The Science of Revenge

Understanding the World's Deadliest Addiction--and How to Overcome It

By: James Kimmel Jr. JD

Narrated by: Kaleo Griffith

In this definitive book on revenge, psychiatry researcher James Kimmel, Jr. exposes the unseen neurobiological cause of violence—a compulsive desire for retribution—and offers a profound new understanding of human behavior and breakthrough framework for making our lives and communities safer.

“This riveting, science-based exploration of why we feel pleasure from other people’s pain is a must-read.”—Anna Lembke, MD, author of Dopamine Nation

A Next Big Idea Club Must-Read

There is a hidden addiction plaguing humanity right now: revenge. Researchers have identified retaliation in response to real and imagined grievances as the root cause of most forms of human aggression and violence. From vicious tweets to road rage, murder-suicide, and armed insurrection, perpetrators almost always see themselves as victims seeking justice. Chillingly, recent behavioral and neuroimaging studies of the human brain show that harboring a personal grievance triggers revenge desires and activates the neural pleasure and reward circuitry of addiction.

Although this behavior is ancient and seems inevitable, by understanding retaliation and violence as an addictive brain-biological process, we can control deadly revenge cravings and save lives. In The Science of Revenge, Yale violence researcher and psychiatry lecturer James Kimmel, Jr., JD, uncovers the truth behind why we want to hurt the people who hurt us, what happens when it gets out of hand, and how to stop it.

Weaving neuroscience, psychology, sociology, law, and human history with captivating storytelling, Dr. Kimmel reveals the neurological mechanisms and prevalence of revenge addiction. He shines an unsparing light on humanity’s pathological obsession with revenge throughout history; his own struggle with revenge addiction that almost led him to commit a mass shooting; America’s growing addiction to revenge as a special brand of justice; and the startlingly similar addictive behaviors and motivations of childhood bullies, abusive partners, aggrieved employees, sparring politicians, street gang members, violent extremists, mass killers, and tyrannical dictators. He also reveals the amazing, healing changes that take place inside your brain and body when you practice forgiveness. Emphasizing the necessity of proven public health approaches and personal solutions for every level of revenge addiction, he offers urgent, actionable information and novel methods for preventing and treating violence.

Excellent

I enjoyed and learned from THE SCIENCE OF REVENGE. The book flows through stories and intertwines with science -- tying everything together in a compelling, easy to listen to result.

the addiction elements of revenge

I liked the practical application using the court analogy to train the mind how to confront grievance arguments

Absolutely Life Changing

This was totally life changing for me. It shows Ana academic layout of how research is done. It told stories. If connected me with other materials to look into. I love this book.

It helped me

I used to have really bad anger issues and I was able to get past that. My new issue was holding grudges and not forgiving people. This book helped me learn why it's important to forgive.

Half of a good book

Revenge as an addiction, and all of the harm reduction strategies, yes, please. The ultimate solution? Not so much. I don't know if the "spoiler rule" counts for nonfiction, but after describing the problem and outcomes well, out of nowhere comes a "hurt people hurt people" solution modeled on the existing legal structure? Dude, I have whiplash.

Read for the excellent account of the system, follow the leads of how to prevent escalations that add up to an uncharacteristic behavior, and feel free to try the solution offered. The book works without that concluding part.