Why We Get Mad

Why We Get Mad is the definitive book on anger, offering the first comprehensive explanation of why we get mad, what anger truly is, and how to cope with and utilise it. Anger is often misunderstood as akin to hostility and violence but is fundamentally different. It can actually be a healthy and powerful force in our lives.

What exactly is anger? Who is allowed to express it? How can we manage and use it effectively? Daily, it seems, we encounter some troubling outburst of anger, whether shouting at the kids, the television, or the driver who's slowing us down. In Why We Get Mad, Dr. Ryan Martin draws on over 20 years of research and his own childhood experiences with an angry parent to provide a comprehensive exploration of this often-challenging emotion. He explains what anger is, why we experience it, how it can harm us and those around us, and how we can manage and channel it into positive change. The book also delves into how race and gender influence societal perceptions of who is allowed to be angry.

Dr. Martin includes questionnaires, emotion logs, control techniques, and various tools to help readers better understand what triggers their anger and how to handle these feelings when they arise. The book shows readers how to distinguish between good and bad anger and reframes anger from being a problematic experience to a powerful fuel that can energise problem-solving, unleash creativity, and confront injustice.