annieb123's Review of How to Deal with Angry People

by Dr Ryan Martin

Ryan Martin, aka Tiktok's "The Anger Professor" (162k followers), offers 10 highly effective, research-based strategies for coping with the anger you have to face, whether at home, at work, on the street or online.

Whether the confrontations are taking place at home, at work or online, the emotional toll of dealing with an angry person day-in day-out can be huge. As we often can't cut ourselves off from these angry people (although terminating the relationship is an option that’s explored), this book draws on the author's years of research and clinical practice to help readers manage potentially explosive situations for the best possible outcomes. The book:

Reveals the psychological factors that underpin an angry personality (eg genetics, gender, other personality traits).

Offers ten key strategies for dealing effectively with angry people, from figure out what you want from this person and know when to disengage to avoid character assaults and find ways to reach those who refuse to communicate.

Provides case studies, fact boxes, tips and activities to support readers as they deal with the angry people in their lives.

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

How to Deal with Angry People is a tutorial and self-help guide for managing conflict by psychology professor Dr. Ryan Martin. Due out 9th May 2023 from Watkins Publishing, it's 224 pages and will be available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats.

This is a very well written, logical, accessible, and most strikingly reasonable monograph on anger: what it is, why it happens, how to recognize it in ourselves and others, and what we can do about it. The author uses considerable effort to emphasize that dealing with angry people should -never- come at the cost of sacrificing personal safety. For people who are in unsafe situations because of the anger of the people around them, he provides some basic resources for finding help to come into a better/safer environment.

The second half of the book provides 10 strategies for different situations and how to use the information provided to communicate and ameliorate inevitable conflicts which arise.

This is an information dense, useful book. There's very little "polyanna" unproductive relentless positivity and I was surprised how sensible and practical the recommendations are. This would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition or home use.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Reading updates

12 April, 2023: Started reading

12 April, 2023: Finished reading

12 April, 2023: Reviewed