Abstract
Fear of anger can ultimately be as destructive as expressed rage, fomenting social isolation, injustice, and misunderstanding. In Aging Angry: Making Peace with Rage, Amanda Smith Barusch argues that now, more than ever, it is time for older adults to turn toward anger rather than denying or avoiding it. By taking anger seriously, we can neutralize its destructive potential and harness its energy and wisdom for personal and social change. Barusch draws upon the experiences of hundreds of older adults and a wealth of literary and academic sources to empower readers with new understanding of anger's sources, dynamics, and possibilities. Topics range from anger and race in the United States to mass violence committed by older adults to aged activists who have changed our world. In rich and insightful prose, accompanied throughout by powerful case studies, Aging Angry forcefully demonstrates that anger--and even rage--can be transformative.