The Right Book at the Right Time

Title: Primal Leadership: Recognizing the Power of Emotional Intelligence

Author: Daniel Goleman

Publisher: Harvard Business School Press, 2002

Summary: I picked up this book for a class assignment where we had to read a “management” book. I was really dreading this assignment since I hate being forced to read anything, and I have a hard time understanding any aspect of business. A few chapters in I realized this was definitely not a “business/management” book- this was a psychology and basic human interest book. A few weeks ago, I read an article on Yahoo! about how to get what you want in customer service. The number one rule? “You don’t have to be nice”. All I thought was “okay, that may be true…but why wouldn’t you?” This book gives the reasons that being nice (and keeping your emotions- both negative and positive- in check) can improve your relationships- personal and busines.

Emotional intelligence, in a nutshell, is understanding your own emotions so that you can manage them and keep situations under control. While this sounds like it has no place in the business world (and empathy does seem to be lacking in many “cut-throat” business plans) in fact, it does. Lower turnover, increased customer service, increased morale…are all good things! On top of that, building emotional intelligence should be a priority in everyday life. Connecting with people tends to get you exactly what you want- and against the article I had previously read (and had gotten slammed by customers and customer service agents across the board) you don’t need to be rude, stubborn, and arrogant to get your way. The best part? Anyone can (and should!) learn to increase their emotional intelligence with a little hard work…and this book!

Who will like this book: Anyone interested in psychology, anyone interested in business, and anyone who has been involved in customer service (on the giving or receiving end!)

If you like this, try this: Blink by Malcolm Gladwell (both deal with making a great first impression), The Power of Nice by Linda Kaplan Thaler (Primal Leadership is more focused on keeping emotions in check, while Power of Nice is more focused on bringing out positive emotions), any other Goleman book regarding EI

Recommended by: LB, circulation assistant

Think this looks like a book you’d like to read? Click here to visit our catalog and place a hold!

Title: Brain Rules

Author:  John Medina

Publisher: Pear Press, March 2008

Summary:

“If you wanted to create an education environment that was directly opposed to what the brain was good at doing, you probably would design something like a classroom. If you wanted to create a business environment that was directly opposed to what the brain was good at doing, you would probably design something like a cubicle.”

This is just one of John Medina’s interesting observations detailed in Brain Rules. Medina has narrowed his research down to 12 rules of brain function with a chapter designated for each.

In chapter 1, “Exercise Boosts Brain Power” we learn, among other things, that one of the greatest predictors of successful aging is the presence or lack of a sedentary lifestyle. I personally know a few people who could benefit by reading chapter 4, “We Don’t Pay Attention to Boring Things”. Chapters 7 and 8 detail the effects of sleep and stress on brain function, and Chapter 11 tells us (surprise, surprise), that male and female brains are different. If you are interested in learning why we think and behave the way we do, Medina does a great job explaining the “rules”.

Who will like this book?  Anyone interested in human behavior.

Recommended by: Sue, Circulation Coordinator