Outsmarting Anger

April 1, 2013

An experienced practicing psychiatrist, Shrand (psychiatry, Harvard Medical Sch.) offers a simple strategy for dealing with everyday anger. He and journalist Devine argue that envy and suspicion, which lead to anger and aggression, are impulsive feelings generated by primitive limbic brain regions. In contrast, peacefulness, empathy, communication, and thankfulness are rational decisions formed by the evolved prefrontal brain regions. By consciously shifting away from the innate limbic response to a thoughtful prefrontal response, we are able to recognize the roots of anger in ourselves and moderate the anger expressed by others. Strangely, this book provides only a light overview of how the brain gives rise to anger. Readers interested in a more in-depth introduction to the neurobiology of anger may prefer Ronald Potter-Efron's Healing the Angry Brain: How Understanding the Way Your Brain Works Can Help You Control Anger and Aggression. VERDICT Although its message isn't groundbreaking, this work provides the framework for dissecting complex emotions and identifying their causes. The authors' simple and practical advice for dealing with everyday anger among family members, employers and employees, and strangers is sound.--Katherine G. Akers, Emory Univ. Libs., Atlanta

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