Living Unoffended: The Joy of Simple Peace in An Angry, Anxious World

by Brant Hansen

Anger feels powerful, but it’s a trap. What if you could break free from the cycle of offense and embrace a life of peace, joy, and forgiveness?

We live in an outrage culture. Social media thrives on anger, and people are more divided than ever. Anger feels justified—it gives us a sense of control and moral superiority. But it’s exhausting, isolating, and ultimately destructive. Studies show that chronic anger increases stress, damages relationships, and even harms physical health.

Living Unoffendable by bestselling author Brant Hansen offers a practical, faith-based roadmap to freedom from anger. With humor, biblical wisdom, and Brant Hansen’s signature hand-drawn illustrations, this two-color “action guide”  shows readers how

Let go of offense and embrace forgiveness.Build emotional resilience in a culture of outrage.Discover joy and peace through a lifestyle of grace.This book combines short, impactful essays compiled from Brant’s bestselling books, along with all-new content, making it accessible, engaging, and designed to resonate with readers of all backgrounds.

Readers will

Practical tools to release anger and reduce stress.A deeper understanding of forgiveness as a path to freedom.Emotional resilience to navigate an increasingly angry world.A calm, joyful mindset that transforms relationships and daily life.Don’t let anger control your life. By emphasizing universal themes like stress reduction and emotional resilience, Living Unoffendable will appeal to any reader interested in mindfulness and personal growth.

Living Unoffendable is the blueprint for peace and joy in a divided world. Get your copy today and start living unoffended!

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Personal Growth, Christian Living

208 pages, Paperback

Published June 9, 2026

About the author

Brant Hansen is a radio host who has won multiple National Personality of the Year awards. He also works with CURE International, a worldwide network of hospitals that brings life-changing medical care and the good news of God’s love to children with treatable conditions. Brant currently lives in Northern California with his wife, Carolyn; his son, Justice; and his daughter, Julia. He can be found at branthansen.com and @branthansen on Twitter.

Reviews

[Hannah Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and W Publishing Audibooks for an ALC of this book!

This was an interesting addition to Brant Hansen’s previous book: Unoffendable. I really enjoyed this new perspective of living life without being so easily offended.

I loved the chapters where Hansen discussed gratitude and how we can achieve it in our everyday life. Gratitude and contentment go hand in hand and Hansen did a great job bringing that back to Apostle Paul’s experience with this while writing a few of the epistles in prison.

He also went into the harms of social media and the image management people try to achieve. I loved how he talked about how people posting pictures or experiences doesn’t make others want to be more like you, it just makes people want the stuff you have. Social media has turned into a big comparison game. At the heart of the matter, this can isolate friendships, hurt feelings and create jealousy. Having new experiences and enjoying your life and wanting to share that with other people is not morally wrong. He had this perspective in connection with Psalm 23:1. “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.”

[Julianne Harkleroad · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Being offended is a tiring business... Taking offense is a natural sport."

Living Unoffended is a spiritual audit of readers' hearts and the community around us. Hansen uses the Bible to help systematically examine our motives, beliefs, and reactions, turning us to Truth, helping redirect our immediate responses into ones that glorify God and heal our broken souls.

I loved how Hansen encourages readers to question everything the church presents: is it biblical? Is it accurate? Is it skewed toward a quasi-biblical bias? Scripture tells us that everyone falls short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), so Christians who understand this fact should expect bad theology practiced- even preached from the stage. We shouldn't be surprised or disappointed with "dumpster pastors", after all, we're dumpster congregants. The real question is what will you do about it? Stay silent? Rage and leave the church? Or biblically, respectfully, address it? Believers are implored to confess and turn back into the light and fellowship (1 John 1:5-10).

"My goal with relationships is no longer to try and change people, but introduce them to a God who is already reaching toward them right where they are."

It is right and good for all believers to embody the characteristics and responses of Jesus, overtime making them second nature, changing our very souls (sanctification). This book is a balm to the human soul- a reminder that God and Jesus are never surprised by our sin, but love us through it, ready to accept us and change our hearts when we let Him.

Hansen's cultural explanation for verses stating believers are to "heap burning coals" on our enemies heads changed my personality. Our enemies aren't to burn, get what's coming to them, or even feel convicted. We're called to share our fire, bless our enemies by fulfilling their needs, so they can have fire- life-saving substance!- too. That is the Lord's provision and will. I definitely needed a moment in prayer after that convicting passage. Encouragingly, a subsequent section about praying for your enemies had me laughing out loud! Hansen perfectly balances Truth with conviction and grace, keeping readers engaged, not minding the painful pruning.

“In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold." (Eph 4:26+27)
"Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'” (Romans 12:19) God is my defender, protector, and a better judge of His righteousness than me.

This sweet book reminded me that my understanding of grace is often far too narrow. Receiving salvation, a huge gift of grace should make me more patient, loving, and generous. Jesus redeemed believers' souls, so they are His to change into whatever He wills. "That lady redeemed it, so it's hers now."

What an excellent read!

Thank you to W Publishing Audiobooks and NetGalley for this ARC!

[John A. Steadman · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I love the overall theme and thesis of this book. We are not entitled to hold onto anger. It is not our job to be angry about the injustices of this world. Replace anger with gratitude and compassion. We should not be surprised by other people's sin. We are all sinners in need of salvation and we inevitably do selfish and prideful things. God chose to forgive us despite of our sin and if we truly accept that, then we must be willing to forgive others as well - this includes giving up our right to be angry about what they did.

This book is more like a revision of the original unoffendable book written over 10 years ago. As I have read that one at least five times I know that a majority of this book is close to a carbon copy of that one. I do however think this one is laid out better and some of the points are presented more effectively in this book. I'm currently reading reactivity by Paul David Tripp and I realized that that book makes some of the same points that this one does but in a much more succinct and logical way. I think Brant aims to teach in a similar way to Jesus by using lots of stories to make his points in a less direct way. I personally prefer a more streamline logical sequence when making an argument in a book and this book doesn't flow as smoothly as I think it could.

[Sadie Steffens · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a long-time reader who always appreciates Brant Hansen’s wisdom, I am consistently drawn to his writing. He has a rare gift: he doesn't take himself too seriously, yet he is entirely willing to examine what the Bible says against his own heart attitudes and our modern culture to see where they misalign. In today’s deeply polarized society, his countercultural message is more urgent than ever.

I originally read Hansen’s book Unoffendable when it was first released back in 2015. Earlier this year, recognizing that my own heart desperately needed a refresher, I found myself reaching for it once again. Shortly after, I was excited to receive an Advanced Reader Copy of his latest release, Living Unoffended.

Living Unoffended serves as a practical, faith-based action guide for breaking free from modern "outrage culture." Hansen’s central thesis remains simple yet revolutionary: anger is an emotion you feel, but holding onto it is a choice. As humans, we have no scriptural right to carry offense or perpetual anger. Hansen uses his signature blend of self-deprecating humor, biblical insights, and hand-drawn sketches to tackle the myth of "righteous indignation." He dismantles the idea that our rage is justified, pointing out that human anger is deeply flawed, self-serving, and rarely accomplishes anything fruitful. Crucially, the book clarifies that anger and action are separate. Hansen shows that we can recognize injustice, grieve it, and actively work to correct it, just as Martin Luther King Jr. did, without harboring personal malice or rage. By trading our ego for radical humility, we unlock a roadmap to mental, physical, and spiritual health through forgiveness and gratitude.

Format Guide: Which Book Is Right for You?
Because Living Unoffended shares a similar core message and some textual overlap with Unoffendable, the right book for you comes down to structural preference:

* Choose Living Unoffended if you are looking for a quick, easily digestible version. It features short, segmented chapters that make it a easy to read and reflect on small chunks.
* Choose Unoffendable if you prefer a standard, traditional chapter format that dives into the concepts with a more linear flow.

Whether you pick up the original or this new release, the message of giving up our anger is desperately needed. Choosing to live unoffended lowers our stress, restores deep peace, and transforms our relationships. I highly recommend making this a regular read to continuously remind ourselves of the freedom found in letting go.

Thanks to W Publishing, Brant Hansen, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a review.

[Audrey Gillies · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF (Did Not Finish)

I was excited to read Living Unoffended because I have heard of the author's other books. However, I decided to stop reading about a third of the way through.

Disjointed Format: Rather than presenting a cohesive argument, the book is broken into disjointed, bite-sized sections of five to ten paragraphs. It reads less like a thoughtfully structured book and more like a scrolling social media feed. Because the concepts do not build upon one another, I realized that my disagreements would not be resolved by further development of thought later on.

Contradictory Tone: While the premise advocates for a thicker skin, the author frequently talks in circles, spending significant time pointing fingers at how easily others are offended. Ironically, this gives the impression that he is quite offended by their offense.

Forced Humor: The humor felt a forced and distracting. It came across as trying too hard to be quirky rather than adding value to the message.

Cynical Worldview: The book repeatedly emphasizes that we shouldn't be surprised by human sinfulness. While this is true, simply shrugging our shoulders and accepting "that's just the way it is" creates a rather hopeless, cynical worldview. It leaves no room for constructive criticism or allowing others the opportunity to grow and change.

Theological Misalignments: The author makes statements suggesting that Jesus was never "shocked," "scandalized," or "taken aback" by human behavior. Presenting Christ as a perpetually relaxed figure who didn't mind what others were doing feels unbiblical. Scripture frequently shows Jesus responding to others' actions with strong emotion and conviction. We see Him directly confronting religious leaders ("You snakes! You brood of vipers!" — Matthew 23:33), expressing hurt and frustration when His closest disciples fell asleep in His time of need ("Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?" — Matthew 26:40), and delivering a sobering warning to His followers after the rich young man walked away ("Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven." — Matthew 19:23).

While the concept of letting go of anger is valuable, the fragmented structure and theological misalignments kept this from being a worthwhile read for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Kalen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book presents a strong and relevant message about letting go of anger and choosing forgiveness in a culture that often thrives on outrage. The core ideas are meaningful, and I can see how many readers would find encouragement and practical value in the content.

However, the overall delivery didn’t fully work for me. The writing style is very conversational, which makes sense given Hansen’s background in radio, but it often felt scattered and hard to follow. At times, I found myself unsure where a chapter was heading or how the points connected.

The book is made up of many very short chapters, likely intended to make it more digestible. Instead, it gave the impression of being fragmented, and some sections felt like filler rather than adding depth. Because of this, the message didn’t land as strongly as I expected.

That said, this may come down to personal preference. Readers who enjoy a casual, quick-read format with brief reflections may appreciate this style more than I did.

Overall, while the message is solid and worthwhile, the structure and pacing made it a less engaging read for me. I had read two other books written by Brant Hansen and look forward to his next book.

I received a free copy of Living Unoffended by Brant Hansen through NetGalley and W Publishing.

[Meeoak · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author's voice is raw and honest. It felt to me like he wrote these words to encourage himself to keep following Christ, even in our current day and age - where offenses are easily triggering and more often lead to destructive behaviors.

The main point of the book is that as Christians our own offenses are forgiven by Christ's death and resurrection, so we should extend the same forgiveness and patience to others. Even if the world around us is changing, stand firm in the Gospel. This is Biblically sound, and I totally agree.

While I appreciated that the author pointed readers to Christ and the Gospel, I had a difficult time relating to his voice and style of writing. He expresses that he had a lot of bad experiences with churches and church leaders, and that Christians are the most triggered or easily offended. I acknowledge this may be the author's experience, and the tone of the book reflected and skewed in that direction. I would have appreciated if the book presented a more balanced and cohesive voice.

I was drawn to the book description and title, because I do feel it's much needed right now. I reached for this book looking for hope and fresh air, but unfortunately, the book missed the mark for me.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the opportunity to review an ARC. All views expressed are my own.

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done again!!
I originally read Unoffendable and was blown away with some of the stories - particularly how someone took an anticipated confrontational situation and turned into an invitation to show love and respect to a group who assumed his values would dictate otherwise.

When I saw that Living Unoffended was coming out, I pre-ordered it so I would get it as soon as it was available. I was not disappointed. Brant Hansen challenges us to follow Jesus and the Bible unabashedly with the knowledge that wherever God takes us, it's okay, because He loves us more than we could ever imagine and He can be trusted. He is the only One Who is 100% trustworthy and no matter what was done to Jesus, He acted in love. He was not outraged (with the exception of the moneychangers) and we are never instructed to be angry - only that when we are, we do not sin.

This book also calls us to humility and cooperation and Brant is transparent about his own challenges and missteps in seeking to live in the way modeled by Jesus.

I recommend getting the audio version as well. Brant is the narrator and it is like sitting with a wonderful friend - one who will tell you the truth in love - who is inviting you to journey with - missteps and all - to show the love of Christ to the world. Well done!! I'll be reading it again.

Thank you, Brant Hansen!

[Clay Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brant Hansen's Living Unoffended is a counter-cultural roadmap that we need in today's anxious, outrage-driven world.

The book centers on a challenging premise: that we have no inherent right to offense or anger. Hansen argues that human anger is heavily flawed and exhausting, and he advocates for treating immediate forgiveness as direct action. By dropping the need to be the judge and victim of everyone around us, we can step into a strategic mindset shift that values true mental resilience and personal sovereignty over constant, reactive outrage.

What makes this book work so well is how accessible Hansen makes this heavy topic. The audiobook version is read by Hansen, and his natural, conversational delivery is fantastic. He shares stories from his own life and real-world struggles, which anchors his advice in reality rather than abstract ideals.

It features very short, numbered chapters that take only 2 to 5 minutes to read or listen to. I loved this layout because it allows you to listen to a single, punchy concept at your own pace without needing to dedicate an hour to a single chapter. If you want practical steps to actively build a more peaceful mindset and step off the carousel of modern outrage, I highly recommend this.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC Audiobook from NetGalley. I easily rate it 4.5⭐ My husband and I actually listened to this together, on a roadtrip we were on, and we both thoroughly enjoyed it. We have really liked Brant Hansen for a long time, so we already knew his humor would be on point, along with sharing hard-hitting truths. This did not disappoint in either of those areas. Man, we were seriously checked several times, and would pause it and talk about different aspects of what Brant was talking about. It's so important to allow yourself to be challenged, and to do some self-reflection...often. I think Brant did an excellent job of making you stop and think about different things you may or may not be doing, but without beating yourself up about it. It was all about recognizing these different things, and how Jesus gives us everything we need to make necessary changes, for our own peace. I think everyone would benefit from listening to this, not just Christians. Not allowing the actions/words of others to make us angry and anxious is something we should all do. Life is too short and too good to spend it being irritated and angry with other people. Living it filled with joy sounds like a much better option to me.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Living Unoffended By Brandt Hanson is an easy to read book with some really good stories. In short, Brandt teaches that we have no right to be offended by other people. Then he goes on to share stories and scriptures that support this and tell us how to be better at not taking offense but instead forgiving and being grateful. I read a book he wrote called UnOffendable about 9 months ago. That book has stuck with me. This book seems to be a shorter version of that one. I did notice some things I didn't notice in the previous book. I did prefer UnOffendable, possibly because I read it first. My favorite quote from this book is (well I didn't write it word for word) A humble person is a cheerful, intelligent person who takes a real interest in what others say.

This book is an advance copy given to my by the publisher and NetGalley. It is due to be published June 9, 2026. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Shelley Marushak Langelaar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first experience with Brant Hansen’s work and hopefully it won’t be my last. This was such an encouraging message with added a kick in the pants to put it into action. I loved the fact that it was faith based and allowed me to see the Christian perspective on being offended. He not only utilized biblical insights he also was able to weave humor through-out - this kept me engaged.

I appreciated the parts on the importance of forgiveness and the practical ways to practice not only forgiveness but living a life where one can be unoffended.

I truly believe that he has given people a great resource to heal and strengthen their current relationships and a blueprint on how to establish future healthy relationships.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to experience this message. All opinions are strictly my own.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was offensive (JK, JK, JK).

This is a short but powerful book written with humor and gentleness for Christians on how to live with others with kindness.

Christians should be the most forgiving people on the planet because we know we have been forgiven more than we deserve and in turn, we can share that grace with others.

Even before I finished listening to this, I started recommending it! It is such a timely reminder.

I loved listening to this book, but I’m also counting down the days to the physical release of the book so I can highlight ALL the things.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and W Publishing Audiobooks for the opportunity to enjoy this audiobook! I love that it is read by the author!!

[donutqueenie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I already love the way Brant Hansen writes and own several of his books and I think this one is my new favorite.

This book is so easy to follow. The writing is charming and raw. The tone is so straightforward and hilarious in a “slap you with truth” kind of way. It’s so relevant today when everyone on the internet is offended at something new every day. Forfeiting your right to anger is denying yourself and you can do that by seeing the human heart for what it is and not being scandalized by it. There’s so much good wisdom in this book.

I love the short chapters and the stick figures. The white text on grey pages was hard to read. I also think quills are cool.

“Anger is easy. Love is a miracle.”

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC! Release date 6/9/26.

[Teresa Fales · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Brant Hansen's Unoffendable. It was a challenging and important call for Christians to imitate Christ's response to offense. In the foreword to Living Unoffended, Hansen says he revisited the topic because it is still such an important thing to keep talking about. He is definitely right about that, and I did find this book to be a good reminder and check-up for me. I am glad to have received an advanced reader's copy of Living Unoffended from Publisher's Weekly. If I were new to the concept I would prefer to start with Unoffendable, but for any reader who read Unoffendable when it came out, by all means, get your booster shot against gracelessness by reading Living Unoffended now.

[G Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brent Hanson has done a remarkable job of defeating every excuse I have to be offended. When I would say in my mind, “Yeah, but..”, there was a point made that defeated my great answer. I listened to the audio version and have the ebook copy as well. I will be buying the paper version next to underline and have for easy reference. Our world is full of people feeling offended about any and everything. Hanson uses multiple examples and scriptures to reinforce the argument for us leaving an unoffended lifestyle. I’d love to say this is only for Christians, but I feel any agnostic or atheist picking up this book would find themselves nodding their heads in agreement with the statements they read. Psa. 139:23,24 have taken on a new meaning for me after reading ‘Living Unoffended’

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Living Unoffended: The Joy of Simple Peace in An Angry, Anxious World

I really enjoyed this book!

Hansen not only covers some really relevant issues of today, but does it constructively with grace.
The writing is really conversational and makes you think a lot about yourself.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone feeling burned out by things like online discourse or division.

I find the book very accessible to all types of readers, whether you are looking for a self-help book, or a book on anxiety or even anger.

I was also happy to have a lot of references to scripture in the book.

Definitely recommend checking out this book!

4.6/5

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC!

I'm gonna be honest, I really wanted to love this book. It just didn't feel cohesive to me. It took me nearly 40 pages to realize that this book isn't really divided into chapters but into short essays. The book is titled Living Unoffended, but half the essays don't even touch this topic. It felt like a bunch of random reflections put together without any logical division. I think adding sections to the book would have helped tremendously.

I did enjoy the reflections in and of themselves. The art was also entertaining and went along with each essay.

Overall, the writing is enjoyable, but it lost me with the organization.

[A M “VegasBookDragon” Van Eaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent read and listen. The book is a mix of several short chapters all supporting how to live peacefully all backed with Scripture. I think this book would be excellent for both the new believer and more experienced because there are multiple nuggets of wisdom within. Hansen has a gift of speaking and writing that makes the difficult to understand rather smooth.

#LivingUnoffended #NetGalley #WPublishing
Thank you to W Publishing and Thomas Nelson for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Edith Best]

Simplified from the original

If you already own and read Unoffendable you really do not need to buy this version but it's still a fun and helpful and inspiring read. If you haven't read the original and you like super short chapters , this one is for you. They are both great, but I prefer the depth of the original. Most of the content here was in the original. Some new stuff. He's always a delight to read for anyone wanting to get closer to God regardless of one's religion though the book is written for Christians.

[Steph Leeson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not mind the audiobook. It has the typical cheesy Christian lightheartedness when it comes to making jokes. Eye roll here. I have the first book by Brant Hansen, and I found myself hearing some of the same stuff that was written in the first book. Which is ironic because he asks, “Why would he write a book with 4000 pages when he can do it in 400 pages?" But technically, without the repeat of stories and examples, it could have been a 200-page book.

[Shuvai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brant Hansen’s Living Unoffended is a refreshing, faith‑based guide to peace in a divided world. With humor, biblical insight, and practical tools, Hansen dismantles the myth of “righteous anger” and shows how forgiveness frees us from stress and resentment. This book empowers readers to embrace joy, resilience, and grace, offering a blueprint for healthier relationships and daily calm.

Thank you netgalley for a free audio of this book in exchange I am leaving my honest review of this book.

[Kasia Hubbard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a great reaction to Brant Hansen's Unoffendable book. I threw it across the room. Real, right? Living Unoffended is even better. While most of the content is the same, it's also updated, with real pictures this time (YAY!) Living Unoffended still has short chapters. Still has the same humor from Brant. What's more important, is that we have a choice. We can choose to be 'unoffendable'. Highly recommend!
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion*

[Jessica Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is possible thanks to an advanced reader copy from NetGalley. Hansen has penned a nice reflective read to either kickstart or refresh your focus and relationship with God. There were a lot of subtle reminders that reminded me of how grateful I am because of my relationship with God. I would recommend this to everyone!

[Savvy_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brant Hansen has such a unique way of seeing g things, and his new book “Living Unoffended” is no exception. With humor along with examples and scriptures, Brant delineates the many reasons why we should put aside offense, anger and an unforgiving attitude in order to rest in God’s peace. I enjoyed reading this book, and I’m thankful to Net Galley and Thomas Nelson publishers for the ARC.

[Heather Panter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy Brant’s writing style, whit and humor and I appreciated the message, short chapters, and colorful illustrations. I’ve read all of Brant’s books so it was nice getting to hear some familiar stories as well as new ones.

[Tricia McCaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another enjoyable, informative book by Brant Hansen! Loved the stick figures and humour mixed with theology. A great reminder of how forgiven people are to live!

[JO STONE · Rating 5 out of 5]

practical wisdom

in his witty and pointed way Brant gives bite sized pieces of advice and wisdom for a life of peace in the midst of our crazy, stressful world.

[Bethany Fehr · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sampler of vignettes from the author's other works along with a good chunk of new content. The insights are worth hearing repeated. :)

[Dave Nissen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good book. Really challenging. Anger can’t live here.