For quite a while I felt like a capable and reasonably intelligent person with something inarticulable holding me back. Friends and acquaintances finally put a name to it: I was low in emotional intelligence. So instead of guessing at a fix, I bought the Emotional Intelligence 2.0 book and worked through it properly.
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Quick verdict
If you are the kind of person who is good at solving problems but keeps getting told you do not read the room, this book is a practical place to start. The practices are simple and well explained, and the online Emotional Intelligence Appraisal that comes with it tells you exactly which chapters matter for you. It is not a book you passively read, though; you have to self-assess honestly and do the exercises. check current price on Amazon
Why I bought the Emotional Intelligence 2.0 book
I was in a strange spot: highly capable on paper, yet something inarticulable kept holding me back. It was not until friends and acquaintances told me, more or less politely, that emotional intelligence was my weak link that I began looking into self-help for growing my EQ.
This book kept coming up. It pairs 66 strategies across the four core EQ skills: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness and relationship management. The online appraisal scores you on each skill and points you to the chapters that target your weak spots. That structure is why I picked it over the theory-heavy titles: I did not want a lecture about emotions, I wanted a plan.
What it’s like to use
I had the book for less than a week when the first shifts showed up. What makes the difference is the combination of simple, well-explained practices and the online tests and exercises, which the publisher clearly thought through. Each copy includes a unique passcode for the Emotional Intelligence Appraisal, a scientifically validated test the listing says over 3 million people have taken, plus an online development plan, video lessons and a free retest to measure progress.
The results were not dramatic overnight. But people around me started telling me I seem lighter, and that I understand them better. I became able to reflect both on myself and on my personal relationships in a way that helps me grow. Each step got more interesting, like becoming a new person, even though these abilities had been inside me all along; the book just made clear what to focus on.
Two honest caveats. It requires effort to get better. You have to be willing and able to self-assess accurately, and if a trusted friend helps you take the initial test, your scores will be more accurate. You also have to stay receptive and forgiving toward yourself in order to change behavior. If you can do those things, the payoff is real.
Key specs
From the product listing:
| Title | Emotional Intelligence 2.0 |
| Author | Travis Bradberry |
| Publisher | TalentSmart (first edition June 16, 2009; listing notes a full 2021 update) |
| Print length | 255 pages |
| Dimensions | 5 x 0.98 x 7.13 inches; 14 ounces |
| Language | English |
| ISBN | 0974320625 (ISBN-13 978-0974320625) |
| Inside | 66 strategies across four core skills: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship management |
| Included access | Unique passcode for the online Emotional Intelligence Appraisal, development plan, video lessons, free retest |
| Claimed sales | Over 3 million copies sold, per the publisher |
Who should skip it
If you want a deep academic treatment of emotional intelligence theory, this is an exercise-driven workbook, not a textbook. And if you are not willing to take the test honestly and try the strategies, nothing will change.
FAQ
Is Emotional Intelligence 2.0 worth reading?
For me, yes. The listing says it has sold over 3 million copies, and its mix of a real assessment plus 66 targeted strategies is what makes the price easy to justify. If you want to grow emotional intelligence deliberately rather than by trial and error, this delivers.
Does the book include the online EQ test?
Yes. Each copy includes a unique passcode for the Emotional Intelligence Appraisal, the online test the book is built around. It scores you across the four core EQ skills and tells you which chapters to focus on, and it includes an online development plan, video-based lessons and a free retest to measure your progress.
How long does it take to see results?
Faster than you would expect for some things, slower for others. I noticed small changes within my first week, and people close to me picked up on them before I did. The deeper habits take longer because they depend on how consistently you practice. The built-in retest lets you measure progress honestly.
Bottom line
Emotional Intelligence 2.0 does not promise a personality transplant, but it does give you a clear system: test, focus, practice, retest. For the money, it is one of the higher-leverage purchases I have made. If you feel like something inarticulable is holding you back, start here: check current price on Amazon.