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

Best book I have listened to in over a year!

Insightful, informative, inspirational, and should be required reading for anyone working in the mental health industry, education, social work, and possibly every line of work where one person interacts with another. unless you are a hermit that never interacts with other human beings, you will learn something useful from this book.

I wish I had come across this book when it first came out. I actually wish I could have been treated by the doctor when I was growing up. This book was very impactful and personal to me. I highly recommend it.

everyone should read it

this is so important to our society and everyone should read it to be trauma aware

Good book. Reader fine.

I appreciated the audio version of this influential book. The reader is excellent and I’ve heard him read other things very well. My only complaint was his pronouncing the DSM-V repeatedly as the letter “V”, rather than the Roman numeral 5, for Fifth edition. It’s a very well-known reference book for anyone in the counseling or psychology field, so the mistake was jarring each time. Other than that, excellent!

I saw myself in this book.

The book spoke to me on a personal level. It described my trauma. The writer is sensitive to my feelings, he uses a soft language that made me feel that he puts me first- he knows how I feel. The most amazing part, he put words and meaning to what I used to confront my trauma and heal- he put a stamp of approval that I am in the right path. I now purchased the workbook. Thank you.

Informative

In-depth scientific and psychological details, examples, studies, and research. Will read/listen to again and again. I recommend this book to psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, educators, and to those who want to learn about their own body’s responses to life.

Great scientific perspective on trauma and substance abuse

I learned how to spot traumatic responses in myself and others, and the author details some very helpful techniques that can become long term pathways to recovery and living a joyful life!

great information

a little slow at first but it picks up fast and you get really great information on dealing with trauma and how it affects the mind and body

Must read

Everyone should be familiar with this research, and one day they will be. I can't believe it's 2021 and we still treat mental health like an afterthought.

I love this book. I now have hope for my future

I'm listening again. there's so much to learn. I'm getting better already. my future is bright

Powerful

If you have experienced trauma just know this book can be tough, but stick with it and take action