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It ends without recommendations or call to actions. This book is an expansion of Emotional Intelligence. In my view, its concept can be explained in the first 5 chapters but it goes on and on with examples.
Someone better at communicating in a compelling manner. It could just have used some of the dynamic in the writing. Perhaps it would have been best for the author to hire someone else to translate his findings and conclusions in written form. The book provides tons of stories that describe and support the various explanations of SI. The author describes an "optimal" state of learning that is "inspired." Reading the book does not put you in an optimal state of learning. It is a bit like going to a social event and having someone talk to you about the wonders of tax code the whole time. The mountains of material lends strongly to the author's credibility but the book is very dry. It did examine and articulate many of the social dynamics we see every day.
It is read to you in a hurry. This pace is too fast for a regular book, let alone this. I cannot recommend this book. With all the technical jargon thrown at you, you need time to follow. After repeatedly rewinding and replaying, I gave up and returned it. I found Emotional Intelligence to be similarly dry and overly technical, but it was much more substantive. Social intelligence has a few interesting points, but overall it gets annoyingly repetitive.The main reason for my review however, is about the Audio CD.
Bad associates spoil useful habits." (1Corinthians 15:33) It made me question myself, what other 'scientific' explainations do we need before we start listening to our Creator that many scientists deny the existence of. Our creator warns us about the same consequence, without scientific explanations, by saying, "Do not be misled. On page 5 under the subheading; The Social Brain, he makes this comment; "The spotlight shifts to those ephemeral moments that emerge as we interact. These take on deep consequence as we realize how, through their sum total, we create one another." The book goes on to explain the biological changes that take place within our brains as we interact.
SUMMARY: Golman provides the psycho-social basis for good manners -- be open and honest, look people in the eye, smile, encourage others, never resist the opportunity to touch others in emotionally generous ways. It's that important. Golman synthesizes these data from some of today's finest researchers and rewards you with stunning insights. (I now know more about studies of white mice, children and college students than I care to know).Hang in there.
"Social Intelligence" is a natural follow on to the ground-breaking "Emotional Intelligence". Hey, Doc, I think you're on to something. His writing is well structured and compelling. Reviews of this fine book gush on for hundreds of words.
STRENGTHS: Now comes the gold nuggets. Well done. Yes, this is a book that every thinking adult should read. WEAKNESSES: You have to endure the Golman's pedantic, somewhat tedious monologue.
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