Emotion Rules: The Science and Practice of Emotional Wisdom

by Joshua Freedman

Unlock the hidden power of emotional wisdom and become the leader people want to follow.

From Joshua Freedman, author of the bestselling At the Heart of Leadership and creator of the SEI EQ assessment used by over a million people, Emotion Rules offers a fresh and grounded path for those seeking deeper self-awareness, for leaders integrating emotional intelligence in the workplace, and for emotional intelligence coaches creating even greater impact.

What if your emotions weren’t obstacles—but essential guidance for living and leading with greater meaning?

You’ve read the books. You’ve led the teams. You’ve read about emotional intelligence. But now you’re ready for something more. Emotion Rules takes you past surface-level strategies and into the core of emotional wisdom: a framework for integrating heart + logic in every area of your life and leadership.

In this robust and poetic guide, Freedman introduces 12 powerful Emotion Rules — principles that decode the deeper architecture of feelings so you can understand what they really mean and how to use them as allies in moving from success to significance. The book is loaded with actionable practices you can use every day to strengthen your presence and navigate emotions.

You’ll learn how
✔️ Read your emotions more accurately and listen to what they’re really telling you
✔️ Identify patterns that block your growth—and shift them
✔️ Strengthen your leadership presence, even in conflict, pressure, and change
✔️ Elevate your impact and influence
✔️ Coach yourself and others to the next level of performance
✔️ Lead with greater empathy, clarity, and authenticity
✔️ Transform emotional insight into powerful action, especially when it matters most

Designed for experienced professionals in leadership, coaching, and human development, this book takes emotional intelligence for leaders to the next level. It’s an emotional operating system for those who seek to live and lead with greater meaning.

If you’re ready to stop managing emotions and start partnering with them…
If you’re seeking the next evolution of your leadership rooted in trust…
If you long to lead from presence, not pressure…

Emotion Rules will help you transform emotion from a struggle into a source of power, purpose, and profound wisdom. It will guide you to a better leader, coach, and changemaker.

Kindle Edition

Expected publication March 10, 2026

Reviews

[Bruna Martinuzzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was glad to have the chance to read an advance copy of Josh Freedman’s upcoming book, Emotion Rules: The Science and Practice of Emotional Wisdom. It’s an important and timely addition to the conversation on emotional intelligence and leadership. For readers ready to move beyond the basics of EQ, the book explores the art and science of 'emotional wisdom'—showing us how a clearer understanding of our emotions can guide us to make better decisions and help us navigate life with greater ease.

This book is squarely pitched at leaders, coaches, and professionals who are ready to move past basics and apply practical tools and richer frameworks for navigating real-life complexity, especially in today’s environment. (Full disclosure: Joshua Freedman is also my publisher. That said, Emotion Rules is a standout resource for anyone looking to deepen their emotional intelligence.)

The book is structured in three main parts:

EMOTIONAL DATA: Clearly explains what emotions actually are, debunking the good/bad binary rooted in our Western tradition. Freedman offers research-backed insights that every feeling is "data"—a message from us, for us—and how cultural, physical, and evolutionary factors shape the dynamics of our emotional life.

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE: Goes beyond "naming and navigating" emotions, focusing on their practical role in guiding change, building resilience, and strengthening relationships. The book introduces the famous Six Seconds Model and a Change Map framework, encouraging readers to engage, activate, and reflect as they lead themselves and others through transformation.

EMOTIONAL WISDOM: Looks to purpose and meaning, encouraging deeper listening to emotions for personal and collective insight. Freedman argues for embracing the full complexity of emotions, advocating for non-dualism (overcoming binary thinking such as "good"/"bad") and integrating emotions as sources of ethical and purposeful action.

Important Takeaways:

1. No Bad Feelings: A radical yet compassionate premise that all emotions are meaningful; repression or control is less effective than engagement and curiosity.

2. Metaphors for Emotions: As I am a metaphor junkie, I particularly enjoyed Freedman’s frequent use of metaphors (e.g., advisory board, compass, mirror) to help us readers reframe our relationship with feelings, supporting the many practices and reflections embedded throughout the book.

3. From Data to Wisdom: Another most interesting part is Freedman expertly walking readers from the neurobiological facts of emotional processing (why emotions are so fast, how the body knows before the brain) to toolkits for pattern-breaking, resilience, and navigating emotional "confusion" and overload.

4. Leadership as Emotional Work: This is another concept I found to be especially true in my own practice, and I am sure many leaders and coaches would agree: Traditional change efforts fail, as Freedman writes, not because of flawed logic, but because the emotional groundwork is missing; trust, accountability, and mutuality are emphasized as pillars of trust-based leadership. How true!

5. Practices: Another valuable part of this book is that each chapter features practical exercises—some for immediate use, others for ongoing personal or organizational development—to help integrate emotional awareness into daily life. If you’re coaching others or reading this book for your own self-development, you will find this an invaluable addition.

Who Should Read the Book?
Emotions Rule is ideal for those who have already encountered the basics of emotional intelligence and want a sophisticated, practical approach to the more complex questions:

• How do I decode and utilize emotions in service of my values, teams, and community?
• How do I create change when emotions (mine or others') are the main barrier?

Readers interested in evidence-based practices combined with stories from business, coaching, and personal growth contexts will find it highly valuable.

Mark my words, Emotion Rules will stand out in 2026 as a must-read for anyone interested in the practical power of emotional wisdom.

The book is scheduled for publication in March 2026. Meanwhile, you can visit emotionrules.com to sign up for news so you’ll be among

[Abdullah · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was my great pleasure and privilege to receive an advanced copy of Emotion Rules by Joshua Freedman. It is insightful and transformative book, a must-read for anyone committed to personal growth and meaningful connection. It is one of those rare books that feels both practical and deeply human. Josh translates emotional intelligence into simple memorable 'rules' that actually work in daily life, whether you are managing stress, improving relationships, or leading teams.
What I loved most is how the book blends science with real stories, making every chapter feel relevant and applicable.
It is not just about understanding emotions, it is about using them wisely to create better outcomes.

[Fiona Aihong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Six Seconds' emotional intelligence theory and practice have deeply influenced my work and life. In this era of great upheaval, it has helped me stay optimistic and agile, quickly master and apply AI skills to promote emotional intelligence. I have used artificial intelligence to achieve personalized learning approaches tailored to the needs of different EI practitioners, with significant results. As a frequent user of AI, the more I use it, the more convinced I become that emotional intelligence is the foundational enabling system for the AI era.

I can’t wait to share this book with the Six Seconds China community and more people committed to practicing emotional intelligence through book clubs after the new release.

[Harvey Deutschendorf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since the beginning of time, our emotions have confounded, confused and resisted our efforts to understand and use them more effectively to better our lives. This book has taken a giant step towards helping us understand and manage our emotions. The author has used his decades of research and his own work to provide us with knowledge and insights that will help us demystify our emotions and help us to make them our allies, rather than having them work against us. Whether we want to become better leaders, more effective in our workplaces, more caring partners in our relationship or have deeper connections with those that matter in our lives, this book will be a game changer.

[Henry K · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most complete research-backed works on emotional intelligence available today, loaded with practical examples and illustrations of applying emotional intelligence effectively in order to improve communications and teamwork. As a thirty-plus year practitioner coaching C-level clients, I found 'Emotion Rules' to provide timely insights into aspects of EQ that proved invaluable to my clients in helping them overcome challenges, perform at a higher level, and advance their careers.

[funreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joshua Freedman reveals how emotions—often misunderstood or ignored—are actually our most reliable guides to better communication, leadership, and wellbeing.

Through 12 powerful Emotion Rules, Freedman shows how to transform feelings from obstacles into allies and turn emotional awareness into wisdom. Blending science, storytelling, and practical tools, he helps readers navigate today's "emotional recession" with clarity and compassion.

Insightful and deeply human, Emotion Rules is a roadmap for living and leading with authenticity, empathy, and purpose.

Janet

[Michael Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotion Rules, for me personally, was nothing short of life changing. I can't stop thinking about it, and applying specific learnings in my every day life. And as the father of two toddlers and marketing director, I have plenty of opportunities to practice! My only real issue is: why didn't anyone teach me about emotions and emotional wisdom sooner? This would have been super helpful for the past 35+ years! But seriously, I can't recommend this book highly enough.

[Gerty Smit · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was my great pleasure to receive an advanced copy of Emotion Rules by Joshua Freedman. It is insightful and a must-read for anyone committed to personal growth and meaningful connection. Joshua translates emotional intelligence into practical guidelines that can be used in your personal and professional life.