Official Review: The Other Kind of Smart

[LV2R]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Other Kind of Smart" by Harvey Deutschendorf.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Everyone has heard of IQ, intelligence quotient, as a way to measure one’s mental or cognitive intelligence. Most of the time we have believed that it is our IQ that determines our success in life. However, our IQ is not able to change much after reaching adulthood and not everyone with a high IQ is successful. Have you heard of emotional intelligence or EI? Emotional intelligence is something that can be developed and improved upon through life experiences and as we grow older. EI is about understanding that our emotions are part of who we are and emotions affect everything we do. One can succeed in life with a good emotional intelligence. That is good news!

The Other Kind of Smart: Simple Ways to Boost Your Emotional Intelligence for Greater Personal Effectiveness and Success by Harvey Deutschendorf, an emotional intelligence coach, first explains what emotional intelligence actually entails and how it affects everything in our lives. There are several chapters discussing our inner world, a look into our own lives, to develop some qualities for increasing our self-awareness, assertiveness, self-regard, self-actualization, and independence. Then, it takes a look at our outer world around us, to develop empathy, healthy relationships, and social responsibility. There are chapters on being adaptable and flexible, how to manage stress, and suggestions on how to control our impulses. There are techniques for increasing happiness and being optimistic given in the book. Finally, the book has an easy, small quiz that readers can take to assess their EI to see their own strengths and weaknesses. This evaluation of one’s own EI will help the individual to focus on and develop strengths, as well as to develop stronger qualities in place of weaknesses, which can be done by following the techniques in the book. Our emotional intelligence can change and develop if we are willing to work on the qualities to bring it about. The appendices include a detailed recommended reading list, websites, and organizations for increasing EI for people who want to further explore all the nuances of emotional intelligence.

I liked the chapters on stress management and impulse control. I would have liked for these two subjects to be elaborated on a bit more, but I did like the suggestions given on how to handle and reduce stress, as well as how to respond slower and control the tongue. I especially liked the chapters on happiness and optimism. I was surprised to learn that forty percent of our happiness is created from within ourselves. We can choose how to react to all situations, we can choose how we think, and we can practice the attitude of gratitude. I best like the quote of William James given in the first chapter of the book:

“The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by changing the attitude of the mind.”

All through the book, Southwest Airlines Company was given as the prime example of implementing and placing the importance of emotional intelligence in the workplace. It was made to sound like a dream company, not just to work for, but to be an important part of something. This example showed how the workplace could be transformed where employees’ attitudes and behaviors all contribute to the success of not only the company but also to their own lives as well. I really liked the story of Southwest Airlines’ unique interviewing process to measure a potential employee’s emotional intelligence. It makes me smile just thinking about that story.

The book was written and edited very well. I noticed only two misspelled words. The structure of the book was consistent and clear, outlining each chapter on a quality to gain more emotional intelligence. Each chapter contained a beginning quote, a short explanation of the topic, techniques of increasing the quality, more quotes, and ending in a short story of a real-life example of practicing the quality. As you can tell, I don’t have anything negative to say about this book. It had a lot of research that went into it, but it was balanced with stories and practical applications.

For people who are not interested in self-help books or looking within themselves may like this book the least. Adults who like clear outlines and order in reading about emotional intelligence will like this book. Businesses, companies, sports teams, schools, and counselors may like this book as well, for a key to their success. I rate The Other Kind of Smart 4 out of 4 stars. It is a good resource book that details the importance of emotional intelligence and gives simple, easy techniques to increase its qualities, benefiting the individual as well as the whole.

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The Other Kind of Smart
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Like LV2R's review? Post a comment saying so!

[420waystoreachthesun]

Interestingly enough, EI is a seminal concept in the field of HR. I definitely need this book.

[Rosemary Khathibe]

The book seems to contain very helpful tips. I like it more on how to handle and reduce stress. Informative and enjoyable review!

[Noraine Alissa Poria]

This is interesting, I would like to read this one. One of those book that you want to recommend to your friends.

[Cecilia_L]

I found your review very interesting and plan to add this one to my reading list. Thanks for the recommendation!

[Espie]

Interestingly enough, EI is a seminal concept in the field of HR. I definitely need this book.

Like 420waystoreachthesun, it's relevance to HR is what I've noted, too. Truly, EI will give the HR function its "human" side.

This is interesting, I would like to read this one. One of those books that you want to recommend to your friends.

I also agree with Noraine. It's something we'd find useful for ourselves and those we care about, too, either for its actual application or merely to enrich our knowledge about the subject matter. A well-researched, pragmatic, and nearly-flawless book with a perfect review score like this one deserves consideration for a start.

Just like one of the piece's precepts you've mentioned, a sense of gratitude among all else can make a difference. Thus, thank you for your write-up.

[kandscreeley]

I actually have heard of EI. However, I am not into self-help books. It really has to capture my attention. This one does not. Thanks anyway.

[Debjani Ghosh]

Thanks for the informative review! Seems like this could prove to be a resourceful book about EI but I am not into self-help books. Hence, I will pass this one.

[Kat Berg]

The importance of EI is very popular right now in arenas like the marketplace and leadership. As such, I have read a lot of books discussing this topic. I appreciate that this book is well organized and edited. That is a huge help in ensuring it is useful. Thanks for the review.

[EvaDar]

I learned about EI from studying psychology, but I would love to find out what this contemporary author has to say about it. I really love the Southwest Airlines story. Thank you for a really great introduction to this book.

[margaret muthoni]

The book is interesting and teaches us abt stress and stress managment

[ChristineV1999]

I really appreciate this, the book do contain a lot of information. I do love to read this book to boost my Emotional Intelligence. As a person I have a lot of qualities to be improved and mostly I would like to handle my stress more,Thank you for this wonderful review!

[cpru68]

I have never heard of this subject before. I think we get so self-absorbed in school and we have to pass tests that we begin to believe that is all we have going for us. This book sounds like a refreshing change to the old way of thinking about life, and I love the fact that it entails all of us being able to go forward and being able to improve ourselves. This sounds fascinating to me. Great job on this review. I have just been introduced to something I have never even considered.

[1ditzyrn]

I don't usually read self-help type books, but one that offers information on stress management seems like it would be useful in my life at the moment. Thanks for your review on this book!

[HollandBlue]

Sounds like an interesting concept, and I like the fact that the book has a quiz so you can test your own EI. Thanks for your review. I'll be adding it to my shelves.