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.

©2025 James Kimmel, Jr. (P)2025 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Poignant and accessible . . . James Kimmel, Jr., makes a compelling argument about the risks of revenge cravings and how we can address them. Those who avail themselves of this gift will begin to understand world events—and even their daily experiences—in a new light and will be the better for it.”—Michael A. Norko, MD, professor of psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine

“From Captain Ahab to present-day mass murderers—revenge begins with feeling persecuted and then resentful. It ends in a spiraling pit of nihilism and destructive envy. Professor Kimmel has endeavored to produce what Lifton would call a profound act of ‘species consciousness.’ He has laid a practical foundation for using our minds to overcome one of our many self-destructive tendencies.”—James L. Knoll, IV, MD, past president of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law

“An enlightening, promising, and testable approach to better understand and prevent violence.”—William R. Miller, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of New Mexico

Your Brain on Revenge

In depth analysis about the neuroscience behind revenge seeking behaviors. There was a lot of interesting information about how revenge affects the brain, and how it may be lumped into other behavioral issues such as gambling. Lots of interesting case studies too. The weakest part of the book was its latter chapters because the intervention discussed may not be practical for everyone.