You Can't Make Me Angry

Dr. Paul O's original story is one of those in the Big Book of AA. Although this book is not AA or Alanon literature, this man quotes them quite often and he gives them the credit for his and his wife's recovery. It's clear, concise and easy to understand and apply. This is for those who have the physical addiction to alcohol under control and moved to the spot where Alanon folks start out. It's fighting the emotional alcoholism, a term I had never heard before, but when I mentioned it in Alanon, the long-timers understood it well. Why should I "allow" anyone else's actions to control me? I have a choice. A quote from the book: "What if you made up your mind that from now on for the rest of your life, you alone would decide how you are going to feel?" Can I control my feelings? I'm finding I can. My son screams at me and I start to feel hurt and self-pity and I say, "Stop. Don't allow this to destroy your day." I am not going to be the victim. It's working! It has been so invigorating and exciting and I only finished Chapter 2 a few weeks ago. I look at the chapter titles ahead and some of them are: The Basics, Techniques, More Techniques, Still More, Now Simplify, and The End. I recommend this book for anyone that wants to see great improvement in their life outlook.

... centered on Paul O's book. If I could only keep one of all the books I've read on sobriety, growth, and maturity, this would be it. Writing at the age of 82, Dr. Paul shares a lifetime's worth of hard-won lessons in simple strong prose. His candor about wrestling with his own faults helps me see him as a flawed but determined fellow traveler, instead of some perfect guru. Dr. Paul describes the relationship of anger, emotional independence, emotional sobriety and daily serenity. He provides various techniques to become aware of the nature of our anger and then to develop our emotional independence. Reading this book is like sitting down with an old friend whom you know and respect and whose advice you listen to. I had half a dozen men tell me after the meeting they wanted to get their own copy. I recommend it to you, too. John P

Could not read this book fast enough. Dr. Paul O. has such a way with words. I would highly recommend to anyone who can't seem to stop allowing other people to rent space in their brain.

I found the information in this book to be extremely helpful in dealing with my emotions (not just anger). The exercises in this book really worked for me.

Dr. Paul is known throughout the recovery world for his story in the Big Book of AA. This wonderful book extends his philosophy of acceptance to new levels and is a true "must read" for anyone in a 12 Step program. It is the difinitive work on emotional recovery and in relationships with others. Dr. Paul's humor shines through solid experiene, strength and hope, and suggestions for coping with life and life's terms. If you liked "There's More to Quitting Drinking Than Quitting Drinking", you'll love "You Can't Make Me Angry." Dr. Paul was my sponsor for ten years and so much of the way he lived is in this book, completed just months before his untimely death in 2000. Pick it up and you won't be able to put it down!