10 Emotions Books That Experts Like Tony Robbins and Ali Abdaal Trust

Discover emotional intelligence and awareness through books recommended by Tony Robbins, Ali Abdaal, and Deepak Chopra

Tony Robbins
Ali Abdaal
Deepak Chopra
Updated on June 23, 2025
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What if mastering your emotions could unlock new levels of success and well-being? Emotions shape every decision and interaction, yet so many struggle to understand and manage them effectively. In an era where emotional intelligence is linked to leadership, relationships, and mental health, the right guidance makes all the difference.

Experts like Tony Robbins, a renowned life coach and author, have long emphasized emotional mastery as a cornerstone for achievement. Meanwhile, Ali Abdaal, a doctor and influential podcaster, found that recognizing the emotional nuances in leadership transformed his approach. And Deepak Chopra, blending spirituality with science, highlights how emotional awareness nourishes both mind and soul.

These curated books offer proven strategies and insights, from practical habits to deep scientific exploration. While these expert-curated books provide proven frameworks, readers seeking content tailored to their specific emotional challenges and goals might consider creating a personalized Emotions book that builds on these insights.

Best for leaders building emotional skills
Ali Abdaal, a doctor and well-known YouTuber and podcaster, turned to this book amid his reflections on balancing business with life priorities. He notes, “When you actually realise how unimportant your business is in the grand scheme of your life, it allows you to enjoy it and get better at it.” This perspective underscores how Gary Vaynerchuk’s exploration of emotional skills reshaped Ali’s approach to leadership and success. Artist and poet Toni Payne also shares enthusiasm, highlighting the book’s impact through gifting it to her community, emphasizing its resonance beyond traditional business circles.
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Recommended by Ali Abdaal

Doctor, YouTuber, Podcaster

“When you actually realise how unimportant your business is in the grand scheme of your life, it allows you to enjoy it and get better at it” from Gary Vaynerchuk, just started the latest book (from X)

2021·224 pages·Business Management, Emotions, Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, Self Awareness

Gary Vaynerchuk's previous focus on hard business skills shifts here to highlight emotional intelligence as a core driver of success. Drawing from decades building companies and a keen understanding of leadership dynamics, he identifies twelve essential emotional traits like self-awareness, patience, and empathy, illustrating their interplay with concrete business examples. The book dives into exercises designed to help you recognize and cultivate these qualities, as well as the "half"—the emotional skill he's still working on—that challenges leaders most. If you want to refine your emotional toolkit to better navigate leadership and organizational growth, this book lays out a clear, experience-based framework.

USA Today Bestseller
Published by Harper Business
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Best for daily EQ practice seekers
The Dalai Lama, a spiritual leader renowned for his insights on compassion and emotional balance, highlights this book's clear explanation of managing emotions creatively and using intelligence beneficially. His endorsement reflects how the book's practical approach to emotional intelligence resonated even at the highest levels of spiritual and emotional wisdom. "This book succinctly explains how to deal with emotions creatively and employ our intelligence in a beneficial way," he says, emphasizing the book's accessible wisdom. Additionally, Newsweek appreciates the compelling stories and context it provides to help readers grasp and improve their emotional intelligence effectively.

Recommended by The Dalai Lama

Spiritual leader and global advocate for compassion

This book succinctly explains how to deal with emotions creatively and employ our intelligence in a beneficial way.

Emotional Intelligence Habits book cover

by Travis Bradberry··You?

2023·432 pages·Emotional Intelligence, Emotions, Personal Development, Habit Formation, Self Awareness

Unlike most emotions books that focus on theory, Travis Bradberry's Emotional Intelligence Habits dives into the practical side of boosting your EQ through tiny, manageable habit changes. Drawing from his dual Ph.D. background in Clinical and Industrial-Organizational psychology, Bradberry teaches you how to improve four core EQ skills: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management, supported by neuroscience and psychology research. For example, he breaks down how subtle shifts in your daily routines can build confidence, manage stress, and enhance communication, making the abstract concept of EQ tangible. If you want a methodical way to rewire your emotional habits and improve interactions at work and life, this book fits that goal well.

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Best for tailored emotional mastery
This AI-created book on emotional mastery is crafted specifically for you based on your unique emotional background and goals. You share which emotional skills and challenges matter most, along with your experience level, and the book is created to focus exactly on what you need. Personalization makes a real difference here because emotional growth isn’t one-size-fits-all — your tailored book speaks directly to your situation and aspirations.
2025·50-300 pages·Emotions, Emotional Awareness, Emotional Regulation, Interpersonal Skills, Resilience Building

This personalized book provides a tailored approach to mastering emotional skills by focusing on the reader’s specific emotional challenges and goals. It delivers a detailed exploration of emotional awareness, regulation techniques, and interpersonal dynamics, cutting through generic advice to fit your unique context. The book offers practical strategies for recognizing emotional patterns, managing responses, and cultivating resilience, all framed within a personalized framework that addresses individual emotional strengths and vulnerabilities. By integrating evidence-based methods with a customized focus, it guides readers towards improved emotional intelligence and healthier relationships, emphasizing actionable insights that resonate with their personal experiences and objectives.

Tailored Framework
Personalized Emotional Strategies
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for highly sensitive empaths
Deepak Chopra, a prominent author and advocate in alternative medicine, recommends this book for how it blends neuroscience, intuition, and energy healing to help you remain strong while nurturing your empathy. He highlights how Dr. Orloff's approach helped him reconcile compassion with personal power. This perspective resonates with Iman Ben Chaibah, editor and CEO, who found the book explained her sensitivity in daily situations like travel planning. Together, their insights reveal how this guide offers both understanding and practical support for anyone navigating life as an empath.
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Recommended by Deepak Chopra

Author and alternative medicine advocate

Dr. Orloff combines neuroscience, intuition, and energy medicine to show you how to stay powerful and strong in the world, while also keeping your compassion and empathy alive.

263 pages·Emotions, Empathy, Energy Management, Intuition, Spirituality

When Judith Orloff, MD, first realized the intense challenges empaths face, she crafted this guide to help you navigate the world without losing your sensitivity. Drawing from her psychiatric expertise and personal experiences, Orloff details how to identify your empath type, shield yourself from emotional overload, and maintain your energy against exhaustion and toxic influences. You’ll find tools for managing relationships, work environments, and even parenting empathic children, alongside exercises that deepen your intuition and spiritual connection. This book suits anyone sensitive to others’ emotions seeking practical ways to protect themselves while embracing their unique gifts.

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Best for educators and parents
Chase Masterson, actress and founder focused on ending bullying and racism, found profound value in this book after experiencing its impact firsthand: "Permission to Feel is a transformational, must-have book by Marc Brackett, the Founding Director of Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. Everyone's life will benefit from reading it. Mine definitely did." Her endorsement highlights how this work goes beyond theory, offering practical approaches to emotional intelligence that can reshape your personal and professional life. Similarly, Vivek Murthy, the 19th Surgeon General of the United States, appreciates how the book addresses society’s struggles with emotional expression and supports emotional growth in children, reinforcing its broad relevance and depth.
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Recommended by Chase Masterson

Actress & Founder ending bullying and racism

Permission to Feel is a transformational, must-have book by Marc Brackett, the Founding Director of Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. Everyone's life will benefit from reading it. Mine definitely did. (from X)

2019·304 pages·Emotions, Emotional Intelligence, Education, Mental Health, Child Development

Marc Brackett, Ph.D., leverages his extensive experience as Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence's founding director to tackle the emotional struggles facing children and adults today. You learn to identify, understand, and regulate your emotions through the RULER framework, which has been implemented in thousands of schools with measurable success. The book offers practical insights into transforming emotional awareness into improved well-being, academic performance, and workplace climate. If you're a parent, educator, or anyone seeking emotional clarity and resilience, this book offers a science-backed roadmap without sugarcoating the challenges involved.

Author of 200+ scholarly publications
Developed RULER emotional intelligence method
Featured in The New York Times and Good Morning America
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Best for exploring emotional healing
Tony Robbins, a renowned business and life coach, advocates for this book after exploring the depths of emotional energy's impact on health and success. He shares, "I believe that the discoveries in this book can change our understanding of how we store emotional experiences and in so doing, change our lives." Robbins credits it with transforming lives worldwide and inspiring self-healing. Likewise, Steve Shallenberger, author and leadership president, endorses Dr. Nelson as a modern healer, reinforcing the book's influence beyond conventional emotional health approaches.
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Recommended by Tony Robbins

Business and life coach, author, philanthropist

I believe that the discoveries in this book can change our understanding of how we store emotional experiences and in so doing, change our lives. The Emotion Code has already changed many lives around the world, and it is my hope that millions more will be led to use this simple tool to heal themselves and their loved ones.

2019·352 pages·Emotions, Healing, Wellness, Subconscious Mind, Emotional Release

When Dr. Bradley Nelson uncovered how "trapped emotions" embed themselves within the body, he exposed a hidden source of physical pain and emotional distress. This book teaches you to identify and release these emotional energies, which often hinder your health, relationships, and overall happiness. Through clinical examples and a distinct method, you’ll gain insight into how subconscious emotional baggage influences your conscious life, including your ability to give and receive love. If you’re open to exploring an unconventional approach to emotional healing that bridges body and mind, this book offers a clear pathway, though it may not satisfy those seeking traditional psychological models.

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Best for personal emotional resilience
This AI-created book on emotional resilience is tailored to your specific goals and current emotional challenges. By sharing your background and the particular aspects of emotional habits you want to change, this book is created to focus exactly on what you need. Personalizing this 30-day program ensures the daily actions and strategies match your lifestyle and emotional context, making it more practical and effective. It's designed to give you a clear path to rebuild your emotional strength without unnecessary general advice.
2025·50-300 pages·Emotions, Emotional Resilience, Habit Formation, Self Regulation, Daily Practice

This personalized book offers a structured, step-by-step program designed to rebuild emotional resilience within 30 days. It provides a tailored approach that focuses on identifying emotional patterns, cultivating self-regulation techniques, and establishing daily actionable habits to transform emotional responses. The program cuts through generic advice, fitting your specific emotional challenges and goals by integrating practical exercises, reflection prompts, and resilience-building strategies. Readers gain a clear roadmap to reset emotional habits, enhance coping mechanisms, and develop sustainable emotional strength tailored to their unique situation, supporting long-term emotional well-being.

Tailored Framework
Resilience Building
3,000+ Books Created
Best for managing emotional overwhelm
Dr. Kenneth Martz is a psychologist and emotional intelligence expert with over 25 years of experience in improving people's emotional and spiritual lives. He has dedicated his career to helping individuals understand and manage their emotions effectively, providing practical strategies for personal growth and emotional well-being.
Manage My Emotions book cover

by Kenneth Martz··You?

2020·236 pages·Emotions, Emotional Intelligence, Self Improvement, Anger Management, Fear Reduction

When Dr. Kenneth Martz first discovered how deeply emotions shape our daily experiences, he dedicated over 25 years to unraveling their impact on personal success and well-being. In "Manage My Emotions," you’ll explore practical tools to recognize emotional triggers, combat self-doubt, and handle fear and anger through exercises and clear frameworks. Chapters guide you through understanding emotions’ roots, applying coping strategies, and maintaining balance in relationships and work life. This book suits anyone ready to move beyond emotional overwhelm toward purposeful living, though it demands commitment to self-reflection and practice.

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Best for philosophical emotional insight
Jeanette Winterson, a celebrated author known for exploring complex emotional landscapes, found in this book a "serious and optimistic set of practical ideas that could improve and alter the way we live." Her recommendation stems from witnessing firsthand how emotional intelligence can reshape personal and societal well-being. This perspective aligns with that of The Times Literary Supplement, which praises the book's elegant prose and respectful approach to self-improvement. Together, these endorsements highlight how the book challenges traditional views on emotions and encourages a more reflective, mature engagement with feelings.

Recommended by Jeanette Winterson

Author and novelist

A serious and optimistic set of practical ideas that could improve and alter the way we live.

2019·336 pages·Emotions, Emotional Intelligence, Self Development, Relationships, Philosophy

When Alain de Botton first rethought emotional intelligence, he moved beyond the typical focus on workplace skills to explore how emotions shape every corner of modern life. This book teaches you to navigate your inner world and social relationships with more insight, blending philosophy, psychology, and literature to unpack complex feelings like love, resilience, and cultural belonging. You’ll find practical reflections on topics such as self-understanding, empathy, and emotional maturity, making it a useful guide if you're looking to improve your personal and professional interactions. While it doesn’t promise quick fixes, it offers a nuanced framework to help you live with greater emotional clarity and wisdom.

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Best for faith-based emotion seekers
Jefferson Bethke, a well-known faith influencer and creator, praised this book after encountering its unique blend of theology and psychology during a period of deep reflection. He shared, "I don't remember the last time I read such a consequential book. Jon and Tristen have brilliantly woven theology, psychology, wit, humor, and grace to give us such a desperately needed resource!" This blend helped him appreciate emotions not just as feelings but as purposeful signals designed by God. Similarly, John Mark Comer, bestselling author and pastor, highlighted how the book offers a calm, wise guide through modern emotional challenges by combining biblical theology with psychological insights.
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Recommended by Jefferson Bethke

Faith influencer and creator

I don't remember the last time I read such a consequential book. Jon and Tristen have brilliantly woven theology, psychology, wit, humor, and grace to give us such a desperately needed resource! I immediately thought of ten people I will be buying this book for.

2019·257 pages·Emotions, Emotional Intelligence, Spirituality, Body Awareness, Shame

When Tristen K Collins, a trauma-focused counselor, and Jonathan D Collins, a biblical studies scholar and creative director, teamed up, they created a guide that bridges emotional health with spiritual insight. You’ll learn to interpret your body's emotional signals as an internal dashboard, gaining clarity on complex feelings like shame, anger, and jealousy. The book offers tools to cultivate emotional intelligence over time, blending research with scriptural wisdom, especially helpful if you wrestle with conflicting emotions or want to deepen self-awareness. This is for anyone seeking a more thoughtful, faith-informed approach to understanding emotions, rather than quick fixes or purely psychological models.

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Best for neuroscience emotion enthusiasts
Kirk Borne, Principal Data Scientist at Booz Allen and astrophysicist, highlights the importance of understanding emotion science as AI advances toward general intelligence. He emphasizes, "As AI moves toward AGI with Neural Networks, deeper understanding of Emotion Science is critical!" This perspective underscores how Lisa Feldman Barrett's work reshaped his thinking about the intersection of brain science and emotions. Additionally, Daniel Gilbert, Harvard psychology professor, calls it "a brilliant and original book on the science of emotion, by the deepest thinker about this topic since Darwin," reinforcing its impact on contemporary understanding.
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Recommended by Kirk Borne

Principal Data Scientist at Booz Allen

As AI moves toward AGI with Neural Networks, deeper understanding of Emotion Science is critical! See "How Emotions Are Made — The Secret Life of the Brain" by Lisa Feldman Barrett. Get the book and watch her amazing video on TED Talks. (from X)

When Lisa Feldman Barrett challenges the traditional view that emotions are fixed and universal, she invites you to rethink everything you thought you knew about feeling. Drawing from her neuroscience and psychology background, she reveals how emotions are constructed from the brain's predictions, your body's signals, and cultural influences, rather than pre-set brain modules. You’ll learn to recognize the variability of emotional experiences across individuals and contexts, gaining insight into how this shapes human behavior and decision-making. This book suits anyone curious about the science behind emotions, especially those interested in psychology, neuroscience, or how culture influences mind and body.

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Best for animal emotion understanding
Vicki Constantine Croke, author of Elephant Company, values this book for its intimate and vivid storytelling about animal emotions. She was deeply moved by the way de Waal invites you to witness life’s dramas firsthand through primate stories, sharing insights that illuminate how emotions shape behavior across species. She says, "An original thinker, [de Waal] seems to invite us to his front-row seats, sharing the popcorn as he gets us up to speed on the plot of how life works, through deeply affecting stories of primates and other animals, all dramas with great lessons for our own species." This perspective challenged her to see emotional continuity with greater clarity. Likewise, Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, author of The Hidden Life of Dogs, praises the book as an irrefutable scientific account that changed her understanding of animal emotions.

Recommended by Vicki Constantine Croke

Author of Elephant Company

An original thinker, [de Waal] seems to invite us to his front-row seats, sharing the popcorn as he gets us up to speed on the plot of how life works, through deeply affecting stories of primates and other animals, all dramas with great lessons for our own species.

2019·336 pages·Emotions, Animal Psychology, Primatology, Animal Behavior, Facial Expressions

When Frans de Waal first realized the profound emotional depth shared between humans and animals, he crafted this book to reshape how you perceive emotions across species. Drawing from decades of primate research, you learn about specific emotional expressions like empathy, grief, and joy, illustrated through vivid stories such as Mama’s poignant last hug with her biologist friend. This book offers insights into facial expressions, animal sentience, and the evolutionary continuity of emotions, making it particularly enlightening if you are curious about psychology, animal behavior, or the biological roots of feelings. It’s a thoughtful read that challenges you to reconsider the emotional lives of all creatures, not just humans.

New York Times Bestseller
Winner of PEN / E. O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award
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Conclusion

Across these ten books, a clear theme emerges: emotions are both powerful signals and skills to be cultivated. From Gary Vaynerchuk's leadership focus in Twelve and a Half to Marc Brackett's educational strategies in Permission to Feel, these works offer diverse paths to emotional growth.

If you're facing overwhelm or sensitivity, Manage My Emotions and The Empath's Survival Guide provide practical tools to regain balance. For those drawn to science and spirituality, How Emotions Are Made and Why Emotions Matter offer rich perspectives that deepen understanding.

Once you've absorbed these expert insights, create a personalized Emotions book to bridge the gap between general principles and your specific situation. Harness your emotions with intention—your journey to mastery starts here.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm overwhelmed by choice – which book should I start with?

Start with Twelve and a Half if you're interested in leadership and emotional skills, or Permission to Feel for a strong foundation in emotional intelligence. Both offer practical frameworks that many readers find accessible and impactful.

Are these books too advanced for someone new to emotions?

Not at all. Books like Emotional Intelligence Habits break down concepts into manageable daily practices, making them perfect for beginners eager to build emotional awareness step-by-step.

What's the best order to read these books?

Consider your personal goals: begin with practical guides like Manage My Emotions, then explore deeper theory in How Emotions Are Made. Mix in spiritual perspectives like Why Emotions Matter for a balanced understanding.

Can I skip around or do I need to read them cover to cover?

You can certainly skip around. Many of these books offer standalone chapters or sections that address specific emotional skills or themes, letting you tailor your reading to what matters most to you.

Which books focus more on theory vs. practical application?

How Emotions Are Made and Mama's Last Hug lean into theory and science, while Emotional Intelligence Habits and The Empath's Survival Guide prioritize actionable strategies and daily tools.

How can I apply these books' insights specifically to my situation?

While these expert books provide valuable insights, personalized content can tailor advice to your unique emotional challenges and goals. Consider creating a custom Emotions book to get targeted strategies that fit your life perfectly.

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