Customer Reviews
A great book on controling anger - By: K. E. Barrett, 05 Sep 2008 
Thich nhat hahn is agreat author who really speaks to your heart,I would recommend getting "The miracle of mindfullness" by Thich nhat hanh,to use with this book.
Beautiful and helpful - By: flingthecow, 05 Jul 2008 The techniques & philosophy describedin this book are magical. Not only does it help you soothe your anger, it teaches you to embrace it, as you would a crying child. It does not treat anger as something to be 'purged' from your system,for example by punching a pillow. It is something to be gently looked after & understood. I often use the meditation techniques described when I am feeling angry, & every time they have been helpful, & I have gained insight into myself & the situation. I have also stopped being angry with myself for being angry, as reading this book has made me realise that to be angry is not 'wrong'. I had also never thought of anger as suffering, but it is; reading this book helps you see the true nature of your anger.
unmindful of the reader - By: jago, 05 Feb 2008 
If you're angry & looking for help then this book is unlikely to bring you any immediate solace or practical guidance. There are some nice ideas here but like most Buddhist writings they are presentedin an unmindful way, i.e. with no consideration for the non-Buddhist reader & those unwilling to self-edit the material to make it usable.
The nice ideas: 'mindful' breathing whenever you are about to explode, owning & taking responsibility for your anger, 'venting' by punching pillows = rehearsing your anger, are interesting but...you can find these tipsin any anger book or website out there, try Dr Irene's 'tips to help the control freak give up angry control' - it's only one side of A4 long & far more immediate.
It's quite a disorganised read overall & the mindful meditation exercises at the back are poorly explained. Shame really.
If you are a man looking for immediate advice on dealing with your anger then my advice is to try either Beyond Anger: A Guide For Men or some practical Cognitive Behavioural Therapy using the Feeling Good Handbook.
I thought the ideas here were useful but poorly presented, so for those with an interestin Thich's ideas buy it, for those with more practical needs writtenin everyday English try the books above.
Inspiring and very important. Please read this book even if feel you don't need to. - By: Wordsworth, 06 Jan 2007 I am skeptical of most "self-help" books as I believein most cases the author has an ulterior motive or that the book has been constructed on a flawed & potentially damaging basis (such as pure "positive thinking"). However, this is different.
On first opening "Anger..." I read half of it without being able to put it down. I didn't even buy the book for me, rather because I thought it might help a friend.
This book is not just about angerin terms of shouting or saying hurtful things. It encompasses so much more & may help you recognise hidden angerin yourself & others, & as importantly, help you take positive steps to address it.
Read past the first part about "consuming anger" & don't let it put you off. TNH gives advicein straightforward terms & it is clear that what he says is what he believes & what he lives.
This is not a quick-fix. You can put the principles into practice straight away but it will take months or more (well-spent) to really understand.
This book has excited me enough to take action. I hope it inspires you.
Look after your anger - By: Robert Paul, 26 Jun 2006 I've just finished reading this excellent book & would whole-heartedly recommend it to anyone who ever feels angry. It's particularly helpful for couples & estranged families who wish to rekindle their love.
It's simple to follow, not at all specific to Buddhists & is really very practical. Thich Nhat Hanh shows how becoming aware of our anger when it arises can help us to "look after our anger" & lead us to develop understanding. (From a Buddhist perspective all suffering has it's rootsin ignorance.)
The book is full of excellent suggestions on how to work on relationships, teaching 'compassionate listening' & suggesting ways to talk through your suffering. Because what is anger, but a form of suffering?
