Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Jean Greaves is a book about how to develop and strengthen a person’s emotional intelligence. The title “2.0” implies that this book is an upgrade from the original version of the book released in 2006. Greaves’ updated version is meant to reignite the discussion surrounding the world’s relationship with emotions and how to communicate them effectively.
The author starts by introducing readers to the concept of emotional intelligence, which is a measure of how well a person can understand and manage their own emotions, as well as those of others. Greaves explains this concept by breaking it into its component parts, discussion at length the elements of self-awareness, social awareness, self-management, and empathy. Even if readers are familiar with general concepts in psychological development, it is very likely that they will learn something new as Greaves provides an in-depth and often nuanced look at the concepts she is talking about. In addition, she offers suggestions for ways to further develop one’s understanding of emotional intelligence, some of which are novel yet effective.
The main bulk of the book is devoted to what Greaves calls the ‘Emotional Intelligence Appraisal’. This assessment tool is designed to give readers an accurate understanding of their current level of emotional intelligence. Through a series of multiple-choice questions, readers are asked to think about how they would respond to different situations, enabling them to pinpoint areas in which they can improve. Although the questions focus more on a person’s private thoughts rather than how they interact with others, Greaves does provide explanation for how to translate the results of the assessment into more concrete action plans.
The book also includes powerful stories from people who have successfully increased their emotional intelligence. By taking a deeper dive into these stories, readers may be able to identify the strategies and techniques the different individuals used in order to become emotionally intelligent, and what they learned along the way. This can be applied to the readers’ own lives in order to help them discover the most effective strategies for their particular circumstances.
Overall, Emotional Intelligence 2.0 is an engaging and informative book that provides readers with essential skills for understanding and managing emotions. With Greaves’ comprehensive look into the concept of emotional intelligence, she provides invaluable advice and practical tips that should benefit anyone who wishes to become more emotionally intelligent. Whether readers are looking for personal growth or want to be able to relate to the emotions of others, this book provides an easy-to-follow guide that should be beneficial to those of all levels of emotional intelligence.
