Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships

Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships (2006) by Daniel Goleman delves into the concept of social intelligence and its importance in our personal and professional lives. Widely seen as a companion to Goleman’s earlier, best-known work, Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ, this book expands on Goleman’s explanations of the inner workings of an individual mind to consider the neurobiology of two or more people interacting together, showing how complex and sophisticated our social brain structures truly are.

This guide refers to the first edition of Social Intelligence published in October 2006 by Bantam Dell.

Content Warning: This book describes physical, verbal, sexual, and mental abuse in its discussion of social pathologies. Additionally, it contains some outdated terminology referring to people with autism. The outdated terms are repeated only in direct quotes.

Summary

Daniel Goleman, an accomplished author and science journalist and a regular contributor to The New York Times, focuses on aspects of social intelligence in this book, detailing neuroscientific, psychological, and sociological principles that factor into its expression. He explores the nature of empathy, the importance of nonverbal communication, and the often unobserved impact of external social dynamics on our own behavior.

Exploring the neurobiology of social intelligence, Goleman highlights the role of specific types of neurological activity in human social experience—particularly as it relates to empathy and understanding of others.