Review: Emotional Intelligence by Anna K. Sergio

Exploring the fascinating depths of an overlooked side to human intellect, Emotional Intelligence: Your Ultimate Hands-On Guide – Mastering Self-Awareness, Empathy, and Relationships by Anna K. Sergio is an accessible and essential read for anyone searching for greater clarity, stability, and happiness.

Patiently breaking down elements of human emotion, behavior, anatomy, psychology, and intelligence, Sergio’s book attempts to explain why we feel the way we do, ways to navigate those feelings, and how to best engage with the feelings and actions of others. Perhaps you struggle to make hard decisions, or fail to regulate your emotions in moments of anxiety. Maybe you lose motivation too quickly, fear change, or find it hard to empathize with others when facing your own stressors. This book sheds light on these and other common issues, and offers insightful advice on how to take control of your emotional future.

Emotional intelligence (EI) affects the most critical elements of existence – relationships, quality of life, ambitions, self-regulation, and more, so a comprehensive understanding is undeniably important. Being able to comprehend the language of your own mind and untangle webs of overlapping emotions means having the power to move through the world smoothly, safely, and effectively. From boosting professional fulfillment and resolving conflicts with romantic partners to overcoming generational differences and sustaining motivation for long-term goals, Sergio covers most every facet of our emotional lives.

While there is a plethora of instructional texts about increasing productivity, reducing negativity, and boosting self-esteem, the structure and style of this guide is uniquely relatable, entertaining, and engaging. Even for readers who are familiar with EI concepts, the level of detail in this book is exceptional, offering refreshing new perspectives on themes related to awareness, communication, empathy, self-improvement, knowledge integration, time management, conflict resolution, and intimacy, just to name a few. The inclusion of exercises at the end of each chapter tests readers in real time, encouraging them to apply their newly acquired knowledge and “do the work” on themselves. Intriguingly, EI concepts rarely seem radical or difficult to implement, which allows this book to be more comprehensive and effective than other works of self-help.

Aside from interactive activities, listening challenges, real-world tasks, and probing questions, there are many other tools and suggested techniques for greater emotional understanding and control, from tips on emotional tracking and daily journaling to resource lists of other books on EI-adjacent subjects. The book is also intuitively structured, with concepts building on preceding ideas, while avoiding any major jumps of assumptions about a reader’s knowledge. The writing isn’t dense or overly academic, leaning towards clear and simple language rather than the lexicon of scientific research, while still exhibiting tremendous authority.

At times, the author’s reliance on bulleted lists and pared-down explanations can affect the flow of ideas; some ideas simply deserve more space and detail, such as the seemingly rushed chapter on relationships, honesty, communication, and healthy boundaries. That issue aside, this is a powerful resource for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the world and their place within it.