The 6 Essential Books on Emotional Intelligence

There are many ways to improve your emotional intelligence, but before you can take action toward enhancing EQ, you need a foundational understanding of the concept. The best way to do this is by learning the fundamentals of emotional intelligence. As your knowledge of EQ increases, you’ll become more aware of what it looks like in yourself and others, as well as how to work toward enhancing it.

For a more robust understanding of EQ, there are a few essential books on emotional intelligence that will give you the information you need to begin understanding and increasing your EQ. Add these to your bookshelf and start building the foundation upon which your emotional intelligence can grow.

	1. Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Drs. Jean Greaves and Travis Bradberry In their debut book, Dr. Jean Greaves and Dr. Travis Bradberry, co-founders of TalentSmartEQ, deliver a step-by-step program for increasing your emotional intelligence with 66 proven strategies targeting the four core EQ skills: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management. But they don’t stop there–with the purchase of this emotional quotient book, you receive a passcode for access to the bestselling Emotional Intelligence Appraisal® to assess your current EQ strengths and opportunities for growth. If you’re looking for a practical guide to emotional intelligence, this is the definitive, bestselling emotional quotient book on the market.
	2. Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman Originally released in 1995, Daniel Goleman’s foundational book on emotional intelligence brought the concept of EQ into the mainstream. Drawing on groundbreaking brain and behavioral research, Goleman was one of the first to argue that emotional intelligence is a stronger driver than IQ when it comes to success and happiness in both personal and professional life. He offers practical strategies for nurturing emotional intelligence using psychological and neuroscientific research, with insights for individuals as well as teams. This book remains a foundational emotional IQ book in the ever-growing world of emotional intelligence.
	3. Emotional Intelligence Habits by Travis Bradberry After the success of Emotional Intelligence 2.0, Dr. Bradberry released the follow-up book that dives into small everyday habits that can achieve powerful results toward enhancing EQ. This practical manual lists easily implemented micro-habits that reinforce foundational emotional intelligence skills. By following the advice in this EQ book, you will quickly learn to utilize proven strategies to break old habits, form new ones, and achieve extraordinary outcomes in both your personal and professional life. As an added bonus, this book also comes with a code to access TalentSmartEQ’s Emotional Intelligence Appraisal so you can target the exact habits to best enhance your EQ.
	4. The Power of Vulnerability by Brene Brown If you prefer to listen to your books, this series of teachings by Brene Brown flips our idea of vulnerability on its head to show us how powerful it can be when we embrace it. Dr. Brown has spent two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy, and this audiobook combines years of research to show that vulnerability is a superpower, not a weakness. She argues that vulnerability is the key to unlocking all of our emotions, and it is in fact the origin of innovation, adaptability, accountability, and visionary leadership.
	5. Emotional Agility by Dr. Susan David In this book, award-winning Harvard Medical School psychologist Susan David focuses on a core skill of emotional intelligence: emotional agility. In her decades of studying emotions, happiness, and achievement, she has found that the way a person navigates their inner world–thoughts, feelings, and self-talk is the biggest influence on their success. She introduces four key steps for embracing emotional complexity: showing up, stepping out, walking your why, and moving on. Following her guidelines will help you get unstuck, embrace change, and thrive in work and life by navigating life’s twists and turns with clarity and purpose.
	6. Team Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Dr. Jean Greaves and Evan Watkins A much needed addition to the growing arsenal of books on EQ, the latest book by Dr. Jean Greaves, in partnership with Evan Watkins, brings the power of emotional intelligence to the team environment. As organizations shift to team-based structures, team effectiveness is becoming more impactful than individual talent or skill. Using TalentSmartEQ’s research trends from working with over 200 teams, this book delivers 53 practical strategies and a step-by-step process for increasing and harnessing team emotional intelligence. If an emotionally intelligent individual can be productive, an emotionally intelligent team can be exponentially more so.

Want to Get More out of These Books on Emotional Intelligence?

Simply reading books on EQ won’t automatically increase your emotional intelligence. The information you learn from these books will be helpful only if and when you take stock of your own emotional intelligence strengths and weaknesses and put into practice the insights and strategies outlined in emotional IQ books.

If you need help assessing and improving individual or team emotional intelligence, TalentSmartEQ has the resources you, your team, and your organization need to assess your current EQ, undergo training based off of those assessments, and master emotional intelligence through ongoing practice. Contact us today to find out how we can help you harness the power of EQ.