Emotion Rules

The Science and Practice of Emotional Wisdom

“Emotion Rules is a powerful reminder that our feelings aren’t flaws to fix but essential data about who we are and what we value. Josh Freedman invites us to pause, listen, and learn from our emotions with the kind of compassion and clarity our world desperately needs. This book will help you show up more authentically in your relationships, your leadership, and your life.”

– Marc Brackett, founding director, Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, and bestselling author of Permission to Feel and Dealing with Feeling.

“Joshua Freedman has this rare gift for making emotional intelligence both deeply human and completely practical. His 12-rule framework is simple, powerful, and immediately useful for leaders, coaches, and teams who want to bring more purpose and agility to their work.

I’ve been working with Josh and his models for over 15 years, and I’m still amazed by how this approach continues to help people show up more authentically and lead with clarity and strength. In a world that’s changing faster than ever, these EQ skills aren’t just nice to have—they’re essential.

With Emotion Rules, Josh takes everything he’s practiced to a new level. It’s inspiring, accessible, and full of real tools you can use right away. This book will change how you lead, how you connect, and how you create results. Emotion Rules isn’t just about feelings—it’s a practical playbook for what leadership needs to be now, and in the future.”

– Carolyn Meacher, Chief People Officer

“Facing the relentless pace of change, leaders often confuse motion with progress. Emotion Rules invites us to slow down and lead with intention – inculcating emotional wisdom as our internal compass. Through science, reflection, and real-world stories, Joshua Freedman beautifully portrays how emotional awareness restores balance and meaning to leadership in today’s multifaceted environment. This book is both practical and profound, a must-read for leaders seeking to cultivate integrity, clarity, and connection in an era of constant change.”

– Ekta Vyas, PhD, Chief Human Resources Officer, Keck Medicine of USC

“Emotion Rules is an authoritative guide to getting the value of emotions. In three distinct sections we learn what emotions are (data), how to use them for our growth, and how to use them to advance our purposes and to have the positive impact on others that we want. Joshua Freedman weaves together psychology, neuroplasticity, and the practice of emotional intelligence into a resource that is relatable, inspiring, rigorous, and practical. I especially value the reflection exercises that make it actionable. For surgeons, leaders, and anyone dedicated to genuine care, this book reframes emotions not as obstacles but as essential tools for resilience, connection, and change.”

– Carlos A. Pellegrini, MD, coach to healthcare leaders; Past-President of the American College of Surgeons and Past Chair of the Board, The Joint Commission.

“In a world drowning in an emotional recession, Joshua Freedman offers a way forward — showing us how to turn the very feelings we’ve been taught to suppress into wisdom, connection, and real leadership. This book is a beacon of hope for anyone who senses that the answers we need won’t come from more cleverness, but from finally learning to listen to what our emotions have been trying to tell us all along.”

– Jen Fisher, Bestselling Author, Founder & CEO of The Wellbeing Team

“Emotion Rules isn’t another intro to emotional intelligence—it’s a thoughtful advancement for leaders, coaches, and professionals ready to go deeper. Joshua Freedman delivers sophisticated frameworks grounded in neuroscience that hold up in Fortune 500 boardrooms, moving beyond basic emotional awareness into what he calls ‘emotional wisdom.’

The book’s premise is simple: there are no bad feelings. Freedman systematically dismantles the cultural conditioning that teaches us to categorize emotions as positive or negative, arguing instead that every emotion is data—messages from us, for us. This reframe alone makes the book valuable. 

As someone who teaches that psychological safety requires leaders to welcome difficult emotions rather than suppress them, this book delivered the scientific backing and practical tools to make that case more effectively. The work of creating workplaces where people can show up authentically requires more than policies and training modules—it requires leaders who understand that their own relationship with emotion either creates or destroys the cultures they claim to want.

If you’re serious about using EQ as a lever for organizational transformation, add this book to your toolkit. I’m adding it to mine.”

– Farah Harris, LCPC – Founder, WorkingWell Daily, author of The Color of Emotional Intelligence

“We humans are fundamentally social and emotional beings yet we rarely look under the hood to understand what drives our emotions. In his latest book, Josh Freedman explores the systematic role that emotions play at a biological and functional level in shaping our wellbeing and fueling our thoughts and actions. He underscores that every emotion is here for a reason. They are messages ‘from you, for you’ that carry meanings that beckon to be heard. This book is essential reading for anyone committed to the journey of becoming more emotionally intelligent and eventually emotionally wise. It’s an invitation to transformation by creating a space for emotional insight, investment and growth. You’ll never view your emotions the same way again!”

– Will Kennedy, former Senior Program Officer, United Nations

“In this compelling and fascinating read, Joshua Freedman distills decades of painstaking research and his authentic personal experience to help us not only understand our emotions better, but to use them effectively towards becoming wiser. If you are an executive looking to navigate change in your organization, or looking to deepen relationships with those most meaningful in your lives, this book provides loads of invaluable, transformable and doable insights.”

– Harvey Deutschendorf, author of Emotional Intelligence Game Changers and The Other Kind of Smart

“Joshua Freedman doesn’t just teach emotional intelligence; he presents a roadmap to emotional wisdom, where feeling becomes guidance, not interference. 

Emotion Rules is what happens when science meets soul, and leadership finally becomes emotionally mature.”

~ Dov Baron, Leadership Philosopher & Founder, Emotional Source Code™

“Josh Freedman’s Emotion Rules makes the seemingly complex world of emotional intelligence feel refreshingly simple, practical, and human. It’s both a guide and a survival tool – reminding us that uncertainty is okay, and that learning happens when we lean into (dis)comfort. 

What I love most is how this book reframes emotions: not as things to control or avoid, but as ‘maps, mirrors, and sources of wisdom.’ As Josh writes: ‘each feeling carries an inner logic – we just need to decode it.’ By using the six-second pause he describes, I’ve learned to find a moment of insight before responding – a small practice that’s profoundly improved how I show up with myself and with others. 

What’s also remarkable is how these lessons don’t just stay on the page – they invite you back, whenever you need them. This book can be read in a nonlinear fashion… just open anywhere, and immediately find a piece of sage advice or a practical tool for reflection. I will continue to draw on these lessons not only in my work as a story exchange facilitator, but also in my own evolution as a father, husband, friend and son.”

– Lee Keylock, Vice President of Global Impact, Narrative 4

“I was pleasantly surprised by the book, Emotion Rules. It is delightfully human, compassionate, and down-to-earth with lots of stories, yet also profound. If you want to befriend your emotions or help others, this is a fantastic foundation.

The book’s simplicity lends itself to easy reading and understanding, but don’t let that fool you. The message is holistically comprehensive, touching on emotions as change drivers, wisdom, vital friends and fueling our truest self, along with rules to debunk myths with science.

One of my favorite aspects of the book is connecting emotions with our core needs. We sometimes forget how central these are to being human. Woven throughout the book are simple reflections, open-ended questions, and practical exercises to help you reflect and explore your emotional terrain. Emotions Rule will be a handbook for many on the path to mastery of emotional intelligence.”

– Jennifer A. Williams / Heartmanity founder

“Emotion Rules is a timely antidote to a chaotic world. With elegant simplicity, Freedman’s appreciative, science-grounded approach turns emotions from problems into powerful allies. Authoritative and compassionate, this is a life-changing guide to the wisdom of emotions. The practical frameworks and reflections make emotional intelligence actionable. Highly recommended for leaders and everyone seeking to spread resilience, thriving, and next-level collaboration.”

– Colette Herrick – Healthcare Executive Coach & Consultant | Insight Shift

“Emotion Rules is a timely antidote to a chaotic world. With elegant simplicity, Freedman’s appreciative, science-grounded approach turns emotions from problems into powerful allies. Authoritative and compassionate, this is a life-changing guide to the wisdom of emotions. The practical frameworks and reflections make emotional intelligence actionable. Highly recommended for leaders and everyone seeking to spread resilience, thriving, and next-level collaboration.”

– Colette Herrick – Healthcare Executive Coach & Consultant | Insight Shift

“Joshua Freedman is the heart of a global EQ network that reaches across more than a hundred countries and yet, even though we live in opposite time zones, I’ve never felt the distance. He’s like a 24-hour first responder, always ready to listen, guide, and support. What I’ve learned from him goes far beyond being “a kind person.” Joshua’s approach to emotional intelligence is both warm and sharply analytical it’s about turning emotions into insight and performance, not just empathy. He teaches that emotions are not obstacles to overcome, but a language to be learned and that language becomes the foundation of true leadership. 

In Emotion Rules, Joshua shows that EQ is not a soft ideal, but a strategic tool for leaders and organizations to achieve real results. This book captures both his compassion and his clarity a rare balance that makes emotional wisdom deeply practical and profoundly human.”

-Tony Kim, EQ Coach & Leadership Consultant; Vice President, Root Consulting, Korea

This isn’t another “feel-good” book about emotions. It’s grounded, insightful, and incredibly useful for anyone who wants to lead, parent, or live with more clarity and empathy.

I wish I’d read this years ago. It turns emotional awareness into something practical, empowering, and even exciting. It’s a must-read for anyone who wants to grow.

Justin Wright, CEO, Polished Carbon

“Emotion Rules is a masterclass in self-led engagement — an invitation to move beyond managing emotions to partnering with them. Freedman gives us the language and tools to read our own emotional signals and lead ourselves from presence rather than pressure. It’s both poetic and practical, a guide for anyone who believes self-leadership begins with self-awareness.”

Tony D’Avino, Founder, The Performance Collaborative

“I was glad to have the chance to read an advance copy of Josh Freedman’s upcoming book, Emotions Rule: The Science and Practice of Emotional Intelligence and Leadership. 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.

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:

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

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.

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.

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!

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 the first to explore this exciting new release. 

Full disclosure: Joshua Freedman is also my publisher. That said, Emotion Rules is a standout resource for anyone looking to deepen their emotional intelligence.”

– Bruna Martinuzzi, author, Leader as a Mensch; CEO Clarion Enterprises