Coming soon · Book Profile

Social Intelligence Goleman

Drawing on the new science of social neuroscience, this book reveals that humans are biologically wired for connection, and that our relationships continuously and profoundly shape our brains, our bodies, and our overall well-being.

A profile of this book is on the way.

Get the book →

What it’s about

A decade after his groundbreaking work on emotional intelligence, Daniel Goleman unveils the next frontier: social intelligence. This book argues that we are fundamentally 'wired to connect,' exploring the nascent field of social neuroscience to reveal the intricate brain-to-brain linkup that occurs in every human interaction. Goleman explains how this 'neural WiFi,' powered by mirror neurons and ultra-fast spindle cells, creates an 'emotional economy' where feelings are contagious, constantly regulating our biology from our hormones to our immune systems and even our gene expression. The book contrasts the nourishing impact of healthy relationships with the slow poison of toxic ones, providing a new, biologically-grounded framework for understanding love, health, work, and society itself. It is an essential guide to mastering our social world by understanding the hidden forces at play in every human connection.

The through-line

Who it’s for: A reader who wants to understand and improve their relationships—at home, at work, and in their community. They seek deeper connections, greater effectiveness in their interactions, and a healthier, happier life, but often feel mystified by the complexities of social dynamics.
The problem: Struggling with difficult relationships, feeling disconnected or isolated in an increasingly fragmented world, and failing to achieve desired outcomes due to social friction. Feeling anxious, lonely, frustrated, or misunderstood in social situations, and being uncertain about how to build genuinely nourishing connections.
The plan: Understand the science of the 'social brain' and how you are biologically wired to connect with others.
Learn to recognize the fast, intuitive 'low road' and the slower, deliberate 'high road' of social processing in yourself and others.
Develop the two core components of Social Intelligence: Social Awareness and Social Facility.
Apply these insights to transform your key relationships in love, family, and work.
Take charge of your well-being by managing the profound biological impact of your social world.
The payoff: Building deeper, more meaningful, and nourishing relationships. · Improved physical and mental health through better management of social stress. · Greater effectiveness as a partner, parent, leader, and friend.

See our guide

Related profiles we’ve built

Additional reading

The Nicomachean Ethics · Aristotle
It provides the philosophical challenge that frames the entire book: the quest to manage our emotional life with intelligence.
Frames of Mind · Howard Gardner
The book's theory of multiple intelligences, particularly the 'personal intelligences,' is cited as a key precursor to the concept of emotional intelligence.
Civilization and Its Discontents · Sigmund Freud
Referenced to illustrate the historical and societal need to enforce rules from without to subdue and domesticate our inner emotional excesses.
Learned Optimism · Martin Seligman
The research on optimism and pessimism as explanatory styles is central to the chapter on motivation, showing how a positive outlook contributes to success.
Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience · Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
The concept of 'flow' is presented as the ultimate state of harnessing emotions in the service of performance and learning, representing emotional intelligence at its best.
Resonant Leadership · Richard Boyatzis and Annie McKee
Mentioned in the preface as a follow-up book written by the co-authors to build on Primal Leadership's ideas and support their hands-on application.
Becoming a Resonant Leader · Richard Boyatzis, Annie McKee, and Frances Johnston
Described in the preface as another work that amplifies the message of Primal Leadership and adds to the practical toolkit for developing resonance.
Leadership: The Power of Emotional Intelligence · Daniel Goleman
Recommended in the preface as a compilation of Goleman's key writings for readers who want a summary of the theory and research behind the practice.
"What Makes a Leader?" (Harvard Business Review article) · Daniel Goleman
The preface identifies this article as one of the primary catalysts for writing the book, due to its enormously enthusiastic reader response.
"Leadership That Gets Results" (Harvard Business Review article) · Daniel Goleman
Mentioned in the preface as the article that introduced the six leadership styles, which this book expands upon significantly.