“What are the best books about Emotional Intelligence?” We looked at 197 of the top Emotional Intelligence books, aggregating and ranking them so we could answer that very question!

The top 30 titles, all appearing on 2 or more “Best Emotional Intelligence” book lists, are ranked below by how many lists they appear on. The remaining 150+ titles, as well as the lists we used are in alphabetical order at the bottom of the page.

Happy Scrolling!

Top 30 Emotional Intelligence Books

30 .) Building Emotional Intelligence: Techniques to Cultivate Inner Strength in Children by Linda Lantieri

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads
• Inc. 2

An innovative educator and the pioneer of emotional intelligence team up to present a groundbreaking program for building resilience and inner strength in children.

29 .) Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel Pink

Lists It Appears On:

• 6 Seconds
• Inc.

Forget everything you thought you knew about how to motivate people—at work, at school, at home. It’s wrong. As Daniel H. Pink (author of To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Motivating Others) explains in his paradigm-shattering book Drive, the secret to high performance and satisfaction in today’s world is the deeply human need to direct our own lives, to learn and create new things, and to do better by ourselves and our world. Drawing on four decades of scientific research on human motivation, Pink exposes the mismatch between what science knows and what business does—and how that affects every aspect of our lives.

28 .) Emotional Intelligence for Project Managers: The People Skills You Need to Achieve Outstanding Results by Anthony C. Mersino

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads
• Inc. 2

In order to run projects successfully, project managers need to master more than the requisite technical knowledge. The more complex the project, the more significant their interpersonal skills become to achieving a successful outcome. Without the people skills necessary to lead effectively, even the most carefully orchestrated project can quickly fall apart. Emotional Intelligence for Project Managers introduces readers to the basic concepts of emotional intelligence and shows how to apply them to their project goals.

27 .) How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads
• The Mastermind Within

You can go after the job you want…and get it! You can take the job you have…and improve it! You can take any situation you’re in…and make it work for you! Since its release in 1936, How to Win Friends and Influence People has sold more than 15 million copies. Dale Carnegie’s first book is a timeless bestseller, packed with rock-solid advice that has carried thousands of now famous people up the ladder of success in their business and personal lives. As relevant as ever before, Dale Carnegie’s principles endure, and will help you achieve your maximum potential in the complex and competitive modern age. Learn the six ways to make people like you, the twelve ways to win people to your way of thinking, and the nine ways to change people without arousing resentment.

26 .) In My Heart: A Book of Feelings by Jo Witek

Lists It Appears On:

• A Mighty Girl
• Childhood 101

Sometimes my heart feels like a big yellow star, shiny and bright. I smile from ear to ear and twirl around so fast, I feel as if I could take off into the sky. This is when my heart is happy. Happiness, sadness, bravery, anger, shyness . . . our hearts can feel so many feelings! Some make us feel as light as a balloon, others as heavy as an elephant. In My Heart explores a full range of emotions, describing how they feel physically, inside. With language that is lyrical but also direct, toddlers will be empowered by this new vocabulary and able to practice articulating and identifying their own emotions. With whimsical illustrations and an irresistible die-cut heart that extends through each spread, this unique feelings book is gorgeously packaged.

25 .) My Many Coloured Days by Dr Seuss

Lists It Appears On:

• A Mighty Girl
• Childhood 101

Accompanying a manuscript Dr. Seuss wrote in 1973, was a letter outlining his hopes of finding “a great color artist who will not be dominated by me.” The late Dr. Seuss saw his original text about feelings and moods as part of the “first book ever to be based on beautiful illustrations and sensational color.” The quest for an artist finally ended—after the manuscript languished for more than two decades—at the paint brushes of husband-and-wife team Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher whose stunning, expressive paintings reveal such striking images as a bright red horse kicking its heels, a cool and quiet green fish, a sad and lonely purple dinosaur, and an angrily howling black wolf. Using a spectrum of vibrant colors and a menagerie of animals, this unique book does for the range of human moods and emotions what Oh, the Places You’ll Go! does for the human life cycle. Here is a wonderful way for parents to talk with children about their feelings. With Johnson and Fancher’s atmospheric, large-scale paintings bursting off the pages, Dr. Seuss’s vision is brought to life.

24 .) Quick Emotional Intelligence Activities for Busy Managers: 50 Team Exercises That Get Results in Just 15 Minutes by Adele B. Lynn

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads
• Inc. 2

In a team situation, many issues — like lack of trust and commitment, unresolved conflicts, and the inability of individuals to understand how their actions impact the rest of the team — can stop even the most promising groups from delivering great results. This simple, easy-to-use book gives managers, supervisors, and team leaders activities to help their teams overcome emotional obstacles and become more effective.

23 .) Raising An Emotionally Intelligent Child: The Heart of Parenting by

Lists It Appears On:

• A Mighty Girl
• WYZend

Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child is John Gottman’s groundbreaking guide to teaching children to understand and regulate their emotional world. Intelligence That Comes from the Heart Every parent knows the importance of equipping children with the intellectual skills they need to succeed in school and life. But children also need to master their emotions. Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child is a guide to teaching children to understand and regulate their emotional world. And as acclaimed psychologist and researcher John Gottman shows, once they master this important life skill, emotionally intelligent children will enjoy increased self-confidence, greater physical health, better performance in school, and healthier social relationships.

22 .) Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships by Daniel Goleman

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads
• Men Provement

Emotional Intelligence was an international phenomenon, appearing on the New York Times bestseller list for over a year and selling more than five million copies worldwide. Now, once again, Daniel Goleman has written a groundbreaking synthesis of the latest findings in biology and brain science, revealing that we are “wired to connect” and the surprisingly deep impact of our relationships on every aspect of our lives. Far more than we are consciously aware, our daily encounters with parents, spouses, bosses, and even strangers shape our brains and affect cells throughout our bodies—down to the level of our genes—for good or ill. In Social Intelligence, Daniel Goleman explores an emerging new science with startling implications for our interpersonal world. Its most fundamental discovery: we are designed for sociability, constantly engaged in a “neural ballet” that connects us brain to brain with those around us. Our reactions to others, and theirs to us, have a far-reaching biological impact, sending out cascades of hormones that regulate everything from our hearts to our immune systems, making good relationships act like vitamins—and bad relationships like poisons.

21 .) The Brain and Emotional Intelligence: New Insights by Daniel Goleman

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads
• Inc. 2

Over the last decade and a half there has been a steady stream of new insights that further illuminate the dynamics of emotional intelligence. In this eBook, Daniel Goleman explains what we now know about the brain basis of emotional intelligence, in clear and simple terms. This eBook will deepen your understanding of emotional intelligence and enhance your ability for its application.

20 .) The Feelings Book by Todd Parr

Lists It Appears On:

• A Mighty Girl
• Childhood 101

A surprising and silly book about moods, featuring such musings as “Sometimes I feel like staying in the bathtub all day”, and “Sometimes I feel brave”, illustrated with bold, bright, childlike drawings. Perfect for parents and teachers to use as a springboard for discussion about feelings.

19 .) The Leader as a Mensch: Become the Kind of Person Others Want to Follow by Bruna Martinuzzi

Lists It Appears On:

• 6 Seconds
• Inc.

Offering a Glimpse Into the Strength, Wisdom, and Self-Mastery of Exceptional Leadership This insightful and engaging book speaks volumes on ways in which all of us, at any level, can improve our leadership impact and develop the humility, integrity, and honor that instills hope and confidence in others. Drawing on over 25 years of leadership experience, Bruna Martinuzzi brilliantly conveys the essential guidelines for the emotionally intelligent leadership needed for enduring success. Some leaders are exceptional human beings, people that others genuinely want to follow; the book uses the Yiddish word Mensch, meaning “real person of character” to describe these worthy leaders. Martinuzzi takes the reader on a transformative journey to a way of living, self-discovery, and personal strength that translates into becoming a person who authentically inspires with empathy and confidence — and successfully motivates others to follow by example, a mensch-leader. Written for senior and emergent leaders, as well as coaches and mentors, Leader as a Mensch reminds us that followers strongly impact and sustain good leadership — and, before you can lead any group, team, or organization, you must first lead yourself. This book is anyone wanting to enhance the way he or she supports and influences others at work and in life.

18 .) The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires

Lists It Appears On:

• A Mighty Girl
• Doing Good Together

Award-winning author and illustrator Ashley Spires has created a charming picture book about an unnamed girl and her very best friend, who happens to be a dog. The girl has a wonderful idea. She is going to make the most MAGNIFICENT thing! She knows just how it will look. She knows just how it will work. All she has to do is make it, and she makes things all the time. Easy-peasy!? But making her magnificent thing is anything but easy, and the girl tries and fails, repeatedly. Eventually, the girl gets really, really mad. She is so mad, in fact, that she quits. But after her dog convinces her to take a walk, she comes back to her project with renewed enthusiasm and manages to get it just right. For the early grades’ exploration of character education, this funny book offers a perfect example of the rewards of perseverance and creativity. The girl’s frustration and anger are vividly depicted in the detailed art, and the story offers good options for dealing honestly with these feelings, while at the same time reassuring children that it’s okay to make mistakes.

17 .) Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads
• Inc.

In the highly anticipated Thinking, Fast and Slow, Kahneman takes us on a groundbreaking tour of the mind and explains the two systems that drive the way we think. System 1 is fast, intuitive, and emotional; System 2 is slower, more deliberative, and more logical. Kahneman exposes the extraordinary capabilities—and also the faults and biases—of fast thinking, and reveals the pervasive influence of intuitive impressions on our thoughts and behavior. The impact of loss aversion and overconfidence on corporate strategies, the difficulties of predicting what will make us happy in the future, the challenges of properly framing risks at work and at home, the profound effect of cognitive biases on everything from playing the stock market to planning the next vacation—each of these can be understood only by knowing how the two systems work together to shape our judgments and decisions. Engaging the reader in a lively conversation about how we think, Kahneman reveals where we can and cannot trust our intuitions and how we can tap into the benefits of slow thinking.

16 .) Today I Feel Silly: And Other Moods That Make My Day by Jamie Lee Curtis

Lists It Appears On:

• A Mighty Girl
• Childhood 101

Today I Feel Silly helps children understand and appreciate their shifting moods. Jamie Lee Curtis’s zany and touching verse, paired with Laura Cornell’s whimsical and original illustrations, helps kids explore, identify, and, even have fun with their ever-changing moods. Silly, cranky, excited, or sad—everyone has moods that can change each day. And that’s okay! Follow the boisterous, bouncing protagonist as she explores her moods and how they change from day to day.

15 .) Your Brain at Work Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long by David Rock

Lists It Appears On:

• 6 Seconds
• Inc.

Meet Emily and Paul: The parents of two young children, Emily is the newly promoted VP of marketing at a large corporation while Paul works from home or from clients’ offices as an independent IT consultant. Their lives, like all of ours, are filled with a bewildering blizzard of emails, phone calls, yet more emails, meetings, projects, proposals, and plans. Just staying ahead of the storm has become a seemingly insurmountable task.

14 .) Coaching for Emotional Intelligence by

Lists It Appears On:

• Inc. 2
• Live In Style
• Your Story

“People are not disturbed by things; they are disturbed by their view of things.” Epictetus Emotional intelligence (EI) refers to the ability to perceive, control, and evaluate emotions. Some researchers suggest that emotional intelligence can be learned and strengthened, while others claim it is an inborn characteristic. EI has been defined as, “the subset of social intelligence that involves the ability to monitor one’s own and others’ feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them and to use this information to guide one’s thinking and actions.” “Go Suck A Lemon” hopes to provide readers with methods for improving emotional intelligence by offering cognitive skill building techniques, thereby helping to create a less self-defeating and more enriching experience when experiencing emotion. NOTE TO AUDIOBOOK LISTENERS: Thanks to everyone for your comments on the audible edition of Go Suck a Lemon.

13 .) Go Suck a Lemon: Strategies for Improving Your Emotional Intelligence by Michael Cornwall

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads
• Inc. 2
• Lifehack

Epictetus Emotional intelligence (EI) refers to the ability to perceive, control, and evaluate emotions. Some researchers suggest that emotional intelligence can be learned and strengthened, while others claim it is an inborn characteristic. EI has been defined as, “the subset of social intelligence that involves the ability to monitor one’s own and others’ feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them and to use this information to guide one’s thinking and actions.” “Go Suck A Lemon” hopes to provide readers with methods for improving emotional intelligence by offering cognitive skill building techniques, thereby helping to create a less self-defeating and more enriching experience when experiencing emotion.

12 .) The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen R. Covey

Lists It Appears On:

• Dave Saunders
• Goodreads
• Lifehack

An accessible, how-to guide that brings focus to the unique skills that comprise emotional intelligence and incorporate these tools into your life. EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE: THE #1 PREDICTOR OF PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS AND PERSONAL EXCELLENCE In today’s fast-paced world of competitive workplaces and chaotic personal lives, each of us is searching for effective tools that can make our schedules, behaviors, and relationships more manageable. The Emotional Intelligence Quickbook shows us how understanding and utilizing emotional intelligence can be the key to exceeding our goals and achieving our fullest potential. Authors Bradberry and Greaves use their years of experience as emotional intelligence researchers, consultants, and speakers to revitalize our current understanding of emotional intelligence. They have combined their latest research on emotional intelligence with a quick, easy-to-use format and cut-to-the-chase information to demonstrate how this other kind of “smart” helps us to decrease our stress, increase our productivity, understand our emotions as they happen, and interact positively with those around us. The Emotional Intelligence Quickbook brings this concept to light in a way that has not been done before — making EQ practical and easy to apply in every aspect of our daily lives.

11 .) The Emotional Intelligence Quick Book by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads
• Inc. 2
• Lifehack

An accessible, how-to guide that brings focus to the unique skills that comprise emotional intelligence and incorporate these tools into your life.

10 .) The Emotionally Intelligent Manager: How to Develop and Use the Four Key Emotional Skills of Leadership by David R. Caruso and Peter Salovey

Lists It Appears On:

• 6 Seconds
• Goodreads
• Inc.

We have long been taught that emotions should be felt and expressed in carefully controlled ways, and then only in certain environments and at certain times. This is especially true when at work, particularly when managing others. It is considered terribly unprofessional to express emotion while on the job, and many of us believe that our biggest mistakes and regrets are due to our reactions at those times when our emotions get the better of us. David R. Caruso and Peter Salovey believe that this view of emotion is not correct. The emotion centers of the brain, they argue, are not relegated to a secondary place in our thinking and reasoning, but instead are an integral part of what it means to think, reason, and to be intelligent.

9 .) The EQ Difference: A Powerful Plan for Putting Emotional Intelligence to Work by Adele B. Lynn

Lists It Appears On:

• Inc. 2
• Lifehack
• The Mastermind Within

Positive wisdom and helpful insights on how to be a successful person Happiness and success are habits. So are failure and misery. But negative habits can be changed–and Psycho-Cybernetics shows you how! This is your personal audio guide to the amazing power of Psycho-Cybernetics–a program based on one of the world s classic self-help books, a multimillion-copy bestseller proven effective by readers worldwide. Presenting positive attitude as a means for change, Maltz s teaching has the ring of common sense. Psycho-Cybernetics-is the original text that defined the mind/body connection the concept that paved the way for most of today s personal empowerment programs. Turn crises into creative opportunities, dehypnotize yourself from false beliefs, and celebrate new freedom from fear and guilt. Testimonials and stories are interspersed with advice from Maltz, as well as techniques for relaxation and visualization.

8 .) The New Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz

Lists It Appears On:

• Dave Saunders
• Inc. 2
• Lifehack

Looks at the role of emotional intelligence in leadership, discussing the characteristics of a good leader and leadership styles, and outlines the steps to becoming an effective leader.

7 .) Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman

Lists It Appears On:

• Dave Saunders
• Emotional Intelligence At Work
• Exploring Your Mind
• The Mastermind Within

Everyone knows that high IQ is no guarantee of success, happiness, or virtue, but until Emotional Intelligence, we could only guess why. Daniel Goleman’s brilliant report from the frontiers of psychology and neuroscience offers startling new insight into our “two minds”—the rational and the emotional—and how they together shape our destiny. Through vivid examples, Goleman delineates the five crucial skills of emotional intelligence, and shows how they determine our success in relationships, work, and even our physical well-being. What emerges is an entirely new way to talk about being smart. The best news is that “emotional literacy” is not fixed early in life.

6 .) Primal Leadership by Daniel Goleman

Lists It Appears On:

• 6 Seconds
• Goodreads
• Inc.
• Inc. 2

Looks at the role of emotional intelligence in leadership, discussing the characteristics of a good leader and leadership styles, and outlines the steps to becoming an effective leader.

5 .) Working with Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads
• Inc.
• Inc. 2
• The Mastermind Within

For the first time ever in a book, TalentSmart’s revolutionary program helps people identify their EQ skills, build these skills into strengths, and enjoy consistent performance in the pursuit of important life objectives. The book contains proven strategies from a decade-long effort to accurately measure and increase emotional intelligence. Trusted by upper-echelon leaders inside companies worldwide, these strategies will enable you to capitalize on the skills responsible for 58% of performance in all types of jobs. Includes a passcode for online access to the world’s bestselling emotional intelligence test, the Emotional Intelligence Appraisal®, which will show you where your EQ stands today and what you can do to begin maximizing it immediately.

4 .) Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ by Daniel Goleman

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads
• Inc.
• Inc. 2
• Lifehack
• Live In Style
• Your Story

Learn how to increase your emotional intelligence with five simple tools It’s no secret that emotional intelligence plays a crucial role in your relationships. But how do you apply these specialized skills in everyday life? It’s easy–with this practical, ready-to-use guide by a renowned expert in the field of emotional intelligence and communication. Using the latest research and true-to-life examples, Dr. Jeanne Segal’s step-by-step program shows you how to incorporate the five basic tools of emotional intelligence to enhance your relationships in the workplace, at home, and in all areas of your life. You’ll learn how to: “Read” other people Make powerful connections Defuse arguments and conflicts Repair wounded feelings Understand nonverbal cues Build stronger, more satisfying relationships Packed with simple exercises, revealing self-quizzes, and proven calming techniques, this user-friendly guide can help you reach into the hearts and minds of others–sometimes without saying a word! Once you master the language of emotional intelligence, you’ll be able to form mutually rewarding bonds that last a lifetime. Dr. Segal’s method is a complete, hands-on approach to one of the most important life skills you will ever learn.

3 .) The EQ Edge: Emotional Intelligence and Your Success by Steven J. Stein and Howard E. Book

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads
• Inc. 2
• Lifehack
• Live In Style
• The Mastermind Within
• Your Story

The EQ Edge, by Steven J. Stein and Howard E. Book, shows you how the dynamic of emotional intelligence works. By understanding EQ, you can build more meaningful relationships, boost your confidence and optimism, and respond to challenges with enthusiasm–all of which are essential ingredients of success.

2 .) Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves

Lists It Appears On:

• Exploring Your Mind
• Goodreads
• Inc.
• Lifehack
• Live In Style
• The Mastermind Within
• Your Story

For the first time ever in a book, TalentSmart’s revolutionary program helps people identify their EQ skills, build these skills into strengths, and enjoy consistent performance in the pursuit of important life objectives. The book contains proven strategies from a decade-long effort to accurately measure and increase emotional intelligence. Trusted by upper-echelon leaders inside companies worldwide, these strategies will enable you to capitalize on the skills responsible for 58% of performance in all types of jobs.

1 .) The Language of Emotional Intelligence: The Five Essential Tools for Building Powerful and Effective Relationships by Jeanne Segal

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads
• Inc.
• Inc. 2
• Lifehack
• Live In Style
• WYZend
• Your Story

It’s no secret that emotional intelligence plays a crucial role in your relationships. But how do you apply these specialized skills in everyday life? It’s easy–with this practical, ready-to-use guide by a renowned expert in the field of emotional intelligence and communication. Using the latest research and true-to-life examples, Dr. Jeanne Segal’s step-by-step program shows you how to incorporate the five basic tools of emotional intelligence to enhance your relationships in the workplace, at home, and in all areas of your life.

The 150+ Additional Best Emotional Intelligence Books

20 Best Books For And About Emotional Intelligence Sources/Lists