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Trauma and Recovery

The Aftermath of Violence - from Domestic Abuse to Political Terror

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Trauma and Recovery

By: Judith Lewis Herman MD
Narrated by: Alison Mathews, Xe Sands
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About this listen

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.

©2015 Judith L. Herman (P)2019 Basic Books Abuse Child Psychology Developmental Psychology Domestic Partner Abuse Dysfunctional Families Dysfunctional Relationships Mental Health Neuroscience & Neuropsychology Parenting & Families Personal Development Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Relationships Health Special Need Survival

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
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Most relevant  
Not a simple read. Sometimes uncomfortable, irreverent, and confronting. However, as I progressed, I felt greater clarity and healing.
A must-read for professionals. The author's views may not align with everyone's opinions, but professionals will unanimously agree that the book is a must-read.

Intellectual, informative, and critical.

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the narrator had a good voice and pauses.
the book leads into the trauma model through war veterans and PTSD.
Very relevant model for trauma therapists and my clients read this also, f8nding it useful to their journey.

therapeutic model trauma relative

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This book details the history of psychoanalysis, providing the listener with an important foundation of knowledge, before outlining the stages of recovery from trauma.

If more people were educated on what trauma is and the ways in which it can impact the human brain and subsequently, human behaviour, there would be less judgement on ourselves and on each other.

A very insightful and well presented book

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I have read many many books on the topic but for a go to book this is it.. covers a lot. Sounds like the 90s? They really did write superior books on psych back then and even earlier

Understandable, essential reading on trauma

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If you work in trauma or just want to learn more, I highly recommend this book. Well written and the audio is easy enough to listen to.

Well worth the listen

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heavy going at times , clinical jargon somewhat exclusive to the novice, some statistics are out of date.over all useful information.

interesting aspects

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my only issue is that it was read a little too fast for me

great information

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Really great take on the trauma of social injustice. Trauma increases when humans dismiss or blame victims. Speaking out seems like the answer- but can cause more harm, Complexity navigated beautifully in the book.

Loved it!

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