A well-written description of anger and its impact on the human condition. After reading this 200+ page book I don’t know whether to classify it as a theology of anger, a counseling textbook (an ancillary text), or a self-help book - and in fact it is all three. As a theology text, the book explores how anger is defined and expressed by both God and man. As a counseling textbook it will prepare the helping professional to address the causes and repercussions of unaddressed anger. As a self-help book, the book allows the reader to address their own concerns and to move forward in their life.

The book also includes a number of helpful appendices:

1. A Checklist for Our Anger - to help evaluate where and how we need help to understand the reader’s personal struggle with anger.
2. A Devotional Response to Our Anger - guiding the believer in his response before God as they address anger in their lives.
3. General Index
4. Scripture Index

These last two were not available for review in the Advanced Reader’s Copy I received.

The book is not difficult reading and is rooted in scripture. It has a place on both the pastor’s shelf and in the church library’s. I give the book 5-stars.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions are mine alone.

At the root of anger is the desire of the heart. Anger management may ease some of the symptoms. But only Christ can give new desires in the heart, a new self. Only Christ can change what I value, and therefore what provokes me to anger.

Whether you are passive or aggressive, we all deal with anger. Anger shows itself when we lose control of our circumstances, people and how we thought of. I never thought of myself has of an angry person. Verbally or physically, however, how I internalize my day to day, there is anger. It just comes out differently. Self-righteousness is one that we are easily blinded by.

The text is foundational and I will stress not a self-help book but it is every bit of this is your illness and now here is your cure. The cure is not a step by step but a beep beep back up and lets get to the root of your anger and lets change it to something beautiful that is redeemed by Christ.

We live in a angry world right now and this text brings hope. I highly highly recommend.

A Special thank you to Crossway Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

In The Heart of Anger, Christopher Ash and Steve Midgley explore the root and character of human anger. They examine the righteous anger of God, which is important when trying to understand the rights and wrongs about human anger. Christopher Ash and Steve Midgley also provide wisdom for those who struggle with anger and want to change their hearts.

The Heart of Anger is a great book on anger, discussing the character of human anger while also explaining the righteous anger of God. I found this to be very important -- and also something that is often unclear or confusing to believers. Not only that, the authors provide many examples of what anger might practically look like in our lives -- exposing the side that we often try to hide by saying that something is not anger but something else. This book helps the reader to recognize anger in their own lives, while also helping the reader to approach God in wanting to change their heart. I thought this book was a great read and would recommend it to all believers.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy. This is a good book; very detailed on anger. It talks about things that cause anger, how people react to anger, numerous stories from the bible in which anger has made people make bad decisions etc. They delve into so many different areas in one's life in which they could encounter anger, help you think about why you acted that way, and tips on how to deal with it. They also give examples not related to the bible. Lot of things in this book that really make you think! Some good questions in the back as well for people to think about.