Working With Anger by Thubten Chodron

Working With Anger Reviews

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  ✨Bean's Books✨

  Ok I'm jaded with this book because it really doesn't help me at all for my personal situation. This book was meant to help people who have extremely mild cases of anger in their lives. This book is DEFINITELY NOT for someone who deals with anger as an attachment or biproduct of mental illness. This book also focuses on Buddhist teachings relating to anger management which can be either good or bad depending on where you stand there. All things considered, it's an easy book to read and follow. Would recommend this to anyone dealing with MILD anger issues.
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  Malini

  Ahh... here is the paragraph from the preface that sold me100% on this book, I can't wait to finish this:
  
  "When our minds are joyful and free from anger and resentment, we work and share with others to the advantage of all, while when we are miserable and angry, we sabotage others' good work as well as our own. This is very clear when we think about it: No one wakes up in the morning and says, 'I feel so happy today. I think I'll go out and hurt someone!' We only harm others when we are tormented by anger. Being the interdependent creatures that we are, our destructive behavior triggers the same in others. Thus, the way to stop the cycle of suffering depends on each of us working with our own anger in constructive ways and cultivating our compassionate heart that wishes others well."
  
  
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  Nick

  This was one of those books where I felt the central message probably could have been summarised in a reasonably short article. In my view, it became repetitive and unfocused and I couldn't finish it. But the main point that stuck with me, which is valuable, is that anger is characterised by misdirected attention. i.e, we sustain the anger by keeping the mind on the perceived wrong or injustice - with the emphasis on "perceived". Then our world becomes narrower and the anger becomes more dominant and consuming. To practice redirecting attention to whatever is occuring in the present moment is to attenuate and weaken the grip of the anger.
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  David

  I am very impressed by the quality of this work. Chodron writes clearly and concisely throughout the entire piece. The book's focus is on how to approach, understand, and work with anger - our own and others'. As someone who has a long fuse but a violent temper when it is finally triggered, I had been wanting to find a practical guide to help me and those who are close to me. This book is precisely what I was searching for. I will most likely read it again, because although it was an easy read, it was thought-provoking and will certainly yield more insights with another run-through. I would highly suggest this to anyone, regardless of their temperament. I feel like I probably wouldn't have taken this book seriously until high school or college, but would have definitely benefited at those times of my life from the wisdom it has to offer. Once again - very impressed.
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  Brian

  I've had this book on my shelves for quite a while. It was on my reading list, but not a high priority as I felt I had the anger thing in check. That particular Mara came up from behind recently and bit me in the hind quarters in its sneaky way. I then attended a meditation retreat in which the Aghatapativinaya Sutta was discussed. This title was suggested after an interesting discussion of the topic, some clear synchronicity. At any rate, that was today and it was a quick read. The writing style is simple and inviting. The book offers practical advice tackling those persistent habits of mind, a few more useful tools to apply in one's spiritual practice.
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  Katja

  Maybe a 1.5 stars in actuality.
  I do not feel this book was helpful for a non-Buddhist. While I appreciate some Buddhists philosophies, I do not believe in all of their teachings, so a book on dealing with anger that brings in things such as rebirths just didn't speak to me. If you are a Buddhist, I could see how this book would be helpful for you trying to deal with anger.
• 
  Al

  The most life-changing Buddhist book I've ever read.
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  Oh Teik

  A very practical book to help conquer the Anger demon.
  Practical methods are suggested and the writing is clear.
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  Marta Visu

  Anger
  
  I really liked the direct way this was explained, how to help us deal with anger. There is a lot to learn here, but this book is just the beginning.
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  Mary Overton

  For a book about anger, this is remarkably bland. Nothing wrong with it. Just doesn't spark my interest or curiosity.
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  S. Wigget

  I read this book a long time ago. I'd better read it again, although righteous indignation and trauma are central to my anger... or fury.
• 
  Julian Giordano

  Very powerful. We all have anger, it's an emotion and this book is really well written.
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  David C. Mueller

  This book provides techniques from Western Buddhism to deal with anger in many of its forms. The author's tone in the book is more direct than that of Tara Brach, but gentler than that of Pema Chodron.
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  Timothy Wright

  Seems like a good time to finally start reading this all the way through. Anger, resentment, hurt feelings, feeling of betrayal, and all those other pointless negative emotions are a waste my time and I need to learn to rise above.
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  Gary

  A short book with short chapters full of deep concepts. This is one of those books that needs to be reread in order for the reader to benefit from it's wisdom and advice.
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  Marty

  Ok. I am not a Buddhist, or perhaps I would like it better.
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  Quoc Nguyen

  i like to read this boook. because this is nice book.
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  Ken McManus

  5 of 5!
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  Rosy

  Great book. Describes many ways to let go of anger, and instead build compassion and forgiveness.