The Power of Guilt: Why We Feel It and Its Surprising Ability to Heal

Guilt is one of the most powerful–and unpleasant–emotions we experience. When we feel it, we want it gone.

But it carries an important purpose we should learn not to ignore.

When was the last time you felt guilty? Chances are, you don’t even want to think about it–most of us would rather not. It’s uncomfortable. We can’t change what we did now, so why dwell on it?

But avoiding guilt is a mistake we have to stop making if we want to improve our lives, our relationships, and our mental health.

Drawing on extensive research into psychology, psychotherapy, philosophy, comparative religion, and legal studies, as well as Chris Moore’s own foundational experiences with the emotion, Guilt offers a new perspective.

In this fascinating deep dive, readers will learn:

The evolutionary origins of guilt, what its real purpose is, and how it impacts us

Why we should view guilt as a healthy emotion–and even be grateful for it

How to reframe guilt as an opportunity to grow and strengthen our relationships

Why collective guilt holds the potential for driving social change

Ways to recognize when our guilt is misplaced and acting as an obstacle

Our ability to feel guilt is a gift, not a burden. We need only change the way we respond to it. Guilt is an engaging and eye-opening journey through one of the most notorious–and underutilized–emotions.

Author: Chris Moore
Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Benbella Books
Published: 01/06/2026
Pages: 368
ISBN: 9781637747728
Language: English