After Anger

​​In a world quick to embrace anger, discover a profound philosophical defense of Buddhist serenity. A timely exploration of mindfulness, justice, and the power of inner peace.

Against the rising tide of rage in contemporary discourse, After Anger challenges the popular assumption that anger is necessary to combat injustice and promote a more peaceful world. Drawing from classical Buddhist meditation teachings, Stoic wisdom, Western philosophy, and psychological studies, Amod Lele presents a compelling case for mindful serenity as a path to both personal and social peace.  

Lele constructs a robust framework for understanding why serenity matters. He expertly dismantles arguments promoting anger as a tool for social justice while offering a nuanced perspective on how mindfulness can serve both individual well-being and collective progress. Through vivid narratives—from the Indian epic The Mahābhārata and the life of Kurt Cobain, to the author’s own experiences with racial prejudice—Lele shows why anger cannot be the transformative agent for justice many hope it to be. After Anger speaks directly to those questioning the efficacy of mindfulness in an age of high-stakes global crises, revealing the contemporary relevance of ancient Buddhist teachings and offering practical wisdom for anyone seeking to reduce their mental suffering without sacrificing their commitments to justice and social progress.AMOD LELE has taught Asian religion and philosophy at Harvard University, Boston University, Colorado College, and Stonehill College, and is now associate director of the Ethics Institute at Northeastern University. He has been published in many journals, including the Journal of Buddhist Ethics. He also writes for a general audience on the Indian Philosophy Blog, which he comanages, and on his personal blog and Substack, Love of All Wisdom. He has a PhD from Harvard University in the study of religion with a focus on Buddhist ethics. He is from Canada and lives with his wife in Somerville, Massachusetts.