John D. Mayer, the renowned psychologist who co-developed the
groundbreaking theory of emotional intelligence, now draws on decades of
research to introduce another paradigm-shifting idea: that in order to
become our best selves, we use an even broader intelligence—which he
calls personal intelligence—to understand our own personality and the
personalities of the people around us.
In Personal Intelligence,
Mayer explains that we are naturally curious about the motivations and
inner worlds of the people we interact with every day. Some of us are
talented at perceiving what makes our friends, family, and coworkers
tick. Some of us are less so. Mayer reveals why, and shows how the most
gifted “readers” among us have developed “high personal intelligence.”
Mayer’s theory of personal intelligence brings together a diverse set of
findings—previously regarded as unrelated—that show how much variety
there is in our ability to read other people’s faces; to accurately
weigh the choices we are presented with in relationships, work, and
family life; and to judge whether our personal life goals conflict or go
together well. He persuasively argues that our capacity to
problem-solve in these varied areas forms a unitary skill.
Illustrating his points with examples drawn from the lives of successful
college athletes, police detectives, and musicians, Mayer shows how
people who are high in personal intelligence (open to their inner
experiences, inquisitive about people, and willing to change themselves)
are able to anticipate their own desires and actions, predict the
behavior of others, and—using such knowledge—motivate themselves over
the long term and make better life decisions. And in outlining the many
ways we can benefit from nurturing these skills, Mayer puts forward an
essential message about selfhood, sociability, and contentment. Personal Intelligence is an indispensable book for anyone who wants to better comprehend how we make sense of our world.
