The 10 Best Anger Management Books

Updated November 09, 2019 by Gia Vescovi-Chiordi

This wiki has been updated 17 times since it was first published in March of 2018. Strong emotions are a normal part of life, and everyone gets overcome and acts irrationally from time to time. But when anger starts to spiral out of control, seeking help from experienced professionals makes a huge difference in your ability to control your life. So if you or a loved one can't stop getting mad, check out one of these great resources to begin the healing process. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki. If you'd like to contribute your own research to Ezvid Wiki, please get started by reviewing this introductory video.

1. The Cow in the Parking Lot

2. The Explosive Child

3. The Anger Trap

4. Healing the Angry Brain

5. Brant Hansen's "Unoffendable"

6. Anger Management for Everyone

7. Anger Management For Dummies

8. Wisdom for Cooling the Flames

9. When I Feel Angry

10. The Dance of Anger

Editor's Notes

November 05, 2019:

You don't have to have serious rage issues for anger to infiltrate and negatively affect the wellbeing of yourself and those around you. Irritation, frustration, passive-aggressiveness, the silent treatment, and more are all insidious forms of anger that many of us don't even realize we're engaging in. One of the volumes on this list can help anyone who feels they're getting in the way of their happiness, or who has a loved one whose anger is affecting their quality of life. And like with any other self-help book, understand that there is no one size fits all approach, so don't get discouraged if the first one you pick up doesn't solve all your problems.

With all that being said, these selections are not meant to be a substitute for psychiatric help or medication, so if you are truly struggling, consider seeking out a licensed professional as well. While an anger management book is a great start, if you find that it is not helping you make the changes you want, it may be time to seek further guidance.

People who want to begin incorporating mindfulness techniques and principles into their lives will benefit from Wisdom for Cooling the Flames, which uses a humble writing style to bring ancient advice to modern lives. If you'd like something a little more balanced with Western thought, then The Anger Trap and The Cow in the Parking Lot are both good options. The Cow in the Parking Lot is also very interactive, so if you're looking for a selection that allows you to get your thoughts on paper, that's the one to choose.

On its face, Anger Management For Dummies might seem like it's been watered-down, but it's an in-depth, comprehensive book written by PhD-holding psychologists that's helpful for adults and teens. And if you're looking for something for a youngster specifically then The Explosive Child is worth considering. Written by a distinguished clinician, this insightful and compassionate read provides plenty of evidence-based, actionable guidance.

Joining the ranks today is Unoffendable: Just One Change, an extremely easy-to-read volume that targets Christians specifically but is an entertaining and enlightening tome for anyone who wants to eliminate righteous anger to pave the way for more forgiveness, humility, and joy. It's especially helpful if you're feeling inundated with (and angered by) headlines meant to infuriate and polarizing discussions at home and in the workplace.

Last updated on November 09, 2019 by Gia Vescovi-Chiordi

Born in Arizona, Gia is a writer and autodidact who fled the heat of the desert for California, where she enjoys drinking beer, overanalyzing the minutiae of life, and channeling Rick Steves. After arriving in Los Angeles a decade ago, she quickly nabbed a copywriting job at a major clothing company and derived years of editing and proofreading experience from her tenure there, all while sharpening her skills further with myriad freelance projects. In her spare time, she teaches herself French and Italian, has earned an ESL teaching certificate, traveled extensively throughout Europe and the United States, and unashamedly devours television shows and books. The result of these pursuits is expertise in fashion, travel, beauty, literature, textbooks, and pop culture, in addition to whatever obsession consumes her next.


Thanks for reading the fine print. About the Wiki: We don't accept sponsorships, free goods, samples, promotional products, or other benefits from any of the product brands featured on this page, except in cases where those brands are manufactured by the retailer to which we are linking. For more information on our rankings, please read about us, linked below. The Wiki is a participant in associate programs from Amazon, Walmart, Ebay, Target, and others, and may earn advertising fees when you use our links to these websites. These fees will not increase your purchase price, which will be the same as any direct visitor to the merchant’s website. If you believe that your product should be included in this review, you may contact us, but we cannot guarantee a response, even if you send us flowers.