The Body Keeps the Score: Mind, Brain and Body in the Transformation of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk

The Body Keeps the Score: Mind, Brain and Body in the Transformation of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk explores the impact of trauma and how it can affect sufferers, their families and future generations. Drawing on the perspective of an expert in traumatic stress, the book presents an approach that considers the mind, brain and body together.

It is described as an international bestseller, with over 3 million copies sold. The book has attracted notable praise, including from Judith Herman, who calls it Dr. van der Kolk’s “masterpiece”, and Norman Doidge, who describes it as a major series of breakthroughs in mental health. Tara Westover also recommends it for those “struggling with...well...anything”.

Key details

• Author: Bessel van der Kolk
• Title: The Body Keeps the Score: Mind, Brain and Body in the Transformation of Trauma
• Described as an international bestseller
• Over 3 million copies sold

Synopsis

The effects of trauma can be devastating, reaching beyond the individual to families and future generations. In this book, an expert on traumatic stress offers a new paradigm for treatment, moving away from standard talking and drug therapies towards an alternative approach intended to heal mind, brain and body.