"Emotional Intelligence" by Daniel Goleman

The entire book could probably be summarized in a few paragraphs, and I am being generous there.  The problem with all these self-help books, even in the ruse of psychology textbooks-wannabes is that they all state the obvious: "don't get upset", "be more balanced", "don't feel bad", "take action" and similar blah, blah, which is obvious to any thinking person, but the problem is that we can't get ourselves to do what we know needs to be done because of emotional holdbacks.  Of course the bully shouldn't bully the other children but work on his own emotional and family issues.  But how to do it? What exactly to do? Step by step.  The only thing that most self-help books seem to imply is that we all need to get a therapist.  Which should be just fine if one can afford it, or have one's insurance pay for it, but most people out there cannot. Then you need good friends.  Or a supportive and understanding family.  Sure.  But what if you can't get any of those or you don't have them readily available?

The book postulates that there is such a thing as emotional intelligence and that it is different from the regular, IQ intelligence.  Then goes on to beat around the bush and quote stories and case studies from author's practice and his own life (how NOT tacky) where the principles of the so-called emotional intelligence are demonstrated and proved-by-anecdote. Overall a tedious reading, as most of these books are, and not much new knowledge to be obtained than what would one get by reading an average Wikipedia page on the issue.