F.R.I.E.N.D.S Intelligence - Book Introduction

Needless to say, living a happy life these days is not easy. The world is turning into a fast-paced machine, where everyone acts like a finely tuned cog in a wheel. Each person is expected to perform their role precisely, delivering a specific task at the exact right moment. Is this cog happy? Not that anyone seems to care.

Personal finance has become much more complex than it was decades ago. A financially savvy person needs to understand loans, interests, taxation, bonds, options, stocks, investment portfolios, superannuation, education funds, inflation, CPIs, the property market… You name it. It is now essential for individuals to equip themselves with increasing financial knowledge to make smart investment decisions, avoid traps, and combat the fear of missing out.

Managing romantic relationships is becoming more challenging. With everyone on Earth virtually connected at lightning speed, there are countless options to find a soulmate. Maintaining a long-term relationship now faces issues that previous generations never had to deal with. Work stress, technology distractions, life’s rapid shifts, and fading passion all contribute.

The need to become smarter and learn faster is another common trait in this busy world. When you open any resume across all industries, “fast learner” is a frequently mentioned term. There are new prototypes, new software, new products, new offerings, and new concepts every day. And then there’s AI, which has started driving cars, doing laundry, and delivering meals and mail. Anyone who wants to stay employable must learn constantly. Staying still means falling behind.

We are also seeing emotional intelligence become a key factor for success. The ability to connect, understand, communicate, manage stress, be self-aware, and collaborate determines how far we can go in the workplace and community. The capacity to understand our own emotions and those of others, and to communicate effectively—especially under high stress—is what sets the extraordinary apart from the mediocre.

We also need to look after our physical body more carefully. Decades ago, when most people resided in small communities, a natural food source and plenty of outdoor activity in a low-paced work environment reduced the importance of consciously eating and exercising. In small towns where the pace is slow, locally produced groceries are easily accessible, and there are plenty of natural opportunities to be active, especially through walking. Conversely, in modern metropolitan areas, due to urbanisation, processed food has become the norm. It is also common for people to remain inactive, often sitting, for most of their waking hours. As a result, our health is suffering, shown by a rising rate of chronic diseases and a decline in happiness levels.

Last but not least, our sleep suffers. Compared to people in the past who had plenty of natural sunlight exposure and a regular sleep schedule, the modern world offers endless distractions, such as late work shifts and attractions like Netflix, that encourage poor sleep. Coupled with alcohol, caffeine, or even drugs—whose use continues to rise due to the fast pace of life—good sleep becomes a rare luxury.

Are we doomed?




Not really. There are countless clever people working hard every day to make life easier and people happier. As I write this paragraph, my wife’s company is innovating vigorously to integrate AI into traditional accounting software, making finance more effortless than ever before. Also, in the finance sector, the connections between banks, regulatory authorities, customers, and businesses have become more integrated thanks to technology; therefore, less human error and fewer delays are becoming the norm.

When it comes to understanding relationships, talented psychologists and social scientists advocate understanding gender differences, offering a revolutionary way for people to find common ground and compromises. Additionally, over the past fifty years, women have increasingly participated in most social activities, compared to earlier times when these roles centred around housewives and supporting roles as the norm for women. This unprecedented gender equality has allowed society to adopt far more balanced relationships.

In terms of emotional and intellectual intelligence, brain science is making significant breakthroughs, especially over the past decade. Our understanding of emotion dynamics, memory, comprehension, and cognitive patterns has never been deeper. For the first time in human history, we can explain why people think and feel a certain way at a molecular level. In a way, Socrate’s quote “Know yourself” has shifted from being merely a philosophical saying to a physiological statement.

We can also better nourish our mind and body. With advancements in nutrition science, we no longer treat the human body as a machine simply burning fuel (calories). Instead, the precise roles of thousands of nutritional ingredients on both the body and mind are now understood; therefore, our understanding of the human physical structure is shifting towards viewing it as an ecosystem. No single structure or nutrient can operate alone without relying on other parts of the human body and mind. A person is seen as a planet with endless species living within, rather than a steam engine that needs regular feeding with coal and routine checks to keep it running.

When it comes to fitness and sleep, we are also far ahead. An entry-level professional marathon runner today can easily win Olympic marathon medals if they competed 100 years ago. With growing knowledge on training and recovery, both professional athletes and everyday people are benefiting from science-based programmes. We discovered melatonin, we know what the pineal gland does, and we understand the harmful effects of high-frequency blue light on our sleep. Even with screens invading every corner of life, we still have enough control to get a good night’s sleep.

While new technology brings challenges, it also accelerates knowledge at unprecedented speed, helping us tackle these challenges and live fulfilling lives. It’s unlikely anyone can completely avoid those challenges, as they are essentially imposed upon us. For example, an average person living in a city is likely to spend a lot of time on screens, commuting, and dealing with a stressful workload. It’s also probable that this person does little exercise, gets limited sun exposure, and relies mostly on pre-made meals from shops. They may need to manage complex taxes, calculate investment portfolios, or worry about the weather or whether to invest in cryptocurrency. Additionally, they might have to argue with a partner they have just met, from very different backgrounds.

This book aims to offer a pragmatic perspective on seven intelligences that this person can develop to adapt to the new world. They are:


Financial Intelligence
Relationship Intelligence
Information Intelligence
Emotional Intelligence
Nutrition Intelligence
Dynamic Intelligence
Sleep Intelligence







With the acronym F.R.I.E.N.D.S., I hope readers of this book can develop a mental picture of their intelligence matrix. Knowing which pillar of their matrix needs the most practice, readers might get a chance to understand themselves and the world better. This book also offers insights by combining multiple pillars of intelligence to create an innovative perspective. For example, when we combine emotional intelligence with financial intelligence, topics like lottery, gambling, compulsory spending, and lifestyle creep come to mind. When we relate nutrition intelligence with sleep intelligence, the discussion of the relationship between peristalsis and sleep quality appears. Adding dynamic intelligence to financial intelligence, we talk about home gyms and calisthenics. Combining financial intelligence with nutrition, we highlight the importance of mastering cooking. I hope you find this book entertaining and enlightening. Let’s begin.