Trauma and Recovery

The Aftermath of Violence - from Domestic Abuse to Political Terror

By: Judith Lewis Herman MD MD

Narrated by: Alison Mathews, Xe Sands

The groundbreaking work on trauma that remains a “classic for our generation” (Bessel van der Kolk, MD, author of The Body Keeps the Score)

Trauma and Recovery is the foundational text on understanding trauma survivors. By placing individual experience in a political frame, psychiatrist Judith L. Herman argues that psychological trauma is inseparable from its social and political context. Drawing on her own research on incest, as well as a vast literature on combat veterans and victims of political terror, she shows surprising parallels between private horrors like child abuse and public horrors like war.

This edition includes a new epilogue by the author assessing what has—and hasn’t—changed in understanding and treating trauma over the last three decades.

Hailed by the New York Times as “one of the most important psychiatry works to be published since Freud,” Trauma and Recovery is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand how we heal.

Critic reviews

"One of the most important psychiatric works to be published since Freud."—New York Times

"A landmark."—Gloria Steinem

"A stunning achievement ... a classic for our generation."—Bessel van der Kolk, M.D., author of The Body Keeps the Score

"A book of luminous intelligence. You must read it as soon as possible."—Sophie Freud

"Astute, accessible, and beautifully documented. Bridging the worlds of war veterans, prisoners of war, battered women, and incest victims, Herman presents a compelling analysis of trauma and the process of healing. A triumph."—Laura Davis, coauthor of The Courage to Heal

"Brilliant."—Boston Globe

"This book will surely become a landmark work on the social impact of psychological trauma and on its treatments.... A magnificent gift to survivors."—Women's Review of Books

"Herman's brilliant insights into the nature of trauma and the process of healing shine through in every page of this rich and compassionate book."—Lenore Walker, ED.D., Director, Domestic Violence Institute, and author of Terrifying Love

"Herman links the public traumas of society to those of domestic life in this provocative work of psychiatric theory."—Publishers Weekly

Wonderful

Great information which is much needed. The psychiatric field was terribly lacking in this area.

So important for everyone to read!

Just an amazing piece of work. I will listen to this countless times. Definitely a must read!

prolific

patience has been a virus; praying it is virtuous in the end. narrator's voice was juuuuust right. Page Tourner fir sure

A Great Primer on Trauma

Despite the date of publication, the information is a relevant and impactful as ever. Deep background and practical information for practitioners.

A must for everyone!!

This brilliant book kindly held my hand while blowing my mind.

I was pleasantly surprised to find it an academic yet highly accessible read, & for the first time I witnessed the fully fleshed out struggles, confusion, pain, gas lighting of myself & others who continue to suffer horrific experiences in seeking help from therapists & institutions that claim to offer it. Equal vigor is given to the success stories of those greatly benefited by quality support. Such instances well observed the many lessons learned from the ongoing pitfalls in the so called grey areas of the gulf between ‘great’ & ‘awful’ care, in my opinion.

This book gives a clear, concise, honest, well researched explanation on the subject of Trauma & Recovery from many angles. It explains what Trauma is, how & why it occurs, how it is & was treated
in the past through to the present day, with great insight on our future endeavors to heal from such complex events, linking our private & personal terrors to the wider landscape of society, including of course - the political.

This is an excellent read & is well narrated. I’m eternally grateful for having found such a gem, & loved it so much I’m about to read it again.