Emphasizing the link between thoughts and emotions, this series will help readers stay in touch with and direct their feelings in positive ways. A brain map in each volume explains reactions related to the topic. Negatives and positives of each emotion are explored. All emphasize the need to connect with others and to balance emotional reactions for positive growth. Titles that address worry, rage, and crying speak to depression and coping strategies. Each of these three books includes mindfulness, but selections that deal with rage and crying give a more thorough mindfulness presentation and additional suggestions for outreach. Why We Rage encourages readers to direct their anger toward activism and provides support sources for minority teens. Why We Love accents positive self-love and selfless love and offers specific advice for strengthening mind and body.
Readers are encouraged to use that new strength to help others and are directed to volunteer opportunities. Why We Laugh encourages readers to laugh more and naturally. It warns about using laughter as a weapon and gives good suggestions about suppressing inappropriate laughter.Each volume provides scientific information, historical background, and extensive examples, but readers will be most drawn to the self-help sections that explain how that knowledge can change their lives. Junior and senior high students will be the best audiences. Because of relationships among topics and questions that promote critical thinking, students who use these sources for class presentations will find much material for discussion.