Carol Tavris has written a clear, informative, interesting, and meaningful analysis of anger. She documents the various ways in which anger has been understood versus misunderstood by leading (popular) self-help authors and researchers, and distills from these various treatments helpful guidelines for understanding and managing anger. Carol Tavris is one of those rare writers whose writings are informed by a conscientious reading of research coupled with commonsense conclusions suggestive of easy to understand, helpful behavioral guidance. This book is a winner!

I have not written a book ! am not a psychologist or psychoanalyst ! and I am often a very angry person (wife and mother especially and Ms Travis has insight about this kind of problems). I went through therapy thinking I was going to discover some awful thing that had happened in my past but could not uncover anything and I have to come to terms with what is only MY problem eventually. It did make me a more open and dynamic person though and this experience for me was quite well explained by Carol Tavris` book.

I think the angry reviews in part misunderstand what she wrote. It is not true that she "ignores the fact that different individuals have learned different ways! of dealing with frustration and anger" as the writer of another book on the subject puts it. She quite acknowledges that. She also thinks anger is useful in certain ways.

Please read or re-read her book. It is refreshing, full of humor and yes she has some reason to criticize the ALLMIGHTY UNCONSCIOUS that unconscious shrinks interpret as they wish. Good thing that the unconscious cannot talk back !!!

Carol Tavris offers some very practical advice. Apart from when the expression of anger is intended to dissolve a relationship, anger becomes effective when: (1) the anger is directed at the offending person (telling friends may increase anger); (2) the expression satisfies your need to influence the situation and/or correct an injustice; and, (3) your approach seems likely to change the other person's behavior, which means you can express yourself so they can understand your point of view and so they will cooperate with you. She takes issue with those who would encourage venting. Like Harriet Goldhor Lerner, her goal is change.

Tavris has authored a fine book on an important topic. She is a social psychologist which is a blessing because it allows her to review research rather than focus on her own navel (a.k.a. "clinical experience"). She does a fine job of refuting the frustration agression hypothesis even though it still seems impossible for people to accept the reality that individuals create their own anger and circumstances (such as traffic) have little to do with their emotional reactions to events. Tey to ignore the silly psychoabble of some of the other reviewers...probably Freudians anyway!

I first read this book about eight years ago. Though some of Ms. Tavris' analysis is suspect, the vast majority is well-founded and accurate IF YOU APPROACH IT WITH AN OPEN MIND. Unfortunately, simply implying that anger is a learned, self-controllable response provokes a very angry reaction in many people (see other reviews) that makes it hard to get the point across. Tavris has a lot to say. Unfortunately, very few people will listen.