I've read a few books about how people behave, what they say to each other, and this is by far superior to many. Though other authors get rave publicity on 20/20 and other shows, their books lack substance. I especially liked the childhood component chapter to this as it explains why people might get so angry and hold things in. Then, as the authors show in countless examples, it sneaks out and bites you. What's best, it's not geared to one gender as some books are these days so it helps everyone. I understand passive aggressive people a LOT better after reading this book and highlighting a few sections. I'm sure I'll refer to it next time I'm thrown by a difficult person.

I'm not sure why "book addict" posted such a negative review because it is clear he/she hasn't read the book. First, Congressman Murphy humbly mentions his political career only in the introduction -- appropriate there for sure -- and then stays with his experience helping individuals and families as a psychologist. As for organization, I found it immensely helpful in beginning descriptions of how a passive-aggressive person becomes this way, and the authors write about the bigger picture of hidden anger. While they mention in the back of the book a list of personality disorders, that part of the material is so in the background, and the focus is wholeheartedly on passive-aggression and other types of angry concealers at work, at home, in relationships, in everyday life. Sometimes it's the self-absorbed, passive-aggressive character; other times the depressed, passive-aggressive person. This is the only book out there that clarifies this phenomenon this way. So what's the real problem with that unless it's personal or hits home?

We have ALL seen this behavior at play, and I'd posit that we're seeing it in certain posts when reviewers have not read the book. In this case, I'd stick with the professional trade publication reviews (Publishers Weekly and Library Journal) telling us more about this book than any angry reviewer with an ax to grind. If they said it examines the topic well and grasps the material -- that's the deciding vote for any prospective reader/book buyer, in my opinion!