The Body Keeps the Score

Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma

By: Bessel A. van der Kolk

Narrated by: Sean Pratt

Length: 16 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

Number one New York Times best seller

“Essential reading for anyone interested in understanding and treating traumatic stress and the scope of its impact on society.” (Alexander McFarlane, director of the Centre for Traumatic Stress Studies)

A pioneering researcher transforms our understanding of trauma and offers a bold new paradigm for healing in this New York Times best seller.

Trauma is a fact of life. Veterans and their families deal with the painful aftermath of combat; one in five Americans has been molested; one in four grew up with alcoholics; one in three couples have engaged in physical violence. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, one of the world’s foremost experts on trauma, has spent more than three decades working with survivors. In The Body Keeps the Score, he uses recent scientific advances to show how trauma literally reshapes both body and brain, compromising sufferers’ capacities for pleasure, engagement, self-control, and trust. He explores innovative treatments - from neurofeedback and meditation to sports, drama, and yoga - that offer new paths to recovery by activating the brain’s natural neuroplasticity. Based on Dr. van der Kolk’s own research and that of other leading specialists, The Body Keeps the Score exposes the tremendous power of our relationships both to hurt and to heal - and offers new hope for reclaiming lives.

Cover image: © 2020 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York Courtesy of the Archives Henri Matisse, All rights reserved.

©2014 Bessel van der Kolk (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Overall Worthwhile, Lingers Too Long in the Why

I found this book to be extremely well documented and quite frankly, without the exceptional narration I don’t feel I would have gained as much from the authors knowledge in trauma. If you’re a fan of Sam Harris you’ll love this narration. As to the content, as someone who is a survivor of childhood trauma, I felt the book lingered too long in the multiple case histories and ‘why’ of the traumas and missed an opportunity to provide actionable solution, tools and resources for the reader. If you’re a trauma survivor the last thing you want or need is 20 hours of dark and triggering accounts, you’re living your own trauma already. What would have been invaluable to me would have been a sense of hope and possibility for healing and again, tools and resources to help those of us highly functional but quietly suffering, a chance to take what this obviously brilliant clinician has to share and incorporate it into our own lives. Still well worth the investment.

Fantastic but TRIGGERING

Even though this book is considered by many to be a critical starting point in trauma informed therapy, it can be upsetting for traumatized people who read it due to the graphic details.

If the reader would like to skip the pain and get to the scientifically beneficial techniques, I suggest they start with chapter 13.

Grateful

Me and my partner read this book together. Because of this book her sexual trauma was brought to light and we were able to act accordingly. Forever grateful

Our ability to understand and treat mental illness.

I loved the new treatments discussed in the last few chapters of the book. It gives me hope for humanity. It makes me want to contribute to helping these programs grow and succeed. I have already shared this book with my daughter who teaches science in middle school. She has seen the destruction and helplessness.
I will continue to refer back to this book and continue to recommend it to others. Thank you, LO

overwhelming use of the word overwhelm

a little depressing with all the data on abuse, but still very interesting and informative

Life changing. AMAZING

This book is amazing. It’s written for every and all people. It was the most fascinating, hard to listen to, eye opening book I have ever experienced. It has truly changed my way of thinking regarding all aspects of life. I just want to share it and recommend it to everyone.

10/10

My therapist prescribed this book and boy howdy. I’ve never felt more seen in my life. I will genuinely listen to this book over and over again for as long as possible. The narration is wonderful as well ♥️♥️ he has a cozy voice

Why even go to grad school?

This book is so packed full of information and its application, I feel like I've wasted tens of thousands of dollars on grad school when I could have just read this.

Be prepared to do some work

This was a great book. But intense. Don't read it if you're not ready to work on yourself.

Loved it!

This was a great read/listen! highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn about trauma and how it effects us or who has experienced trauma and or auto immune diseases