The Trauma of Everyday Life

By: Mark Epstein MD

Narrated by: Walter Dixon

Length: 6 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

Trauma does not just happen to a few unlucky people; it is the bedrock of our psychology. Death and illness touch us all, but even the everyday sufferings of loneliness and fear are traumatic. In The Trauma of Everyday Life renowned psychiatrist and author of Thoughts Without a Thinker, Mark Epstein uncovers the transformational potential of trauma, revealing how it can be used for the mind's own development. Western psychology teaches that if we understand the cause of trauma, we might move past it while many drawn to Eastern practices see meditation as a means of rising above, or distancing themselves from, their most difficult emotions. Both, Epstein argues, fail to recognize that trauma is an indivisible part of life and can be used as a lever for growth and an ever-deeper understanding of change. When we regard trauma with this perspective, understanding that suffering is universal and without logic, our pain connects us to the world on a more fundamental level. The way out of pain is through it.

Epstein’s discovery begins in his analysis of the life of Buddha, looking to how the death of his mother informed his path and teachings. The Buddha’s spiritual journey can be read as an expression of primitive agony grounded in childhood trauma. Yet the Buddha’s story is only one of many in The Trauma of Everyday Life. Here, Epstein looks to his own experience, that of his patients, and of the many fellow sojourners and teachers he encounters as a psychiatrist and Buddhist. They are alike only in that they share in trauma, large and small, as all of us do. Epstein finds throughout that trauma, if it doesn’t destroy us, wakes us up to both our minds’ own capacity and to the suffering of others. It makes us more human, caring, and wise. It can be our greatest teacher, our freedom itself, and it is available to all of us.

©2013 Mark Epstein, M.D. (P)2013 Gildan Media LLC

Original and beautifully woven

Epstein's interpretation of the life of the Buddha through a psychotherapeutic lens offers new insights into how both Buddhist and psychotherapeutic can heal everyday trauma. The author's personal illustrations make this book a gem.

Changed My Life

The only way out is through

You feel Epstein's language in your body. His writing and reasoning resonates on a level deeper than intellect

This is what i call a GREAT book

If you must read one book on pain, suffering ..etc then let it be this one ...
But let me first clarify that this is a Buddhist book filled with the teachings of the Buddha ...it is also filled with information about the life of the Buddha, but that usually comes with a purpose ...
I cannot praise this book enough ... as it helped me finally OPEN my eyes to reality instead of dreaming away with all the self-help junk i have read throughout the years ..
An insightful ... sobering ... well written book
note: i didn't like the narration at all ...

Astounding

Another wonderful read by Dr. Epstein. Engaging, thought provoking and insightful. Can’t wait to read more.

It's Predominantly Buddhist Philosophy/Psychology

Would you try another book from Mark Epstein M.D. and/or Walter Dixon?

no

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

to include more religious perspectives

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

yes

Did The Trauma of Everyday Life inspire you to do anything?

no, not at all

Any additional comments?

While the philosophy is interesting and is applicable for therapists to use in their work, it wasn't for me seeking inspiration.

The golden wind as holding environment

What did you love best about The Trauma of Everyday Life?

Through exploration of stories of the Buddha, Epstein allows us to recognize, acknowledge, and accept the inherently traumatic nature of our everyday experience. With these stories of the Buddha's journey to enlightenment, he weaves in philosophy (e.g., Husserl), psychoanalysis (e.g., Winnicott), developmental psychology and brain science. The result is a lucid explication of the inherently intersubjective nature of existence and the value of implicit relational knowing. The latter has perhaps been referred in the Buddhist cannon as the golden wind. The golden wind seems to be emblematic of the necessity of bringing of attention, acknowledgment, and acceptance of our experience, across the positive and the negative, the painful, the pleasureful, the neutral, in order to discover self as well as other. The golden wind may be in psychoanalysis the essence of the healing relationship between therapist and client; in developmental psychology the good enough mother-child relationship, and in meditation the open awareness evoked in mindfulness meditation. As I read this book, I could not help but be drawn to see his argument as an excellent portrayal of recent calls to honor our "right brain" way of "being" and to quiet the "left brain" way of "doing, grasping and manipulating" as described by the neuroscientist Iain McGilchrist ("The Master and his Emissary"-another must read). Thank you Mark Epstein for this lovely book.

Who was your favorite character and why?

the Buddha

What three words best describe Walter Dixon’s voice?

bit too fast

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

Any additional comments?

The speed made following the audio version somewhat challenging, just little too fast to process while listening. Interspersing reading with listening worked better.

The best

Absolutely eye opening. At 80 and teaching yoga,Taekwondo Taichi and steeped in Buddhist dharma for over 50 yrs I have never felt better in my body mind spirit than I do now because I have brought the child in me to the present moment. Both the wounded child and the wonder child. Then I heard this book and it knocked my socks off.So deep so revealing. Opening me up.Once as hard as nails now I can cry on a dime and it feels wonderful and this book told me why Right book right timing.- David Roya

Good information, maybe fire the speed reader?

Would you try another book from Mark Epstein M.D. and/or Walter Dixon?

I plan on reading more from Mark Epstein, but I doubt I'll ever read anything narrated by Walter Dixon.

What didn’t you like about Walter Dixon’s performance?

The message of the book sometimes and somehow overcame the Evelyn Wood speed reading disciple's performance. Maybe it was electronically sped up? It's ironic that such a book that's somewhat about slowing down to reflect, was performed so speedily.

Good book

Good book but it lacked the spirited Passion of the author. The narrator was kinda dry and dispassionate about it . It's just so much if a book is narrated by the author. I normally devour and get a lot out of a audible book but this one not so much. The narrator was well spoken and clear but his skill would be better suited for a electrical or mechanical auto texted book

Always good.

Second book I've listened to by Mark, I hope he narrates his other books himself. Overall, great book though.