Social Intelligence

The New Science of Human Relationships

By: Daniel Goleman

Narrated by: Dennis Boutsikaris

Length: 12 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

Emotional Intelligence was an international phenomenon, appearing on the New York Times bestseller list for over a year, selling more than five million copies worldwide. Now, with Social Intelligence, Daniel Goleman presents groundbreaking work that synthesizes the latest findings in biology and brain science, revealing that we are "wired to connect.

In richly anecdotal detail, Goleman brings to life the field of social neuroscience that has emerged in the decade since the publication of Emotional Intelligence. He shows that, 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. Our relationships create a setpoint for our daily moods and influence our immune response; they are crucial to achievement in students and workers; they determine whether or not some genes are expressed, for good or ill.

Above all, Goleman explores the foundations of rapport, love, cooperation, and altruism, with major implications for the wellbeing of our families, communities, and workplaces. Whether you listen to this as a lover or parent, medical professional or businessperson, teacher or community leader, you will never see your relationships in the same way again.

©2006 Daniel Goleman (P)2006 Audio Renaissance, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishers, LLC

so much information

A very thorough book. Excellent information for anyone who has an interest psychology, neuroscience, sociology, anthropology, behavioral economics, or any related fields.

You me and it

Good information about the relationships we need to experience the full potential of life and more

Great presentation!

Would you consider the audio edition of Social Intelligence to be better than the print version?

The only reason I would reference the print version is if I need to quote a page number. I was very satisfied with the audio edition. Given my present situation, I would not have been able to sit down and read a text such as this.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Not applicable

Have you listened to any of Dennis Boutsikaris’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not heard this narrator before and I am very pleased with his performance compared to some others who narrate texts. He uses inflections and pauses when required.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

As this was a text, I was very pleased with the presentation. It did not produce any emotional reaction with the exception of some "Ah..ha" moments when explanations were elaborated.

Any additional comments?

I would highly recommend this book to any person who is involved in a "helping profession", parents, counsellors, religious leaders, and community leaders. This book will assist persons with raising their children and assist individuals to exercise preventative behaviours rather than reactive behaviours.

The best of Goleman’s EQ books

EQ, EQ at work, and primal leadership are groundbreaking, yes - explaining and formulating concepts on a relatively new way of looking at measuring people. How well do we get along. The EQ Quickbook by Travis Bradberry is actually better than all those books because it takes all their concepts, explains them and shows how to work on them - saving you huge amounts of time. On the other hand - social EQ- this book, is different - it’s better than the other Goleman books. It breaks down EQ in many contexts such as kids, family, friends. It’s well written and very thought provoking. Of all goleman’s EQ books, I really enjoyed listening to this one the most.

Now more than ever

Inches year of division and hatred, 2022, we all need to take heed to what this book showed back in 2006. We obviously have not learned the lessons. Rather, what was in hidden or fringe segments of society, has spilled into the mainstream, from the former president and January 6th to the total inability of the legislative branch to work together. Our amygdala have been fried! We all need some relief.

This book offers many insights into other’s’ behaviors

Mirror neurons are an important concept on which the author builds his narrative.

“Mirror neurons were first discovered by neuroscientists who implanted wires in the brains of monkeys to monitor areas involved in planning and carrying out movement.” Page 161.
Carpenter and Huffman (2010) Visualizing Psychology, second edition.

Written with scientific rigor on the one hand, but accessible to a lay audience on the other, this book illustrates the need for a greater awareness of the specific mechanisms that motivate our behaviors during our interactions with other people. I first picked up this book at the library after my then, new wife and I, were searching for better ways to connect and understand how our different backgrounds were seeping into our perceptions of each other and sometimes, perhaps, triggering conflicts between us. Now after a decade of marriage and really digging into this book on a deeper level, my interactions with both my wife and people in our wider social circle, have been more fluid and easy, and I have more confidence in myself and my ability to understand others. It has also triggered some very deep feelings of empathy for one individual in particular, whom I came to realize how deeply he had been hurt in his past and came to a greater understanding of the profound impact his childhood is having on his current, seemingly dysfunctional interactions with us. This one epiphany and many more like it, came while listening to this book and pondering its implications.

Anyways, if you’re searching for a greater understanding of others and tools on how you could better interact with them, and a better understanding of yourself, I would recommend this book. You won’t be disappointed.

Emotions and the brain

What made the experience of listening to Social Intelligence the most enjoyable?

It was a good rhythm and you don't get bored easily

What other book might you compare Social Intelligence to and why?

Emotions: freedom from anger, jealousy & fear by Osho, the reason is that it teaches you that you can control your emotions.

What insight do you think you’ll apply from Social Intelligence?

I have learned why I act in certain ways and how I can improve my life by understanding and handling those situations better.

Rich material

This book is comprehensive and full of rich material and facts. It does get deep and difficult to follow at times.

read if you are struggling in relationships

I enjoyed the message of the book. we are social beings. lets act accordingly. love everyone

Good read

My only wish was thta the book had more how to manage sections. It was very interesting and in depth when it comes to the biologic standpoint