I just received a published copy of Harvey Deutschendorf’s great new book, The Other Kind of Smart: Simple Ways to Boost Your Emotional Intelligence for Greater Personal Effectiveness and Success. As Harvey was writing this book a few years ago he sent me an outline and sample chapter and asked for a “cover quote” endorsement. It looked very strong so I gladly gave him one.

Now that I have the finished book, I wish I could rewrite that quote into something much more enthusiastic. This book is outstanding. I’ve read dozens of books on the important and evolving new field of Emotional Intelligence (EI). The Other Kind of Smart is well (smartly) written in a conversational style that’s extremely easy to read. It’s also laid out in an easy to browse style. It’s full of contemporary and classical quotations and comments on elements of EI. And best of all; it’s filled with how-to, practical techniques to help readers boost fifteen key EI skills such as self-awareness, healthy relationships, stress tolerance, impulse control, optimism, and social responsibility.

Harvey writes, “Success is not a quantum leap. It is the accumulation of small changes resulting from perseverance, self-discipline, and learning to get the most from your emotional intelligence…unlike cognitive function, your emotional capabilities are flexible, adaptable, and highly expandable (his emphasis.)” Harvey is certified to administer the highly regarded and scientifically validated BarOn EQi. You can take Harvey’s mini EI Quiz at http://www.theotherkindofsmart.com/quiz.php and learn more about his book.

I’ve been a devoted follower of EI research since the mid-nineties. I’ve used many of the concepts, frameworks, and findings in my books and workshops. You can peruse a series of my EI articles, blog posts and watch video clips of me presenting EI concepts here.