, family, friends, co-workers. You do not need to have a psychology degree to understand the words written here; the writing is straight forward and easily understood. There is much truth in Goleman's message, "Humanity lies in our feelings, not in our facts." This is an excellent book; it is both enriching and philosophical.
Rating:
Summary: More than just a long, hard look into the mirror
Review: No matter how smart or talented one may be, if you haven't "Emotional Intelligence" you might be going around and around in circles in your life and career. After reading this book I saw my cognitive and emotional self in a more brilliant and harmonious light. One is not less than the other. And as much as we worship cognitive I.Q. I've come to see my emotional I.Q. as the rudder of my boat. One great thought came out of this book, which I've passed on to many people, and it goes like this: "I am responsible for how I approach and respond to all situations, regardless." Just because you're a jerk to me doesn't justify my being a jerk to you. If we're both being jerks or screaming at one another, who's in control? nobody! The one who remains calm and collect has maintained control over the situation as well as his self-respect. The first two chapters tell it all. Read it all but read the first two chapter over and over again.
Rating:
Summary: A good read to understand what you feel
Review: My bio teacher gave me the book to read to help me write a paper for his class. He had read it because he had written a major paper for his master's degree. He thought i could handle at a sophmore reading level. And i agree that it was easy to understand. It did not give me technical definitions that i would get lost in or not understand. It also made me what to pursue looking into other books dealing with the brain. I found my personality and many of my friends when reading. It was so easy to relate to that it actually made me feel better about a situation i was having. Best yet when a girl in one of classes wondered out loud the question 'why do we laugh' i actually knew the answer and was able to tell her. Its a good book the should be read by anyone seeking to understand themselves emotional and on another level intellectually.
Rating:
Summary: Bell Curve vs. Emotional Intelignece, 0-0
Review: This is the first book on popular psychology I ever red so I apologize for any fundamental mistakes I might commit in this review. This is not an easy book rate. There were chapters that I stood up crying "Aha! This is why..." after reading them and there were chapter that made me through it away with exasperation and go looking for some substantiality in my 1970's superman classics. Nonetheless I kept reading because novelty of ideas and sharpness of thinking are not two things that this book is short off. The one fundamental thing that was not clear after reading this, was whether emotions are something that should be controlled as tight as possible, or something that we experience as fully as possible. In chapter 5 people who are aware of their emotions, people who are not afraid to communicate them, that act in accordance to their emotional "response" , are presented as the people most likely to succeed in both the professional and personal arena. On the contrary in chapter 3 people who act according to their emotions are most likely to fail. If the connecting pathways in the brain are severed the person is lost, but if the "emotional" brain overtakes the "reasonable" brain the person is lost again, ... sorry you lost me. These are a few of the contradictions encountered in the text from the introductory chapter to the end. Another thing that raised some objections was the proposition that the emotional world of the children is something that can be tested and used to draw conclusions on their ability to succeed in life. It is repeatedly stated in the text that children with increased self confidence are most likely to succeed later in life. Isn't, on the other hand, most likely that those who have the most self confidence are also those who are completely unaware of their weaknesses and blind to the abilities and traits of the people around them? And on the contrary, doesn't a sane, intelligent person always apply self-criticism, and always doubt his/hers abilities and/or successes in a constant pursuit to better his/her-self, therefore seem less self-confident than others who draw their confidence by mere ignorance? In the same line Goleman describes a simple test to apply to 5 year olds to test their emotional intelligence, by simply offering them an option, "one marshmallow now, or two marshmallows later". The children who wait for the two marshmallows later are considered smarter and most likely to succeed. This seems to my untrained eyes as a reward for greed. It is stated nonetheless that greedy children who always are after more, and willing to go through emotional suppression to get it have more chances to succeed and be employers rather than employees. I cant understand why a kid who thinks that "hold on I don't need two marshmallows, Two marshmallows are too much for me, plus they give me stomach ache, and tooth ache, No I am better of with one, two are an excess, don't need them" is "emotionally unstable" a looser and probably will be one all his life? Dr. Goleman is undoubtedly a successful person, who lives with successful people, who works around successful people and possibly socializes with equally successful people. I am somewhat convinced that among all these successful people he interacts with he is capable of identifying a wide variety of emotional traits, a huge kaleidoscope of emotional varieties, all of them probably equally successful. If this is so, then it would be the first fact to null his hypothesis. What the writer has in mind is social success. He believes that the only happy and successful people are those who manage to succeed in the social context and rules given by their era and times. Maybe he's true, but on my part I am gravely grateful to "unsuccessful" people such as Ghoethe, Van Gog, Baudller and Camys and social outcasts such as Socrates, Diogennis, Gallileo, Edgar Allan Poe, and Darwin.
Rating:
Summary: it worked for me
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book and also found it really useful in helping me understand and improve my everyday interactions with the rest of the world. In some ways I was the ideal reader - strong in academic abilities, with a willingness to be convinced by reasonable argument, but less than successful in my relationships with other people. I liked the way that Goleman approached the subject systematically rather than the "just do this and you'll be a superstar" con that is often seen in so-called self help books. Some of the points he makes about successful behaviour may seem obvious to some readers, but Goleman understands that millions of people have problems precisely because they have failed for years to grasp these very basic points. The book also has substance. By that I mean that the subject and his analysis of it is worth the several hundred pages that he's written. Compare this with titles such as "Men are from Mars etc", the substance of which at best should have been confined to no more than a single magazine article. I liked the writing style - covering the basics without being patronising, and being sufficiently rigorous without being boring - but most of all I judge the book as a success in educating me in a set of basic principles that may well enable me to lead a happier life. Now that's value for money at any price.
Rating: 
Summary: It is the worst thing a teacher can have
Review: My teacher uses it into my class, and this had cost us: 6 month of school-year lost, 7 million of I-£ spent without any cause, except her hobbies (psychology). And then, I've been told I'll never be able to be happy, find a job, and other incredible things I don't say just because my english don't know them. What to say.....Goleman wasn't a great man, at all.
Rating: 
Summary: Nothing really new...
Review: I bought EI because I totally agree with the author that the emotional IQ can matter more than IQ. After reading the book I didn't learn anything new, apart from researchs done which "prove" the findings. I don't think there is much to gain from reading the book, unless you don't believe in EI and want to read about some profound insights gained by the author. Emotionel Intelligence won't increase your emotional IQ. For that, you have to read other books like "How to Win Friends and Influence People".
Rating:
Summary: great book
Review: This is truly a great book that explains that emotion is just as important in life as anything else. I think everyone should read a book like this to learn to be better, more informed, people. I know several people in my own life who have benefitted from knowing things like body language and emotion. This book will show and teach these things to you. I think that too often we forget to use simple things like these in our daily lives; the world would just be a much better place if we tried to do that. I highly recommend you buy Emotional Intelligence
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