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Daniel Goleman

Born: March 7, 1946 – Stockton, California, USA

Social links:

Official Website Emotional Intelligence Courses Website YouTube (Daniel Goleman Speaker Series)

Genres:

Daniel Goleman is an American psychologist, author, and science journalist best known for his groundbreaking work on emotional intelligence. His book "Emotional Intelligence" has sold millions of copies, been translated into over 40 languages, and profoundly shaped education, leadership, and workplace development globally. Goleman’s influence extends through numerous books on psychology, mindfulness, and social intelligence.

Biography & Author's Journey

Daniel Goleman was born on March 7, 1946, in Stockton, California, into an academically inclined family—his mother, Fay, was a professor of sociology, and his father, Irving, a humanities professor. Goleman excelled academically, graduating magna cum laude from Amherst College and obtaining a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Harvard University, where he also taught as a visiting lecturer. During his doctoral studies, he conducted research in India, studying meditation under Neem Karoli Baba, an experience that became foundational in shaping both his intellectual and personal outlook and led to his first book on meditation.

Quotes

Self-absorption in all its forms kills empathy, let alone compassion. When we focus on ourselves, our world contracts as our problems and preoccupations loom large. But when we focus on others, our world expands. Our own problems drift to the periphery of the mind and so seem smaller, and we increase our capacity for connection - or compassionate action

-Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships

In a very real sense we have two minds, one that thinks and one that feels

-Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ

If your emotional abilities aren't in hand, if you don't have self-awareness, if you are not able to manage your distressing emotions, if you can't have empathy and have effective relationships, then no matter how smart you are, you are not going to get very far

-Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ

Smart phones and social media expand our universe. We can connect with others or collect information easier and faster than ever

-Toolshero Profile

Emotional self-awareness is the building block of the next fundamental emotional intelligence: being able to shake off a bad mood

-Emotional Intelligence

Simply paying attention allows us to build an emotional connection. Lacking attention, empathy hasn't a chance

-Emotional Intelligence

People tend to become more emotionally intelligent as they age and mature

-Toolshero Profile

For better or worse, intelligence can come to nothing when the emotions hold sway

-Toolshero Profile

When I say manage emotions, I only mean the really distressing, incapacitating emotions. Feeling emotions is what makes life rich. You need your passions

-Toolshero Profile

The range of what we think and do is limited by what we fail to notice. And because we fail to notice that we fail to notice there is little we can do to change until we notice how failing to notice shapes our thoughts and deeds

-Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships

Popular Books

Force for Good

Daniel Goleman

An inspiring vision for transforming the world through compassion, backed by scientific evidence and real-world examples of positive change.

Emotional intelligence

Daniel Goleman

Daniel Goleman's emotional intelligence guide

Focus

Daniel Goleman

Explore the science of attention and learn how to sharpen your focus to excel in work and life.

Primal Leadership

Daniel Goleman

Mastering emotional intelligence for effective leadership

Optimal

Daniel Goleman & Cary Cherniss

Harness emotional intelligence to achieve peak performance consistently, avoiding burnout and maintaining balance in work and life.