The Anger Trap: Free Yourself from the Frustrations that Sabotage Your Life [Hardcover]

Les Carter (Author), Frank Minirth (Foreword)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 078796879X | ISBN-13: 978-0787968793 | Publication Date: September 8, 2003 | Edition: 1

It's easy to identify rage in people who lose their temper at traffic jams, unruly children, unresponsive coworkers, and unrealistic bosses. But we may not recognize more subtle manifestations of anger, such as being uncomfortable with loose ends, acting impatiently, or being overly critical. That is anger, too. And, as is so often the case, angry folks don't seem to realize that the behavior causing them problems at home or at work actually stems from unrecognized and unresolved pain and emotional injuries from the past. Is all this negative emotion inevitable, or are there choices about how to respond, choices that can improve personal relationships as well as emotional health?

The Anger Trap is a landmark book that strips away the myths and misconceptions about anger and reveals how you can learn to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy anger so that you may choose— or help someone else to choose— a better, more spiritually enlightened path. The Anger Trap examines the root causes of anger and can help you realize your patterns and break the destructive cycles of criticism, frustration, and irritation that hurt you and others around you. Drawing insight from timeless spiritual wisdom as well as cutting-edge research, Dr. Carter offers practical techniques to free you from anger, its hidden insecurities, fears, and selfishness and thereby improve the quality of your home and workplace life. The book clearly illustrates how the change process works and The Anger Trap is filled with real-life examples of the ways people have come to terms with their anger by applying the concepts Dr. Carter outlines.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The life-changing message of this book...is so important..." ---Audrey DeLaMartre, The Phoenix and Steps For Recovery

Review

"The Anger Trap is a masterfully written book, offering penetrating insights into the factors that can imprison individuals in unwanted patterns of frustration. With his well-developed insights and using case examples, Les Carter carefully explains how you can change your thinking, your communication, and your behavior as you release yourself from the ravages of anger gone bad."
— from the Foreword by Frank Minirth, M.D.

"Les Carter has assimilated his years of experience counseling people trapped by anger into a book that I believe will prove helpful to many readers. The Anger Trap offers fresh information and understanding that can lead to recovery and reconciliation."
— Zig Ziglar, author and motivational speaker

"Have you ever looked in a mirror and said 'I don't like what I see!' This book reflects a number of myths we 'wear' and shows us how to trade them in for the real truths."
— June Hunt, radio host of Hope for the Heart

"The best book on anger out there. Five stars!"
— Dr. Tim Clinton, president, American Association of Christian Counselors

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (September 8, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078796879X
• ISBN-13: 978-0787968793
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #620,810 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Les Carter is associated with the Minirth Clinic Psychiatric and Counseling Center in Richardson, Texas. He is specially trained in the treatment of emotional adjustments and relationship problems. He is the author or coauthor of several books, including the bestselling The Anger Workbook.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

213 of 218 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally ... hope for a way out!, September 9, 2003

By 

Dr. Charles C. Carroll (Istanbul, Turkey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Anger Trap: Free Yourself from the Frustrations that Sabotage Your Life (Hardcover)

Dr. Les Carter has done it again! No wonder he is called "America's Anger Expert." With The Anger Trap he has put together his years of experience and wisdom on this important subject to provide us with a way out of this insidious trap called anger. Years ago I read his first book on the subject, Good 'N Angry (now out of print, I believe), and more recently completed his very practical best-seller, The Anger Workbook. Both exercises helped me deal with issues that subtly yet surely were negatively affecting my life and relationships.

Now comes, I believe, Dr. Carter's "magnum opus." One of the values of The Anger Trap is that Carter not only identifies anger and it's nature, but deals with the root causes (such as fear, loneliness, rejection, insecurity, and especially pain.) "Angry people are hurting, fragile people," Carter points out. And, "At the heart of anger is a cry for respect." But, to me, one of the most insightful observations Carter makes is, "As illogical as it may be, it can seem to outside observers that chronically angry people have a strong commitment to keeping distasteful emotions alive." Carter encourages us to deal with these underlying causes if we are to have any kind of meaningful victory over anger.

The chapter on dependency and hidden insecurity (Chapter 6: "Insecurity's Hold on Angry People") is especially interesting and illuminating. In this chapter Carter discusses how angry people are so busy trying to make others take responsibility for their own emotional stability that they stay stuck in the anger they want to be free of. But, my favorite chapter is called "Higher Priorities," (Chapter 14) where Carter leads us down the path to deliverance from the destructive aspects of anger. He points out the need to make a commitment to traits like kindness, patience, and forgiveness. It shows what life can be like outside the anger trap.

Over the years I have found Dr. Carter's books to be right on target--insightful, easy-to-read, and filled with practical wisdom and application. The Anger Trap is no exception ... and a welcome addition to his valuable contributions. Everyone with any kind of anger issues should buy this book and digest it deliberately and carefully. As Dr. Carter reminds us, we all have choices. We can choose to face the ugly dimensions of our anger and be freed from this trap forever!

109 of 111 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Book on Anger out There, July 28, 2004

By 

J. M Nevins - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Anger Trap: Free Yourself from the Frustrations that Sabotage Your Life (Hardcover)

I've dealt with anger issues for years and have heard plenty of advice and couselling, but this is by far the most practical guide I've encountered. Les's writing style makes his concepts easy to understand, even though the concepts themselves are not simplistic. Les has distilled his 30 years of counseling experience into very useable advice on how to overcome the negative consequences of mishandled anger. While many other authors and counselors major primarily on the causes of anger, they mostly grow frustratingly silent on how to change the negative behavior that stems from anger. While Les doesn't offer a promise that you'll never be angry again if you apply his suggestions, his insights are very helpful in minimizing the harm to others and yourself when that inevitable angry moment comes.

This book has been life-changing for me. I heartily recommend it to anyone trying to come to grips with their destructive anger-related behaviors.

86 of 91 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Life Changing - Huge Advances, May 5, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Anger Trap: Free Yourself from the Frustrations that Sabotage Your Life (Hardcover)

I was first attracted to this book after realizing I am frustrated or angry most of the time. After 5 chapters, I can say that this is what no one ever tells you. Read this book even if you do not consider yourself an angry person. And order one for everyone you care about. A+++++ Many thanks to the authors for this easy to read epiphany. I have been in the dark tooo long. It is time to live to my full potential. With this information I can end the cycle of generation after generation of poor emotional/coping skills.