Ecological Intelligence

About the Author

Daniel Goleman is a renowned author, psychologist, and science journalist known for his groundbreaking work in the field of emotional intelligence. His bestselling books, including Emotional Intelligence, Working with Emotional Intelligence, and Social Intelligence, have profoundly influenced our understanding of human behavior and leadership. Goleman has been a science reporter for The New York Times, where he was twice nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. His contributions to media writing have earned him the American Psychological Association's Lifetime Achievement Award. In Ecological Intelligence, Goleman extends his expertise to the realm of environmental awareness, revealing the hidden impacts of our consumer choices and advocating for a more informed and sustainable way of living.

Main Idea

In Ecological Intelligence, Daniel Goleman explores the concept of "radical transparency" and its potential to revolutionize our understanding of the environmental and social impacts of the products we buy. Goleman argues that our current consumer practices are shrouded in a "blackout of information," where the true costs of goods—such as their ecological footprint and health risks—are hidden from view. By uncovering these hidden impacts, Goleman believes we can drive meaningful change in both consumer behavior and corporate practices, leading to a more sustainable and equitable world.

Table of Contents

1. The Hidden Price of What We Buy
2. Industrial Ecology
3. Radical Transparency
4. Green Is a Mirage
5. What We Don't Know
6. Motivational Differences
7. The Virtuous Cycle
8. The Chemical Stew
9. The Amygdala Goes Shopping
10. Tough Questions
11. The Ecological Evolution
12. The Perpetual Upgrade
13. Second Thoughts
14. Getting It Right
15. Doing Well by Doing Good
16. Compassionate Consumption

The Hidden Price of What We Buy

Goleman begins by highlighting the unseen costs of our material abundance. Every product we use daily, from herbal shampoos to organic cotton T-shirts, has a hidden price tag that includes environmental degradation, health risks, and social injustices. These hidden impacts are often more significant than the visible benefits we perceive.

"Our world of material abundance comes with a hidden price tag. We cannot see the extent to which the things we buy and use daily have other kinds of costs—their toll on the planet, on consumer health, and on the people whose labor provides us our comforts and necessities." - Daniel Goleman

Industrial Ecology

Industrial ecology integrates chemistry, physics, and engineering with ecological principles to quantify the environmental impacts of manmade products. Goleman explains that this field helps us understand the full life cycle of products, from raw material extraction to disposal, and their cumulative impact on the environment.