Emotional Intelligence

First published in 1995, Daniel Goleman's book argues that IQ explains far less about how people fare in life than commonly assumed, and that emotional intelligence matters as much for success at school, at work and in relationships. Drawing on brain and behavioral research, Goleman examines why people with high IQ sometimes flounder while those of modest IQ do well. He describes how the rational and emotional minds work together and sets out the skills involved, including self-awareness, impulse control, persistence, empathy and social deftness. These abilities are not fixed at birth, and he outlines ways to teach emotional skills in schools. It remained a New York Times best seller for eighteen months and is in print in 40 languages.

Magda Marcu, co-founder of Sailo, said it opened her eyes to a different view of leadership by showing how empathy can make leaders more successful. It is also on the list of books Roxana Bitoleanu, founder of Taraba Virtuala, suggests to young people drawn to her line of work.