The Body Keeps the Score
 Cover featuring Henri Matisse's Icarus | |
| Author | Bessel van der Kolk |
|---|---|
| Original title | The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma |
| Publisher | Viking Press |
Publication date | 2014 |
| Pages | 464 |
| ISBN | 978-0670785933 |
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma is a 2014 book by Bessel van der Kolk about the effects of psychological trauma, also known as traumatic stress.[1][2] The book describes van der Kolk's research and experiences, on how individuals are affected by traumatic stress, and its effects on the mind and body.
The book is published in 36 languages.[3] As of July 2021, the book had spent more than 141 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List for Nonfiction; 27 of those weeks were spent in the number one position.[4]
Overview[edit]
In this work, van Der Kolk discusses the effect of trauma[1] and forms of healing including possible eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, yoga, and limbic system therapy.[5]
Reception[edit]
The book was well-received, including a starred review from Library Journal.[6]
The book also received positive reviews from people working in the field, including Dr. Stephen Porges, a psychiatry professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Dr. Ruth A. Lanius, the Harris-Woodman Chair in Psyche and Soma; a professor of psychiatry, and director PTSD research at the University of Western Ontario; Dr. Richard Schwartz, originator of Internal Family Systems Therapy; Dr. Rachel Yehuda, professor of psychiatry and neuroscience and Director of the Traumatic Stress Studies Division at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine; Dr. Daniel J. Siegel, clinical professor at UCLA School of Medicine; Dr. Alicia F. Lieberman, the Irving B. Harris Endowed Chair in Infant Mental Health, Vice Chair of Academic Affairs at University of California - San Francisco, and Director of the Child Trauma Research Program at San Francisco General Hospital; Dr. Vincent J. Felitti, Chief of Preventative Medicine Emeritus at Kaiser Permanente San Diego; and Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, Professor of Medicine emeritus at University of Massachusetts Medical School.[3]
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Reviewing the book for New Scientist magazine, Shaoni Bhattacharya wrote that "[p]acked with science and human stories, the book is an intense read that can get technical. Stay with it, though: van der Kolk has a lot to say, and the struggle and resilience of his patients is very moving."[2]
Dr. Alexander McFarlane, Director of the Centre for Traumatic Stress Studies, called the book “Essential reading for anyone interested in understanding and treating traumatic stress and the scope of its impact on society.”[7]
Stephen Cope, Founder and Director of the Kripalu Institute for Extraordinary Living, said, "Every once in a while, a book comes along that fundamentally changes the way we look at the world. Bessel VanderKolk has written such a book. Having read “The Body Keeps the Score”, it will be impossible for us any longer to deny the profound extent of trauma and its impact on our lives."[8]
Dr. Pat Ogden, Founder and Educational Director of the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute, stated that the book leaves the reader "with both a profound appreciation for and a felt sense of, the debilitating effects of trauma, along with hope for the future through fascinating descriptions of novel approaches to treatment. This outstanding volume is absolutely essential reading not only for therapists but for all who seek to understand, prevent, or treat the immense suffering caused by trauma."[3]
In 2019, the book was ranked second in the science category of The New York Times Best Seller.[9] As of July 2021, the book spent more than 141 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List for Nonfiction; 27 of those weeks were spent in the number one position.[4]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.: 9780143127741 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books". PenguinRandomhouse.com. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
- ^ a b Bhattacharya, Shaoni (2014-11-05). "The lifelong cost of burying our traumatic experiences". New Scientist. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
- ^ a b c "The Body Keeps The Score". Bessel van der Kolk, MD. Retrieved 2021-10-10.
- ^ a b Egan, Elisabeth (2021-07-08). "Does a Writer Ever Get Cozy on the Best-Seller List? Bessel van der Kolk Says No". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-10-10.
- ^ Interlandi, Jeneen (2014-05-22). "A Revolutionary Approach to Treating PTSD". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-12-12.
- ^ "The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma". Book Verdict. October 1, 2014. Retrieved 2021-10-10.
- ^ "The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma". Indie Bound. Retrieved 2021-10-10.
- ^ "Leading Edge Seminars, Inc.: Spring 2017 Series" (PDF). Leading Edge Seminars. 2017. Retrieved 2021-10-10.
- ^ "Science Books - Best Sellers - The New York Times". The New York Times. September 2019. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-12-12.
