The best 77 Emotional Intelligence books

Emotional Intelligence is a vital skill in today's world, as it influences how we navigate relationships, make decisions, and manage stress. Developing a deeper understanding of emotional intelligence can lead to personal and professional growth. Our handpicked list of books is here to guide you on this journey.

These books offer insights and techniques to help you enhance your emotional intelligence, enabling you to thrive in various aspects of life. So, don't wait any longer and start exploring these enlightening reads today!
1
Emotions Revealed

Emotions Revealed

Paul Ekman
Recognizing Faces and Feelings to Improve Communication and Emotional Life
3.7 (45 ratings)

What's Emotions Revealed about?

Emotions Revealed (2003) puts emotions under the microscope, revealing where they come from and how to recognize them, whether they’re yours or someone else’s. If you’ve ever wanted to know if someone was being dishonest or trying to deceive you with a friendly smile, these are the blinks for you!

Who should read Emotions Revealed?

  • Law enforcement officers who need to recognize the emotions of criminals and victims
  • Therapists and psychologists who want to help patients cope with their emotions
  • Empathetic people who want to connect more effectively with others

2
Anger Management for Dummies

Anger Management for Dummies

Charles H. Elliott & Laura L. Smith
Your One-Stop Guide to Anger Management
4.0 (130 ratings)

What's Anger Management for Dummies about?

Anger Management for Dummies (2015) is a guide to dealing with your inner irascibility. These blinks will give you the tools you need to understand and – more importantly – master your anger. You’ll learn methods for dissolving stress, dealing with provocations and even stopping temper tantrums in their tracks.

Who should read Anger Management for Dummies?

  • Anyone who feels chronically on edge
  • People who suffer from high blood pressure and wonder whether suppressed rage could be the cause
  • People searching for ways to control their anger

3
Unmasking the Face

Unmasking the Face

Paul Ekman and Wallace V. Friesen
A Guide to Recognizing Emotions From Facial Expressions
3.4 (19 ratings)

What's Unmasking the Face about?

Unmasking the Face (2003) is an illuminating read about the subtleties of facial expressions. From the dynamics of surprise, fear, anger and happiness, to the eight styles of facial expression, these blinks shed light onto the complexity of an everyday skill that deserves more attention: reading other people’s emotions.

Who should read Unmasking the Face?

  • Readers interested in the psychology of social interaction
  • Professionals who deal with displays of emotion on a daily basis
  • People who want to gain insight into how they’re perceived by others

4
The Yes Brain

The Yes Brain

Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
How to Cultivate Courage, Curiosity and Resilience in Your Child
4.2 (173 ratings)

What's The Yes Brain about?

The Yes Brain (2018) is a hands-on guide to teaching yourself and your kids to approach the world with openness, creativity and boundless curiosity. Packed full of useful tips, examples and ideas, this book shows parents how to model and cultivate the traits that let you say “yes” to the world: balance, resilience, insight and empathy. And that doesn’t just give children better self-control and awareness; it also puts them on the path to meaningful and successful lives.

Who should read The Yes Brain?

  • Parents worried about their child’s selfishness
  • Anyone who works with children
  • Anyone looking for a mindful solution to everyday problems

5
No Hard Feelings

No Hard Feelings

Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy
The Secret Power of Embracing Emotions at Work
4.3 (143 ratings)

What's No Hard Feelings about?

No Hard Feelings (2018) is a guide to understanding, expressing and managing your emotions in the context of your working life. All too often, we buy into the idea that emotions don’t belong in the workplace. But the reality is that your work life is full of emotion. From feeling frustrated with irritating colleagues to the misery of being unmotivated, these blinks are a practical guide to help you navigate how you feel about work.

Who should read No Hard Feelings?

  • People who’d like a little guidance on managing emotions in the workplace
  • Employees who are frustrated, angry, stressed or nervous at work
  • Leaders who’d like to build a safe and productive working environment for their teams

6
Permission to Feel

Permission to Feel

Marc Brackett
Unlocking the Power of Emotions to Help Our Kids, Ourselves, and Our Society Thrive
4.6 (179 ratings)

What's Permission to Feel about?

Permission to Feel (2019) reveals that our emotions play a vital role in our cognitive processes, physical health, and relationships – but most of us don’t know how to identify exactly what we’re feeling, and why. Luckily, all of us can learn to be more emotionally intelligent by practicing emotion skills. This trains us to identify what we’re feeling, understand where the emotion is coming from, and manage our triggers. By giving ourselves permission to truly experience all of our emotions, we can greatly reduce stress and increase our well-being.

Who should read Permission to Feel?

  • Burned-out teachers who want to reconnect with their students 
  • Parents who want to teach their children how to deal with their emotions
  • Anyone struggling to manage their emotions at home or at work

7
Parenting Outside the Lines

Parenting Outside the Lines

Meghan Leahy
Forget the Rules, Tap into Your Wisdom, and Connect with Your Child
4.5 (178 ratings)

What's Parenting Outside the Lines about?

Parenting Outside the Lines (2020) is an essential guide to forgetting everything you’ve ever learned about parenting – and following your intuition instead. As parents, we’re insecure and desperate to get it right. So we keep searching for the perfect book or workshop that will tell us how to raise our children. But, truthfully, there is no perfect method. The only thing we can do is learn how to tune into ourselves and our children, and respond to specific situations with flexibility and grace.

Who should read Parenting Outside the Lines?

  • Perfectionist parents wanting to learn how to forgive themselves for making mistakes
  • Parents of young children who are tired of being locked in continual power struggles
  • Parents and caregivers who want to have more fun with their children

8
Connect

Connect

David Bradford and Carole Robin
Building Exceptional Relationships with Family, Friends and Colleagues
4.5 (597 ratings)

What's Connect about?

Connect (2021) lays the groundwork for exceptional relationships. Drawing on social science research and the authors’ personal experience, it shares core behaviors and actionable advice to cultivate meaningful connections – leading to personal fulfillment and professional success.

Who should read Connect?

  • People who want to communicate better with friends, family, or romantic partners
  • Professionals looking to improve their soft skills to level up in their careers
  • Those seeking advice on how to become their best selves

9
The School of Life

The School of Life

Alain de Botton and The School of Life
An Emotional Education
4.6 (447 ratings)

What's The School of Life about?

The School of Life (2019) provides a set of philosophical, yet practical, lessons on emotional intelligence, compiled from the real-life institution of the same name. Offering insights on relationships, work, and life itself, it gives us the wisdom we need to understand ourselves and others just a little bit better.

Who should read The School of Life?

  • Folks who’ve been struggling in life
  • People dealing with family or relationship issues
  • Anyone seeking emotional guidance

10
Flawsome

Flawsome

Georgia Murch
The Journey to Being Whole Is Learning to Be Holey
4.6 (40 ratings)

What's Flawsome about?

Flawsome (2020) is a guide to becoming the best version of yourself by accepting your not-so-perfect parts. Many of us look for ways to hide our flaws, but the key to really growing into ourselves is embracing these flaws, understanding where they stem from, and learning from them.

Who should read Flawsome?

  • Employees suffering from imposter syndrome
  • Parents exhausted by the pursuit of perfection
  • Anyone who wants to become better versions of themselves

11
Beyond Order

Beyond Order

Jordan B. Peterson
12 More Rules for Life
4.5 (544 ratings)

What's Beyond Order about?

Beyond Order (2021) is a prescription for how to navigate the complexities of modern life. While Peterson’s previous work warned of the danger of excessive chaos, this new guide to living details the perils of too much rigid order.

Who should read Beyond Order?

  • Disorganized thinkers looking to clean up their mental room
  • Inactive dreamers in need of some motivation
  • Anyone looking for a little direction in life

12
Loving Your Business

Loving Your Business

Debbie King
Rethink Your Relationship with Your Company and Make it Work for You
4.3 (67 ratings)

What's Loving Your Business about?

Loving Your Business (2020) is a guide for people who feel overwhelmed by their business. Debbie King offers new strategies for thinking about your business and managing your emotions in order to avoid unnecessary stress and achieve positive outcomes.

Who should read Loving Your Business?

  • Business owners
  • Potential entrepreneurs
  • Anyone tired of getting trapped in negative thinking

13
The Greatest Secret

The Greatest Secret

Rhonda Byrne
4.4 (291 ratings)

What's The Greatest Secret about?

The Greatest Secret (2020) is a sequel to the worldwide best seller and self-help phenomenon The Secret, which inspired millions to better their lives by using the laws of attraction. In this installment, we learn an even greater secret: who we really are, and how we can use that knowledge to achieve everlasting happiness.

Who should read The Greatest Secret?

  • Fans of The Secret and other New Age manifestos
  • People attracted to the spiritual and mystical
  • Seekers of joy and happiness

14
Deeper Dating

Deeper Dating

Ken Page
How to Drop the Games of Seduction and Discover the Power of Intimacy
4.3 (313 ratings)

What's Deeper Dating about?

Deeper Dating (2014) is a roadmap to intimacy and loving relationships. It breaks down how looking inward can help us identify the kinds of people we’ll connect with most deeply, and shares tools for finding these people and fostering relationships that will inspire and fulfill us.

Who should read Deeper Dating?

  • Singles frustrated by popular dating advice
  • Couples looking to strengthen their bonds
  • Those who want to understand attraction and relationships

15
Fault Lines

Fault Lines

Karl Pillemer
Fractured Families and How to Mend Them
4.5 (34 ratings)

What's Fault Lines about?

Fault Lines (2020) examines a common problem that no one talks about: family estrangements. Over a quarter of Americans experience being cut off from friends and family during their lifetimes, which has devastating psychological impacts. Fault Lines explores the common causes of estrangement and gives surprising and insightful advice on how to work towards reconciliation.

Who should read Fault Lines?

  • Anyone who’s experienced the pain of family estrangement
  • Budding sociologists who are fascinated by human relationships
  • Parents wanting to learn how to navigate conflict with their kids

16
The Art of Living

The Art of Living

Thich Nhat Hanh
Peace and Freedom in the Here and Now
4.7 (372 ratings)

What's The Art of Living about?

The Art of Living (2017) offers wisdom on how to fully experience every moment of every day. Many of us are consumed with fears or busyness that prevent us from engaging with the wonder of life. But by expanding our understanding of existence and embracing mindfulness practices, we can overcome the obstacles that stop us from truly living.

Who should read The Art of Living?

  • Stressed-out individuals longing for peace
  • Ambitious people seeking stillness
  • Anyone interested in Buddhism

17
The Connected Child

The Connected Child

Karyn B. Purvis, David R. Cross and Wendy Lyons Sunshine
Bring Hope and Healing to Your Adoptive Family
4.5 (53 ratings)

What's The Connected Child about?

The Connected Child (2007) is an insightful guide for parents of adopted and foster children. Children from deprived or abusive backgrounds have unique needs. By taking a multipronged approach including behavioral interventions, good diet and exercise, and lots of nurturing, parents can play a vital role in helping their children heal. 

Who should read The Connected Child?

  • Parents who are considering adopting or fostering a child
  • Teachers or social workers who interact with at-risk youth
  • Anyone who’s ever had a showdown with a toddler in the cereal aisle

18
Wiser

Wiser

Dilip Jeste with Scott LaFee
The Scientific Roots of Wisdom, Compassion, and What Makes Us Good
4.8 (94 ratings)

What's Wiser about?

Wiser (2020) combines a scientific approach to wisdom with practical tips on how to grow wiser today. Drawing on decades of research and cutting-edge studies, it pairs explanation and advice in its investigation of compassion, aging, decision-making, and more.

Who should read Wiser?

  • Busy twenty-first-century folk hungry for old-fashioned wisdom
  • Amateur scientists interested in discovering more about the brain
  • People who want to get wise before they get old

19
The High-Conflict Couple

The High-Conflict Couple

Alan E. Fruzzetti
A Dialectical Behavior Therapy Guide to Finding Peace, Intimacy & Validation
4.4 (205 ratings)

What's The High-Conflict Couple about?

The High-Conflict Couple (2007) is a guide to overcoming the common relationship pitfalls that lead to conflict and animosity. Drawing upon years of psychology research and therapy experience, Alan E. Fruzzetti explains where conflict comes from and how it can be reduced.

Who should read The High-Conflict Couple?

  • Couples tired of fighting with each other
  • People who struggle to accept the things they cannot change
  • Anyone wanting to be more present in their own life

20
Fear Less

Fear Less

Pippa Grange
Face Not-Good-Enough to Replace Your Doubts, Achieve Your Goals, and Unlock Your Success
4.3 (346 ratings)

What's Fear Less about?

Fear Less (2021) highlights the countless ways that fear infiltrates our lives, negatively impacting our work, relationships, and personal satisfaction. We may not even realize that we’re afraid, but identifying our underlying anxieties and insecurities is the first step to leading a more fulfilling, fearless life.

Who should read Fear Less?

  • Perfectionists who feel they’re never quite good enough
  • Private people who struggle with honesty and intimacy
  • Nervous fliers, anxious parents, commitment-phobes, and anyone else who’s afraid

21
Sales EQ

Sales EQ

Jeb Blount
How Ultra High Performers Leverage Sales-Specific Emotional Intelligence to Close the Complex Deal
4.6 (302 ratings)

What's Sales EQ about?

Sales EQ (2017) explores how sales professionals can leverage the power of human emotion to boost their performance. It outlines the feelings that potential buyers experience and explains how sellers can learn to keep their own emotions in check during the sales process. 

Who should read Sales EQ?

  • Sales professionals seeking fresh insights
  • Entrepreneurs who want to get their business off the ground
  • Business students looking for a new perspective

22
The Power to Change

The Power to Change

Campbell Macpherson
How to Harness Change to Make It Work for You
4.4 (378 ratings)

What's The Power to Change about?

The Power to Change (2020) examines how to cope with change, navigate change, and make change happen. Full of insights and practical tips, its lessons are equally applicable to change in your personal and professional lives.

Who should read The Power to Change?

  • People who are uncomfortable with change
  • Professionals wanting to make changes in their careers 
  • Anyone dealing with unanticipated changes in their lives

23
Shift Into a Higher Gear

Shift Into a Higher Gear

Delatorro McNeal II
Better Your Best and Live Life to the Fullest
4.2 (272 ratings)

What's Shift Into a Higher Gear about?

Shift Into a Higher Gear (2021) uses the metaphor of a motorcycle to deliver some inspiring lessons on pursuing your dreams, achieving self-growth, and living your life to the fullest. Drawing from the author’s years of motorcycling experience, its teachings are equally applicable to your personal and professional lives. 

Who should read Shift Into a Higher Gear?

  • People who want to fire on all cylinders in life 
  • Motorcycle enthusiasts and those curious about motorcycling 
  • Anyone who can relate to that ’90s song about always being “stuck in second gear”

24
Atlas of the Heart

Atlas of the Heart

Brené Brown
Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience
4.6 (1,376 ratings)

What's Atlas of the Heart about?

Atlas of the Heart (2021) is a guide to understanding your emotions and learning how to regulate them. Everyone experiences strong emotions, but most people can’t identify what it is they’re feeling, or work out where the feelings come from. Developing your emotional vocabulary will transform your relationship to yourself, and the people around you.

Who should read Atlas of the Heart?

  • Curious adventurers interested in exploring their own emotional landscapes
  • Anyone who feels flooded by painful emotions that they can’t understand or control
  • Fans of Brené Brown’s work wanting to learn more about her latest insightful theories of emotion

25
Twelve and a Half

Twelve and a Half

Gary Vaynerchuk
Leveraging the Emotional Ingredients Necessary for Business Success
4.3 (294 ratings)

What's Twelve and a Half about?

Twelve and a Half (2021) is a frank, straight-talking guide to the twelve emotional skills that will bring you success in business and in life. Combining anecdotes from the author’s experience as well as typical business scenarios, it shows how, in the grand scheme of things, “soft” skills can actually be more important than the oft-prioritized “hard” skills. With a strong foundation in emotional intelligence, executives, founders, and entrepreneurs can navigate even the most difficult of situations with poise and confidence.

Who should read Twelve and a Half?

  • Aspiring entrepreneurs, founders, and executives
  • Employees dissatisfied with their jobs, employers, or lines of work
  • Anyone seeking a quick and dirty guide to emotional intelligence

26
The Enneagram at Work

The Enneagram at Work

Jim McPartlin with Anna Akbari
Unlocking the Power of Type to Lead and Succeed
4.4 (395 ratings)

What's The Enneagram at Work about?

The Enneagram at Work (2021) reveals how applying the Enneagram – an emotional intelligence metric – can elevate leadership in the modern workplace. It explores the different Enneagram types and shows how tapping into self-awareness can make teams stronger and spark innovative solutions. From managing conflict and building mentorships to giving and receiving criticism, it provides the tools to foster personal growth and long-lasting success in the office.

Who should read The Enneagram at Work?

  • Would-be collaborators who want to better understand themselves and others
  • Individuals seeking awareness of their strengths and blindspots in the workplace
  • Go-getters who want to build stronger teams and become more effective leaders

27
The Loudest Guest

The Loudest Guest

Amy Silver
How to Change and Control Your Relationship with Fear
4.2 (172 ratings)

What's The Loudest Guest about?

The Loudest Guest (2020) is a six-step guide to controlling your fear and taking back control of your life. It offers practical advice on how to recognize your fear, evaluate how it affects you, and choose when and how you listen to it. Fear may be at the party, but he doesn’t have to be your loudest guest.

Who should read The Loudest Guest?

  • Courage seekers
  • People who experience anxiety
  • Worriers, doubters, and perfectionists

28
Wellbeing at Work

Wellbeing at Work

Jim Clifton and Jim Harter
How to Build Resilient and Thriving Teams
4.3 (229 ratings)

What's Wellbeing at Work about?

Wellbeing at Work (2021) explores how the different spheres of our lives contribute to our overall sense of well-being. It also outlines how leaders can positively impact their employees’ well-being, and sheds light on the link between employee well-being and organizational success. 

Who should read Wellbeing at Work?

  • Stressed-out workers
  • Managers learning how to lead in a pandemic
  • Wellness enthusiasts looking for inspiration

29
Wired for Love

Wired for Love

Stan Tatkin
How Understanding Your Partner's Brain and Attachment Style Can Help You Defuse Conflict and Build a Secure Relationship
4.6 (514 ratings)

What's Wired for Love about?

Wired for Love (2012) is a guide to maintaining closeness and emotional security within romantic partnerships. It uses research from neurobiology and psychology to show why long-term couples come into conflict, and it offers practical tips on how to use knowledge about brain functions to promote peace and mutual security in your relationship.

Who should read Wired for Love?

  • Partners in committed relationships
  • Couples seeking to manage conflict 
  • Those interested in social psychology

30
Switch Craft

Switch Craft

Elaine Fox, PhD
The Hidden Power of Mental Agility
4.4 (419 ratings)

What's Switch Craft about?

Switch Craft: The Hidden Power of Mental Agility (2022) introduces the concept of switch craft – the art of being able to change and adapt in this fast-paced world. Drawing on scientific research and real life experience, switch craft uses the four pillars of mental agility, self-awareness, emotional awareness, and situational awareness, to give us the flexibility and understanding to thrive in any situation.

Who should read Switch Craft?

Switch Craft can and should easily translate into anyone’s day to day life, but its methods are especially fit for

  • Black or white thinkers looking for a fresh perspective on life
  • Those seeking hope after innumerous setbacks
  • Self-improvement enthusiasts.

31
How to Meet Your Self

How to Meet Your Self

Nicole LePera
The Workbook for Self-Discovery
4.2 (173 ratings)

What's How to Meet Your Self about?

How to Meet Your Self (2022) is a practical guide to self-discovery. These simple exercises can help you to become more conscious, and more in touch with your own body and emotions, ultimately allowing you to discover your true self.

Who should read How to Meet Your Self?

  • Self seekers
  • People who feel stuck on autopilot
  • Anyone who’s unhappy and doesn’t know why

32
Smarter Tomorrow

Smarter Tomorrow

Elizabeth R. Ricker
How 15 Minutes of Neurohacking a Day Can Help You Work Better, Think Faster, and Get More Done
4.1 (714 ratings)

What's Smarter Tomorrow about?

Smarter Tomorrow (2021) shows you how to upgrade your brain using a technique called neurohacking. You’ll learn how to improve your memory, creativity, emotional regulation, and what’s known as “executive functioning” through self-testing and experimentation – all backed up with insights from neuroscience.

Who should read Smarter Tomorrow?

  • Thinkers looking to improve their cognitive skills
  • Budding neuroscientists and brain nerds
  • Anyone looking to keep up with modern science

33
The Cactus and Snowflake at Work

The Cactus and Snowflake at Work

Devora Zack
How the Logical and Sensitive Can Thrive Side by Side
4.5 (170 ratings)

What's The Cactus and Snowflake at Work about?

The Cactus and Snowflake at Work (2021) offers a brand-new take on workplace relationships. It suggests that everyone falls into one of two personality types, the Cactus or the Snowflake, and that our types drive the way we think, feel, act, and collaborate. Learning your type – and how to deal with other types – can set you up for professional success.

Who should read The Cactus and Snowflake at Work?

  • Anyone who’s curious to learn if they’re a Cactus or a Snowflake
  • Workers who want to gel better with their teammates
  • Managers struggling to inspire their teams

34
The Power of Regret

The Power of Regret

Daniel Pink
How Looking Backward Moves us Forward
4.6 (701 ratings)

What's The Power of Regret about?

The Power of Regret (2022) is a rebuttal of the “no regrets” worldview. Drawing from human psychology, it shares actionable steps for transforming emotion into action and using past disappointments to shape purposeful futures. 

Who should read The Power of Regret?

  • Anyone who’s ever had a regret, no matter how big or small
  • Followers of the “no regrets” lifestyle who are ready to hear a new perspective 
  • Psychology fans who want to explore the underpinnings of a popular phenomenon

35
Raising Good Humans

Raising Good Humans

Hunter Clarke-Fields
A Mindful Guide to Breaking the Cycle of Reactive Parenting and Raising Kind, Confident Kids
4.5 (316 ratings)

What's Raising Good Humans about?

Raising Good Humans (2019) is a mindful parenting guide that teaches you how to stop yelling and get grounded. It features healthy practices that can help you break generational cycles and be a better parent.

Who should read Raising Good Humans?

  • Parents who want to stop yelling
  • Teachers and parents who need better conflict management strategies
  • Caregivers interested in personal development

36
Big Feelings

Big Feelings

Mollie West Duffy and Liz Fosslien
How to be Okay When Things Are Not Okay
4.2 (324 ratings)

What's Big Feelings about?

Big Feelings (2022) is a guide to coping with some of the toughest emotions we ever face, from anger to despair. By acknowledging and facing up to these emotions, it’s possible to work through them.

Who should read Big Feelings?

  • People feeling overwhelmed by big emotions
  • Anyone who struggles to open up
  • Self-help enthusiasts after advice

37
Humor, Seriously

Humor, Seriously

Jennifer Aaker & Naomi Bagdonas
Why Humor Is a Superpower at Work and in Life (And How Anyone Can Harness It. Even You.)
4.1 (415 ratings)

What's Humor, Seriously about?

Humor, Seriously (2021) explores the value of a human-centered approach to business, and of the funny that can be found and created in any environment. It relies on science, psychology, and humorous anecdotes from experts in the field to show how using humor can create a culture of levity, build trust, and unlock creativity.

Who should read Humor, Seriously?

  • Leaders looking to build trust
  • Managers who want to enhance creativity
  • Anyone seeking more joy in work and life

38
The 6 Phase Meditation Method

The 6 Phase Meditation Method

Vishen Lakhiani
The Proven Technique to Supercharge Your Mind, Manifest Your Goals, and Make Magic in Minutes a Day
4.6 (407 ratings)

What's The 6 Phase Meditation Method about?

The 6 Phase Meditation Method (2022) is a ground-breaking transformational guide divided into six distinct phases. In as little as 20 minutes, you can reclaim your life and reap the many practical benefits of meditation.

Who should read The 6 Phase Meditation Method?

  • Failed meditation experimenters
  • Time-poor self-improvers
  • Mental-fitness geeks

39
Raising Human Beings

Raising Human Beings

Ross W. Greene
Creating a Collaborative Partnership with Your Child
4.8 (31 ratings)

What's Raising Human Beings about?

Raising Human Beings (2016) is part practical guide and part manifesto about the power of collaborative problem-solving. Using threats, bribes, and punishments doesn’t change children’s behavior sustainably. That’s because you just end up suppressing the symptoms of the problem, instead of addressing the root cause. Instead of engaging in power struggles, try asking your children what’s really going on, and brainstorming solutions together. Not only will you come up with better solutions – your relationship will improve dramatically.

Who should read Raising Human Beings?

  • Parents in the grip of a power struggle with their children
  • Prospective parents who want to learn to communicate constructively 
  • Educators and youth workers looking for new approaches to working with the children in their care

40
Voice Lessons for Parents

Voice Lessons for Parents

Wendy Mogel
What to Say, How to Say it, and When to Listen
4.1 (24 ratings)

What's Voice Lessons for Parents about?

Voice Lessons for Parents (2018) teaches parents not just what to say to children – but how to say it. When you’re communicating with children, your tone, volume, and choice of words are just as important as the message you’re trying to get across. Parenting expert Wendy Mogel shows how to get the most out of communication with your child, whether you’re dealing with a tone-deaf toddler or a defiant teenager. 

Who should read Voice Lessons for Parents?

  • Young parents wondering how to strike the right tone with their child 
  • Despairing parents of reticent or rebellious teenagers
  • Teachers, coaches, and other guardians who want to learn how to inspire

41
Emotional

Emotional

Leonard Mlodinow
How Feelings Shape Our Thinking
4.4 (229 ratings)

What's Emotional about?

Emotional (2022) explores a long-misunderstood part of the human psyche: emotions. It shows how neuroscience is shedding light on the role and importance of our emotions – and gives tips on how to control our emotions to lead better lives. 

Who should read Emotional?

  • Businesspeople who want to be more successful and effective in their roles
  • Individuals dealing with difficult-to-control emotions 
  • People struggling with motivation who want to form beneficial habits

42
Surrounded by Narcissists

Surrounded by Narcissists

Thomas Erikson
How to Effectively Recognize, Avoid, and Defend Yourself Against Toxic People (and Not Lose Your Mind)
4.4 (615 ratings)

What's Surrounded by Narcissists about?

Surrounded By Narcissists (2022) is a guide to recognizing narcissists and understanding how they operate. Erikson suggests simple, effective methods for dealing with any narcissists you know, whether it’s your partner, a relative, someone you work with, or possibly all three – you may be surrounded.

Who should read Surrounded by Narcissists?

  • Victims of narcissists
  • Empaths who are worried about being manipulated
  • Anyone who’s interested in psychology or personality types

43
Stop Overthinking

Stop Overthinking

Nick Trenton
23 Techniques to Relieve Stress, Stop Negative Spirals, Declutter Your Mind, and Focus on the Present
4.2 (439 ratings)

What's Stop Overthinking about?

Stop Overthinking (2021) is an indispensable guide to breaking free from the negative thought patterns holding you back. Learn how to recognize your negative spiral triggers, overcome anxiety attacks, and declutter your mind to live a stress-free life.

Who should read Stop Overthinking?

  • Nervous Nellies
  • Persistent procrastinators
  • Anybody struggling with doubt and indecision

44
Jerks at Work

Jerks at Work

Tessa West
Toxic Coworkers and What to Do About Them
4.1 (258 ratings)

What's Jerks at Work about?

Jerks at Work (2022) provides a handbook for how to deal with difficult people at work. Identifying seven types of jerks, it informs you about what kind of behaviors to look out for and how to deal with them in a pragmatic, positive way.

Who should read Jerks at Work?

  • Anyone who is struggling with a jerk at work
  • Those who have a friend or loved one who won’t stop complaining about a jerk at work 
  • People who are interested in how social psychology applies to the workplace

45
Master Your Emotions

Master Your Emotions

Thibaut Meurisse
A Practical Guide to Overcome Negativity and Better Manage Your Feelings
4.3 (261 ratings)

What's Master Your Emotions about?

Master Your Emotions (2018) offers tips on understanding your emotions and controlling them. Instead of letting your negative emotions control your life, this guide encourages you to build positive instead of negative emotions and take back control of your life.

Who should read Master Your Emotions?

  • People going through upsetting life situations such as the loss of a loved one
  • Those trying to cope with difficult coworkers or family members
  • Anyone who struggles with overwhelming emotions

46
101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think

101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think

Brianna Wiest
4.4 (625 ratings)

What's 101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think about?

101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think (2016) is an antidote to anxiety, but not in the way you think. Instead of mounting roadblocks against your darkest feelings, it encourages you to use them as agents of personal growth. Managing your thoughts will lead you toward the daily habits that will bring you fulfillment.

Who should read 101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think?

  • People in their twenties trying to find purpose and meaning, and manage their anxiety
  • Thirtysomethings who want to understand how their past has shaped their present and how they can still salvage the future
  • Those who want to find joy and fulfillment in being themselves

47
The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook

The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook

Matthew McKay, Jeffrey C. Wood & Jeffrey Brantley
Practical DBT Exercises for Learning Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Emotion Regulation, and Distress Tolerance
4.6 (73 ratings)

What's The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook about?

The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook (2019) offers basic and advanced exercises to help people hone the four core emotional competencies. While it can be used alone, it’s also an excellent companion for anyone working with a therapist. 

Who should read The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook?

  • Anyone currently in therapy
  • People interested in self-improvement 
  • Individuals struggling to manage their emotions

48
Good Inside

Good Inside

Becky Kennedy
A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be
4.6 (401 ratings)

What's Good Inside about?

Good Inside (2022) offers hope to parents who feel helpless when it comes to managing conflict in their homes. More than parenting, it’s about loving yourself and extending that love to your children. Dr. Becky rejects traditional reward and punishment strategies, instead encouraging parents to seek understanding with their children while still maintaining healthy boundaries.

Who should read Good Inside?

  • New parents
  • Parents who are afraid it’s too late to change how they parent
  • People healing from emotional damage

49
Emotional Detox

Emotional Detox

Sherianna Boyle
7 Steps to Release Toxicity and Energize Joy
4.2 (36 ratings)

What's Emotional Detox about?

Emotional Detox (2018) is a guide to processing difficult emotions using the seven-step C.L.E.A.N.S.E. method (Clear, Look inward, Emit, Activate, Nourish, Surrender, and Ease). Using practical exercises, it shows how to tackle negative emotions such as anxiety, anger, and fear in order to live a healthier and happier life.

Who should read Emotional Detox?

  • Anyone struggling emotionally
  • Individuals seeking life-coach tips
  • People interested in alternative psychology

50
How Am I Doing?

How Am I Doing?

Corey Yeager
40 Conversations to Have with Yourself
4.2 (101 ratings)

What's How Am I Doing? about?

How Am I Doing? (2022) helps you dive deep into your thoughts and find yourself. It features 40 introspective questions designed to prompt you to mend yourself and discover the path to the person you want to become.

Who should read How Am I Doing??

  • People who want to gain a better understanding of themselves
  • High school or college graduates looking for their next path
  • Anyone interested in personal growth and self-improvement

51
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents

Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents

Lindsay C. Gibson
How to Heal from Difficult, Rejecting, or Self-involved Parents
4.6 (364 ratings)

What's Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents about?

Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents (2015) exposes the negative impacts that many adults face as the result of growing up with distant, rejecting, or self-involved parents. From demystifying the behavior of emotionally immature caregivers to providing practical tools for personal growth, it’s a step-by-step guide to healing old wounds and embracing a more positive future.

Who should read Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents?

  • Adult children of emotionally immature parents
  • Parents who want to be more emotionally mature for their children
  • Anyone interested in the dynamics of family psychology

52
Platonic

Platonic

Marisa G. Franco
How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make - and Keep - Friends
4.4 (203 ratings)

What's Platonic about?

Platonic (2022) is an actionable guide to making and keeping friends as an adult. It combines true stories of friendship with psychological research to give you clear, actionable, and practical advice on building better friendships. 

Who should read Platonic?

  • People who want to become better friends
  • Anyone who’s struggled to make new friends as an adult
  • Friends who’d like to strengthen their relationships

53
A Year of Self-Care

A Year of Self-Care

Dr. Zoe Shaw
Daily Practices and Inspiration for Caring for Yourself
4.3 (84 ratings)

What's A Year of Self-Care about?

A Year of Self-Care (2021) encourages you to jumpstart your investment in yourself, and begin integrating daily rituals of self-love and care into your life.

Who should read A Year of Self-Care?

  • Caretakers and parents 
  • Anyone suffering from burnout 
  • People going through challenging life transitions 

54
The Happiness Trap

The Happiness Trap

Russ Harris
How to Stop Struggling and Start Living
4.6 (386 ratings)

What's The Happiness Trap about?

The Happiness Trap (2007) is a self-help guide to pursuing a richer and more rewarding life instead of fleeting feelings of happiness. It outlines the six core principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy that can help you tackle unpleasant thoughts and feelings and build a fulfilling life.

Who should read The Happiness Trap?

  • Anyone seeking happiness and failing
  • People dealing with mental health problems
  • People who want to start living meaningfully

55
Be the Love

Be the Love

Sarah Prout
Seven Ways to Unlock Your Heart and Manifest Happiness
4.5 (320 ratings)

What's Be the Love about?

Be the Love (2022) offers valuable insights on how to overcome the hardships of everyday life. It provides helpful tools and a mindset to thrive and become more resilient in the face of daily challenges. 

Who should read Be the Love?

  • Overwhelmed people seeking guidance
  • Anyone looking for a new practical philosophy
  • Fans of inspirational stories

56
Mindreader

Mindreader

David J. Lieberman
Find Out What People Really Think, What They Really Want, and Who They Really Are
4.5 (833 ratings)

What's Mindreader about?

Mindreader (2022) explains how to read and understand people. Written by an FBI instructor and lie-detection expert, it delves deep into how to understand situational subtext, interpret language, and determine whether a person is being honest.

Who should read Mindreader?

  • Mixed signal receivers – at work or while dating
  • Those who have trouble reading others
  • Negotiators who want to up their game

57
Do Hard Things

Do Hard Things

Steve Magness
Why We Get Resilience Wrong and the Surprising Science of Real Toughness
4.5 (468 ratings)

What's Do Hard Things about?

Do Hard Things (2022) explodes mythologies around the popular conception of toughness. It shows how traditional markers of toughness, like putting on a brave face and pushing past pain, can actually hinder physical and mental performance outcomes in the long term. Instead, real resilience comes from listening to your body and embracing your emotions.

Who should read Do Hard Things?

  • Employees who need resilience to succeed in challenging, high-stress roles;
  • Athletes and fitness fans wanting to build physical and mental fortitude;
  • Anyone who wants to face challenges with authentic toughness.

58
Reinventing Your Life

Reinventing Your Life

Jeffrey E. Young and Janet S. Klosko
The Breakthrough Program to End Negative Behaviour...and Feel Great Again
4.4 (313 ratings)

What's Reinventing Your Life about?

Reinventing Your Life (1994) is a manual on how to pull yourself out of negative habits and improve your life. By identifying key stumbling blocks to growth – or “lifetraps” – and presenting ways to overcome them, it guides you toward sustainable personal growth and happiness.

Who should read Reinventing Your Life?

  • Anyone who feels stuck in the same old negative loop
  • People looking to understand themselves better
  • Psychology buffs

59
8 Secrets to Powerful Manifesting

8 Secrets to Powerful Manifesting

Mandy Morris
How to Create the Reality of Your Dreams
4.4 (398 ratings)

What's 8 Secrets to Powerful Manifesting about?

8 Secrets to Powerful Manifesting (2022) offers an eight-step approach to increasing your self-awareness, raising your energetic vibration, and bringing about your heart’s truest desires. 

Who should read 8 Secrets to Powerful Manifesting?

  • Anyone who wants to live more abundantly
  • People frustrated about unfulfilled dreams
  • Manifestors who aren’t seeing results as quickly as they’d like

60
Self-Love Workbook for Women

Self-Love Workbook for Women

Megan Logan
Release Self-Doubt, Build Self-Compassion, and Embrace Who You Are
4.8 (50 ratings)

What's Self-Love Workbook for Women about?

Self-Love Workbook for Women (2020) maps your journey towards creating a life-altering relationship with yourself. Whether your self-love foundation is shaky or firm, this book will help you develop skills to heal and self-nourish, through using awareness and mindfulness practices.

Who should read Self-Love Workbook for Women?

  • Anyone suffering from depression or low self worth 
  • Cynics and scrooges 
  • Goal-oriented entrepreneurs, young professionals, and caretakers

61
How We Heal

How We Heal

Alexandra Elle
Uncover Your Power and Set Yourself Free
4.5 (324 ratings)

What's How We Heal about?

How We Heal (2022) provides a detailed look at the complex and life-changing process of self-healing. Techniques are separated into a 4-step framework which provides encouragement, practical strategies, and journaling exercises to help you rediscover your inner power and cultivate a sense of inner peace.

Who should read How We Heal?

  • Fans of self-help books
  • Anyone who wants to learn about self-healing
  • People interested in mental health and wellness

62
Awe

Awe

Dacher Keltner
The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life
4.3 (83 ratings)

What's Awe about?

Awe (2023) is a deep dive into this elusive emotion. Drawing on new research, it shows how awe can improve your mood, well-being, cognitive abilities, and relationships with others. 

Who should read Awe?

  • Stressed individuals in need of a mood boost
  • Those curious about the power of emotions
  • Urban dwellers craving more meaning in life

63
The Power of the Pussy

The Power of the Pussy

Kara King
How to Get What You Want from Men: Love, Respect, Commitment and More!
3.5 (114 ratings)

What's The Power of the Pussy about?

The Power of the Pussy (2014) shares the twelve secret “powers” that women can use to transform their lives by changing the ways they perceive men and dating. Through straight-forward advice and positive encouragement, author Kara King gives readers tools to break the cycle of bad relationships and create the life they want with the man of their dreams.

Who should read The Power of the Pussy?

  • Fans of self-help books
  • People interested in love and romance
  • Single women who want to have better dating experiences with men

64
The Emotional Lives of Teenagers

The Emotional Lives of Teenagers

Lisa Damour
Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents
4.7 (47 ratings)

What's The Emotional Lives of Teenagers about?

The Emotional Lives of Teenagers (2023) is a best-selling guide to navigating the highs and lows of parenting your child through adolescence. It dispenses honest, practical, research-informed advice aimed at helping parents understand, support, and connect with their teens in a way that honors the huge transition they’re experiencing.

Who should read The Emotional Lives of Teenagers?

  • Parents looking for effective strategies to support their teen’s mental health
  • Educators and youth workers seeking clinically informed advice about the adolescent years
  • Anyone who wants to help the teenagers in their lives feel loved, supported, and heard as they transition into adulthood

65
The Procrastination Cure

The Procrastination Cure

Jeffery Combs
7 Steps to Stop Putting Life Off
4.5 (565 ratings)

What's The Procrastination Cure about?

The Procrastination Cure is a practical and motivational guide to overcoming procrastination. It offers strategies and personal insights to diagnose and address the root causes of this behavior, enabling readers to balance productivity and relaxation without guilt.

Who should read The Procrastination Cure?

  • Anyone who struggles with procrastination
  • People suffering from perfectionism or resistance
  • Anyone willing to introspect and develop self-awareness

66
Coaching for Performance

Coaching for Performance

Sir John Whitmore
The Principles and Practice of Coaching and Leadership
4.6 (60 ratings)

What's Coaching for Performance about?

Coaching for Performance (2009) is the foundational text which launched the multimillion-dollar business coaching industry. The 25th anniversary edition brings new life to the hallmark GROW model, and revisits the methods after a quarter-century of learning in performance coaching. It’s essential for leaders and coaches globally.

Who should read Coaching for Performance?

  • Leaders looking for inspiration
  • Coaches who want to understand the performance coaching method
  • Anyone looking to improve the performance of their team

67
Fool Proof

Fool Proof

Tess Wilkinson-Ryan
How Fear of Playing the Sucker Shapes Our Selves and the Social Order — And What We Can Do About It
4.3 (20 ratings)

What's Fool Proof about?

Fool Proof (2023) explores how the universal human fear of being a sucker contributes to the social order and drives our actions and behaviors. By explaining how the “sucker’s game” permeates so many aspects of our lives, it shows us how we can recognize our fears and keep them from influencing our values and beliefs.

Who should read Fool Proof?

  • Anyone interested in the psychology behind the fear of being a sucker
  • People who want to learn more about how scams affect our lives
  • Fans of psychology and sociology books

68
You Are the One You've Been Waiting For

You Are the One You've Been Waiting For

Richard C. Schwartz
Applying Internal Family Systems to Intimate Relationships
4.7 (44 ratings)

What's You Are the One You've Been Waiting For about?

You Are the One You’ve Been Waiting For (2008) lays out the secret for finding happiness and intimacy in modern romantic relationships. Using the established Internal Family Systems (IFS) model, it shows that true contentment and compassion come from understanding and trusting the Self – your compassionate center of peace and clarity. By adjusting your perspective and completing some practical exercises, your relationship can start to flourish like it never has before.

Who should read You Are the One You've Been Waiting For?

  • Couples who feel unable to connect despite their best efforts
  • Therapists, psychoanalysts and armchair psychologists looking for a unique perspective on relationships 
  • Those who feel unresolved inner turmoil holds them back from maintaining loving relationships

69
The Law of Attraction

The Law of Attraction

Esther and Jerry Hicks
The Basics of the Teachings of Abraham
4.2 (325 ratings)

What's The Law of Attraction about?

The Law of Attraction (2006) shows how you can use a fundamental law of the universe – the law of attraction – to manifest the life you always wanted. It explains what laws govern the world around us and how, once we understand them, we can use them to our own advantage.

Who should read The Law of Attraction?

  • People who want to bring their ideal life to reality
  • Lovers of alternative theories about the universe
  • Positive thinkers in need of a little boost

70
Primal Leadership

Primal Leadership

Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis, Annie McKee
Unleashing the Power of Emotional Intelligence
4.1 (265 ratings)

What's Primal Leadership about?

Primal Leadership (2013) argues that the fundamental task of any great leader is to engage the emotions of their followers and guide them in a positive direction. Offering up an emotionally intelligent, resonant style of leadership, it delves into the skills and qualities needed to become a better leader and bring out the best in your team.

Who should read Primal Leadership?

  • Managers looking to improve their skills
  • Workers seeking ways to convince their peers
  • Anyone who wants to become a better leader

71
DBT Made Simple

DBT Made Simple

Sheri Van Dijk
A Step-by-Step Guide to Dialectical Behavior Therapy
4.2 (34 ratings)

What's DBT Made Simple about?

DBT Made Simple (2023) is your passport to navigating the complex terrain of emotional well-being. Unraveling the practical strategies of dialectical behavior therapy, it empowers you to turn life’s challenges into catalysts for personal growth and resilience.

Who should read DBT Made Simple?

  • Individuals seeking emotional regulation and personal growth strategies
  • Mental-health professionals exploring comprehensive therapy approaches
  • Parents and teachers looking for resilience-building tools

72
Peace Is Every Step

Peace Is Every Step

Thich Nhat Hanh
The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life
4.4 (55 ratings)

What's Peace Is Every Step about?

Peace Is Every Step (1990) offers profound and practical teachings on mindfulness in everyday life. It emphasizes the importance of being present in each moment, transforming negative emotions, cultivating awareness, and fostering compassion and understanding.

Who should read Peace Is Every Step?

  • Those interested in mindfulness 
  • Meditators who wish to deepen their practice
  • Anyone looking for greater happiness and fulfillment

73
That Little Voice in Your Head

That Little Voice in Your Head

Mo Gawdat
Adjust the Code That Runs Your Brain
4.5 (359 ratings)

What's That Little Voice in Your Head about?

That Little Voice in Your Head (2022) is a guide to understanding and optimizing your brain so you can live a happier life, using concepts from computer science and neuroscience to map the mind as an operating system. It includes many simple exercises to help you take control of your brain, thoughts, and emotions to reshape your own experience and positively affect the lives of others.

Who should read That Little Voice in Your Head?

  • Anyone interested in achieving happiness
  • People who want to increase their emotional intelligence
  • Those interested in an expert computer science perspective on the human brain as AI evolves 

74
The Worry Trick

The Worry Trick

David A. Carbonell
How Your Brain Tricks You Into Expecting the Worst and What You Can Do about It
4.3 (312 ratings)

What's The Worry Trick about?

The Worry Trick (2016) is a no-nonsense guide to dealing with worry and anxiety. Drawing from acceptance and commitment therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy, it breaks down where worry comes from and offers concrete steps on how to face and ultimately overcome it.  

Who should read The Worry Trick?

  • Anyone who deals with chronic worry
  • Psychologists looking to deepen their knowledge of anxiety
  • Students of the human condition

75
Feeling Is The Secret

Feeling Is The Secret

Neville Goddard
Ideas that Shape the World
4.6 (48 ratings)

What's Feeling Is The Secret about?

Feeling is the Secret (1944) uncovers the profound connection between consciousness and reality. It offers a method to harness your thoughts and emotions, helping you redefine your understanding of your own existence – and reshape your life.

Who should read Feeling Is The Secret?

  • Spiritual seekers on a journey of self-discovery and enlightenment
  • Personal development enthusiasts curious about how the mind shapes reality
  • Philosophers and theologians interested in the intersection of spirituality and science

76
The Mental Toughness Handbook

The Mental Toughness Handbook

Damon Zahariades
A Step-By-Step Guide to Facing Life's Challenges, Managing Negative Emotions, and Overcoming Adversity with Courage and Poise
4.5 (251 ratings)

What's The Mental Toughness Handbook about?

The Mental Toughness Handbook (2020) offers a step-by-step guide with proven strategies and time-tested wisdom for overcoming adversity and obstacles in life by developing mental discipline and resilience.

Who should read The Mental Toughness Handbook?

  • Athletes looking to enhance their performance in high-pressure situations
  • Business leaders and entrepreneurs looking for more mental stamina for decision-making
  • Anyone seeking a better way to handle stress, anxiety, or adversity, no matter what

77
The Borderline Personality Disorder Workbook

The Borderline Personality Disorder Workbook

Daniel J. Fox
An Integrative Program to Understand and Manage Your BPD
3.5 (4 ratings)

What's The Borderline Personality Disorder Workbook about?

The Borderline Personality Disorder Workbook (2019) is a practical guide to taking control of your BPD. Through expert advice and actionable exercises, this empathetic resource illuminates a path beyond unhealthy beliefs and destructive behaviors. With these proven techniques, anyone with BPD can begin to improve their emotional patterns and rebuild healthy relationships.

Who should read The Borderline Personality Disorder Workbook?

  • People diagnosed with BPD
  • Those experiencing BPD-like symptoms
  • Friends and family of people with BPD trying to learn about the disorder

Related Topics

Emotional Intelligence Books
 FAQs 

What's the best Emotional Intelligence book to read?

While choosing just one book about a topic is always tough, many people regard Emotions Revealed as the ultimate read on Emotional Intelligence.

What are the Top 10 Emotional Intelligence books?

Blinkist curators have picked the following:
  • Emotions Revealed by Paul Ekman
  • Anger Management for Dummies by Charles H. Elliott & Laura L. Smith
  • Unmasking the Face by Paul Ekman and Wallace V. Friesen
  • The Yes Brain by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
  • No Hard Feelings by Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy
  • Permission to Feel by Marc Brackett
  • Parenting Outside the Lines by Meghan Leahy
  • Connect by David Bradford and Carole Robin
  • The School of Life by Alain de Botton and The School of Life
  • Flawsome by Georgia Murch

Who are the top Emotional Intelligence book authors?

When it comes to Emotional Intelligence, these are the authors who stand out as some of the most influential:
  • Paul Ekman
  • Charles H. Elliott & Laura L. Smith
  • Paul Ekman and Wallace V. Friesen
  • Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
  • Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy