The Other Kind of Smart

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The author begins this book by stating that the most powerful tool is one that people will use. He also acknowledges that readers have many demands on their time, but this book on emotional intelligence is worthwhile for anyone who is seeking information about how to better function in the workplace and in life. This book helps readers identify emotions and behaviors that may have become roadblocks to success and determine how to overcome them.

The author describes emotional intelligence, its history compared with intellectual intelligence, and associated myths. Emotional intelligence refers to the idea that one's emotions and control of them determine how well one functions in life. It is a term coined by psychology professors John Mayer and Peter Salovey and a colleague, David Caruso, who collectively developed a test to measure it. Some myths about emotional intelligence are that women have a higher emotional intelligence than men, and that emotional intelligence is fixed at birth. The book's short introduction is a quick read and is a good summary of how applying emotional intelligence can affect one's personal and professional life. Descriptions in the introduction are apt and easy to apply to one's own circumstances. Quotes from famous people are included as illustrations and to emphasize the author's many points.

The author is honest about the work that must be done to identify potentially destructive emotions and patterns that the reader may have. This honest approach to effecting change seems more effective and legitimate than would an approach that was entirely positive. The author states, “Rather than simply being nice, emotional intelligence means being real, open and honest regarding our feelings.” He indicates that this can take courage because it is sometimes more difficult to confront issues than to avoid them.

The book is divided into seven parts; each addresses how applying emotional intelligence can affect areas of the reader's life. The author describes himself as a motivational speaker, and his background becomes clear in Part II: The Inner World. The author includes real-world examples set in descriptive vignettes that are followed by concrete actions that can be used to improve behavior and techniques that can be used to increase emotional intelligence. According to the author, results of research have shown that increasing emotional intelligence has dramatic results and can lead to greater fulfillment and success in life as well as provide opportunities to improve personal and professional relationships.

Because the author describes emotional intelligence as affecting one's entire life, he is careful to correlate how personal relationships and behaviors affect work relationships and behaviors, and how readers can use the presented techniques to gain insight into and change those behaviors. He offers several techniques to apply to any situation, including techniques that may be practiced privately and techniques that may be practiced with others. As with any other self-help volume, it is important to do the work rather than just read about it.

The divisions in this book allow a busy working person who is short on time to read the sections quickly. The chapters are divided and labeled so a particular area of interest can be looked up easily. After reading the introduction, one could skip easily to a section of interest without compromising the value of the book. The self-evaluation is useful to gauge the reader's general level of emotional intelligence, but the author emphasizes the informal nature of the test. The book also includes additional reading and online resources for more information. The book itself is well designed to fit in a briefcase or bag to be carried and read as time permits or to be easily referred to when working on the recommended techniques.

This book would be valuable to a wide audience, from those beginning their working lives to high-level managers. Its application to daily interaction could be very valuable. This book is particularly applicable in a perioperative environment in which patient care is a high-stress, highly demanding activity. Perioperative caregivers would be well served to understand how their emotional lives affect their work. Perioperative nurse managers will find it effective for understanding their own motivations as well as providing insight into staff member behavior. Particularly applicable is Part V: Stress Management. Anyone who practices in a perioperative environment can benefit from understanding the stress cycle and how it can be alleviated. Its application to daily interaction could be very valuable.