Facing the Fire: Experiencing and Expressing Anger Appropriately (Paperback)

~ John Lee (Author), William Stott (Contributor) "Are you conscious of how you breath?..." (more)
Key Phrases: civilized argument, anger workshop, expressing your anger, The Flying Boy, William James, Higher Power (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The author of The Flying Boy describes how repressing anger can have profound effects on personal health and guides readers step by step through the process of getting past their fears.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (June 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553372408
• ISBN-13: 978-0553372403
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #320,788 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

119 of 120 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Facing the Fire, by John Lee, November 17, 1997

By A Customer

As a therapist working with people who have anger issues, I cannot praise this book enough. This is the most definitive book about anger on the bookshelves today. Most authors try an intellectual approach to dealing with anger, but Mr. Lee goes to the heart of the problems and explains why we need it, why we avoid it, and most importantly, how to deal with it appropriately. I ask all my clients (I do group therapy with abused women who have a lot of anger) to read this book so they will have an understanding of what they and others are facing in their healing work. Also, a great book for non-professionals, because it explains anger and confronts in everyday language myths and misconceptions about anger. A must have for anyone who deals with anger (Don't we all?).

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breakthrough In Understanding Anger, August 6, 2003

By A Customer

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Mr. Lee's approach to discharging/expressing anger safely is RIGHT ON. Many people might think that by expressing anger - they will become more angry. In reality, you are uncovering the suppressed anger that has been inside of you all your life. You are merely becoming AWARE of it. We spend our entire lives stuffing/repressing/avoiding/medicating our anger. We will do anything but FACE it - and get it out.

The good news. The amount of suppressed anger inside us is finite and can be discharged. Mr. Lee would be interested in knowing that a retired neuroscientist (Ellie Van Winkle) has discovered almost exactly the same thing about anger. Her free therapy - "Redirecting Self Therapy", teaches a unique way to safely release anger - free without a therapist. Can't provide a link here, but you can do your own search later. What Ellie's theory gives us, is a biological explanation for what John Lee expresses throughout his book.

Also, John Lee has a unique theory about mental illness. Basically, he believes that trauma causes us to continually try and recreate the circumstances of original trauma, so that the mind has a 2nd opportunity to heal itself. Well, Mr. Lee, you might find the following of interest from Ellie Van Winkle:

"The fantasies in which I lived for close to sixty years were unconscious attempts to recreate early traumas and provide a stage wherein I could redirect my anger toward my parents."

Anger is connected to just about every mental/emotional disorder under the sun. Discharge that anger and your mind begins to heal.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb if releasing anger is tough, February 1, 2004

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is for people who have trouble with releasing their negative emotions. John Lee explains effectively the benefits from emotional release while at the same time providing some techniques for helping people with repressed anger that are simple, down-to-earth, and reasonable for people to use. This book has helped me a great deal personally, and I think it will help anyone with depression or difficulties releasing anger.