Emotional Intelligence, written by Daniel Goleman, questions the role of IQ as the major factor of a person's actual intelligence. It talks about an alternative major intelligence factor, emotional intelligence, which consists of a crucial range of abilities, including self-awareness, self-control, and empathy.

The book's first part gives a very scientifically based analysis of the evolutionary development of the human brain. It traces back to the primitive limbic system, and gives explanations of where our emotions originally came from and the purposes they served. After that, the greater part of the book builds on this foundation, explaining emotional disorders and problems and why they occur.

The book's main point is that there is an array of other important forms of intelligence not directly tied to IQ. By understanding the anatomy of and recognizing your emotions and not letting impulses take control, one can develop a sense of intelligence...