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  • The Body Keeps the Score

  • Mind, Brain and Body in the Transformation of Trauma
  • By: Bessel A. van der Kolk
  • Narrated by: Sean Pratt
  • Length: 16 hrs and 16 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (3,027 ratings)

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The Body Keeps the Score

By: Bessel A. van der Kolk
Narrated by: Sean Pratt
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Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

The New York Times and Audible best seller.

The effects of trauma can be devastating for sufferers, their families and future generations. Here one of the world's experts on traumatic stress offers a bold new paradigm for treatment, moving away from standard talking and drug therapies and towards an alternative approach that heals mind, brain and body.

This inspiring and timeless audiobook is read by Sean Pratt.

©2019 Bessel van der Kolk (P)2019 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"An astonishing and important book. The trauma Bible. I cannot recommend it enough for anyone struggling with...well...anything." (Tara Westover)

"Dr. van der Kolk's masterpiece combines the boundless curiosity of the scientist, the erudition of the scholar and the passion of the truth teller." (Judith Herman, author of Trauma and Recovery)

What listeners say about The Body Keeps the Score

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Good advice but hard to relate to

This book commences with examples of traumatic experiences and personal experiences. although it is useful to illustrate and describe what brings the author to certain conclusions it is hard to relate to. Particularly as it describes a lot of terrible experiences his patients suffered in the Vietnam war. Most people cannot relate to extreme war situations or terrible sexual abuse. And although the author explains that a large ratio of people have some type of trauma in their lives he then goes on to describe these extreme scenarios. Not helpful, as it undermines the impact of everyday trauma that is, bullying, abuse, fatal accidents, bereavement and watching a loved one suffer. This is how the book begins but it kind of sets the scene and I didn't find it very helpful.

133 people found this helpful

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  • Wd
  • 19-02-20

Changed my life

If you've had significant trauma in your life you need to read this, it deals with some pretty triggering topics but it's definitely impacted my life for the better

64 people found this helpful

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A treasure!!!

If you had traumatic childhood or life experiences or simply there was something missing in your family that made you feel alone and unprotected- this book will help you to start accepting what happen to you and move on.

51 people found this helpful

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A book for professionals, but still accessible

Full of science and the latest theory. Very interesting even for the lay person. I would recommend to professionals and amateur psychologists alike.

29 people found this helpful

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Great Insight into Trauma and Ways to Deal wit it.

It's a brilliant book which is very informative and insightful on Trauma and possible ways of dealing with it. It's very holistic and Dr Van Der Kolks vast experience and insights make it very valuable.

I'm in the process of training to be a Counsellor, and I know this book will have a very positive and lasting impact on my practice.

25 people found this helpful

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Essential reading for anyone working in health and social care and education

I wish the psychiatrists, therapists and nurses that I have been treated by over the last 15 years had read this book and were trauma informed. I felt like I was finally understanding and joining the dots in relation to my own difficulties. I hope that with the knowledge of why I feel, think and act in these ways I am now able to start finding ways to resolve the trauma and start feeling connected and safe I. The world. There’s a thorough review of the biology of trauma responses as well as discussion of the impact of post-traumatic stress on the individual and society followed by the ways in which people can heal and leave their trauma in their past. An interesting and well researched book by a pioneer and leading professional in trauma therapy and research. Highly recommend

18 people found this helpful

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A master key for understanding trauma

Essential reading for anyone dealing with, or working with children or adults dealing with trauma. Informative, thorough, inspiring and engaging. Both complex, yet accessible to a wide audience. This key work on trauma will provide listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the wide-ranging effects of trauma on the body and mind. More importantly it offers real hope in varied and innovative solutions to working through and resolving the scars of trauma. For those with a trauma history the content can be triggering in places and self-care and patience are essential to work through it at a safe pace. However, the level of understanding and sense of hope gained will be well worth the challenge. This should frankly be required reading/listening for anyone working in fields such as social work, health care and education.

15 people found this helpful

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A must read

Brilliant book. Fascinating, interesting, thought provoking. Reorientates your views on trauma. Just a must read.

8 people found this helpful

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Absolutely brilliant!

This book was / is amazing! Highly recommend. Enlightening, inspirational, educational... a must have book.

7 people found this helpful

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Want to better understand people around you? Read!

Reccomended reading for anyone who works with other people, necessary on the dynamics and body languages of others in different situations. A reccomended read/ listen for all lesders and managers of people.

5 people found this helpful

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 18-06-21

A piece of art.

An amazing piece of art. I am strugling with several personal problems and this book helped see myself in a different light. Why I am judgmental, why I habe outbursts of anger an so on. A must read for those on the path of self alchemy.

3 people found this helpful

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  • PM Ruiz A
  • 07-09-20

Must read for health practioners.

Understanding that pain and suffering can be explained and treated from a traumatic point of view is really helpful and insightful. This text opened my eyes to new ways to approach psychological pain in my own healing process as well as in my therapeutic process.

3 people found this helpful

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  • Ingryd
  • 25-05-21

Life changing, but really life changing!

Finally I saw a realistic and efficient set of tools to deal with ptsd 😄. Great book

2 people found this helpful

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  • Henry R
  • 01-09-22

Not what I expected. Brilliant

I expected a new age type narrative. This is definitely not that. A very interesting and insightful book.

1 person found this helpful

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  • Leevania Naicker
  • 06-03-22

One of the best books I’ve ever listened to

All people should read this book. I have learnt so much about children, adults and myself. I feel privileged to have reading this profound book. I express my deep gratitude to Dr. van der Kolk for changing how I see the world and how I can have a positive impact on it.

1 person found this helpful

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  • Nathalie Peral
  • 16-06-21

An amazing journey on understanding trauma

The body keeps the score brought so much needed light on the profound impact trauma has in life...

I loved the detailed narrative of the psychiatric, psychological ramifications and the holistic approach of how trauma should be address (the medication focused treatments that only address symptoms and not the underlying trauma on many diagnosis, let me speechless) was mind-blowing for me.

As a trauma survivor with a sister with diagnosed bipolar disorder (which luckily found solace in yoga), this book puts in words the long lasting effects of the early trauma we suffered, but also highlights the extraordinary resilience we have to overcome adversity... specially with the right knowledge at hand.

I strongly recommend this reading to everyone because it won't leave you untouched...either you will find explanations to sensations you deal with daily, or will provide you with tools to be compassionate and helpful to those who need either guidance to seek professional support, or kindnesses to be able to hold their hand in the path to recovery.

1 person found this helpful

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  • Sabrina Defeyter
  • 09-05-23

eye opener

Finally I understand where my emotional triggers come from and the same for those of others. A must read for anyone.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 02-05-23

Great book!

Great insights both for patients and professionals! The science and therapy possibilities are well communicated via real-life stories, which are easy to follow and comprehensive.

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  • Stefan Wullems
  • 05-04-23

Love it more than anything

I’m studying paychology but wasn’t sure what my specialization should be. I think I know now :)

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  • Inas
  • 08-02-23

Traumatizing stories indeed but there is hope

This book is confirming for me how important community support , music and group play is important to heal trauma .