Overcoming Frustration and Anger,

by Paul A. Hauck

Book Overview

Frustration is everybody's problem, but reacting with anger is like throwing a cactus at someone with your bare hands: he may be hurt but so will you. Anger is the greatest cause of crime, brutality, wars, social disruption, divorce---and plain, everyday misery. This book is written to make it simpler to control anger---and to handle frustration--by showing you how to understand your feelings and your reactions to them.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0664249833
• ISBN13: 9780664249830
• Release Date: January 1974
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press
• Length: 142 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.0" x 7.4"

Customer Reviews

Best book i came across on anger

This is wonderful book from paul hauck.Many authors focus on controlling anger but paul does that job as well as suggesting tips how not to be doormant.There is difference between frustration and Anger.Many people when abused or taken advantage by others keep their frustrations inside without addressing them by talking over or do something about it.This causes built up feelings which may give rise to anger though it is ourselves creating anger.Paul Hauck suggests ways to shows your frustration as well (assertion) as as how to avoid anger in first place.This is what makes book a masterpiece.If we have options to stand up for ourselves,we don't have to put up with nonsense of others.But we can do this without anger.That is what the book is all about. Once the principles in the book are followed with discipline,we get enormous peace inside and outside and infact it is secret of attracting others.

Best advice I've found.

I have just completed writing a three-part article for my company on understanding and dealing with frustration. After weeks of research on the topic, this was definately the most helpful resource I found on dealing with frustration and anger. Instead of being just another self-help book attempting to make you feel better about yourself, it provided concrete steps to change the way you think and feel when confronted with frustration. The idea that you create your own emotions to an event is very helpful. It takes you from where you are today, right now, and gives you a way to be a happier and more pleasant person.

Makes sense

One of the better self-help books I have on my shelf. The words in this one stick with me. I catch myself getting upset over something and some of the author's "tricks" to stop the anger come into thought and it makes more SENSE to not be upset than to be upset. I think the key to breaking the angry habit IS to find a way to short circuit the fuse with practical thoughts that allow you to perceive the situation in a more rational light. This book taught me some of those thoughts which gave me the choice to be angry or not.

Anger is self-inflicted; you can stop anytime

I have read many self-help books (Carlson, Covey,Robbins, Walsch, Peale, Carnegie et al.), but this is the first one where I can say it made a real difference in my life. The basic idea is anger comes from two things: wanting something and not getting it. When I realized no one has ever made me angry (nor have I ever made anyone else angry), it was both empowering and sobering. I realized I was responsable for my response to events. I was in control of my life. I cannot blame anyone for anything. Anger comes from wanting to get your way, which may not happen all the time. To realize anger is self-inflicted made it easy for me to stop.A perfect example: getting mad at someone who cuts you off in traffic. You have no power to prevent such an event, but you have unlimited options on how to respond, only one of which is to get angry. You could just as easily sing, dance, drive into a wall or stop the car. The other driver does nothing to you; you do it all to yourself. You have the ability to decide what your response will be. Yet many of us scream and yell and get upset at what the other driver "did" to us. No one reached into our brains and "forced" us to feel or act in a certain way.Another good part of this book is how to be assertive without being aggressive. You don't have to be a doormat to stay calm in life.I bought this book because I was frustrated with my lack of success at work. I learned frustration is just another form of anger, also self-inflicted. You can stop it anytime you like. I found it rather easy to do.I've given this book to 3 people and recommended it to several others.

A good beginning to understanding anger.

I have read this book twice. It is a very easy read and the insights presented are simple to understand. Some may say that the books approach is too simple. It has certainly helped me in my quest to be a better person.