The Body Keeps the Score

by Bessel van der Kol
The Body Keeps the Score cover
Good Books rating 4.38
Psychology and Human Behavior
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  • ID: 977
  • Added: 2025-09-23
  • Updated: 2025-10-10
  • ISBN: 9780143127741
  • Publisher: Penguin Books
  • Published: 2015-09-08
  • Reviews: 4

In 'The Body Keeps the Score,' Bessel van der Kolk, MD, delves into the intricate ways trauma reshapes the body and brain, challenging conventional approaches to healing. This book combines cutting-edge research with compelling case studies to reveal how trauma can manifest physically and emotionally, often leaving victims feeling disconnected from their own bodies. Van der Kolk presents a range of innovative treatments, from neurofeedback to yoga, that help trauma survivors reclaim their lives. /n/nThe book is not just a scientific exploration but also a deeply human story, offering hope and practical solutions for those affected by trauma. It emphasizes the importance of understanding and addressing the body's role in trauma recovery, providing a comprehensive guide for both professionals and individuals seeking healing.

Reviews
Reddit · 2026-01-24
practical 4.00

The book is noted for its practical exercises and mindfulness techniques, making it accessible despite its niche subject matter. It is seen as a valuable resource for understanding trauma.

The reviewer finds the book to be highly practical, with concrete steps and mindfulness exercises that make it accessible to a wide audience. They appreciate the book's ability to address a niche subject matter in a way that is relatable and useful. The reviewer also highlights the book's value in helping them understand trauma and its effects, making it a worthwhile read for anyone interested in the topic.

Quick quotes

    It has really concrete steps and mindfulness exercises to do.

    Although it seems like it would be too niche, I think a lot of the lessons are applicable to everyday life.

    It has really brought me so much insight into how trauma affects the body and mind.

tandfonline.com · Unknown · 2025-12-18
insightful 4.50

The Body Keeps the Score offers a profound exploration of trauma and its effects on the body and mind, integrating scientific research with personal narratives. The book is praised for its insightful approach to understanding trauma, though some find the clinical aspects overwhelming.

The Body Keeps the Score is a groundbreaking work that delves into the intricate ways trauma affects individuals, blending scientific research with compelling personal stories. The book is highly regarded for its comprehensive examination of trauma and its impact on both the body and mind. Readers appreciate the author's ability to make complex scientific concepts accessible and relatable. However, some find the clinical details and technical language to be overwhelming at times. Overall, the book is seen as an essential read for anyone interested in understanding trauma and its profound effects on human life. The integration of neuroscience, psychology, and personal narratives provides a holistic view that is both enlightening and thought-provoking. While the depth of information can be intense, the insights offered are invaluable for those seeking to comprehend the complexities of trauma.

Quick quotes

    The book provides a comprehensive overview of the effects of trauma on the body and mind.

    The integration of personal narratives makes the scientific research more relatable and engaging.

    Some readers may find the clinical details and technical language overwhelming.

traumapractice.co.uk · Unknown · 2025-11-09
brilliant 4.50

The reviewer found Jorge Luis Borges' 'Collected Fictions' to be a mindblowing and brilliant collection of short stories, with recurring themes of labyrinths, libraries, and infinities. They appreciated the surprise endings and the way Borges played with different forms and genres, making each story unique and unexpected.

The reviewer initially picked up 'Collected Fictions' by Jorge Luis Borges to get out of a reading slump, focusing on one story at a time. They were drawn to Borges' short stories, which range from less than a page to sixteen pages. The reviewer had previously read a few of Borges' stories and was excited to finally read the entire collection. They found the stories to be mindblowing and brilliant, with recurring themes of labyrinths, libraries, and infinities. The surprise endings and the way Borges played with different forms and genres made each story unique and unexpected. The reviewer also appreciated the forewords and afterwords by Borges, which added depth to the stories. They felt a sense of joy and accomplishment upon finishing the book, but also a deep sadness knowing that there are no more new Borges stories left to read.

Quick quotes

    The surprise ending that Borges delivers, is mindblowing. It turns the story upside down in unexpected ways. It makes us go back to the first page of the story, look for clues, and wonder how we missed it.

    Borges keeps doing this again and again — he takes a traditional form of a story from a particular genre, and applies his inventive genius to it and creates something unexpected and new and beautiful out of it.

    There was a story in the collection called ‘The Story of the Two Dreamers’ which was very similar to Paulo Coelho’s ‘The Alchemist’. I am wondering whether Coelho was inspired by that.

motherjones.com · Unknown · 2025-10-20
insightful 4.50

The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk has become a pandemic hit, topping bestseller lists and becoming a meme on social media. The book explores trauma and PTSD, emphasizing the body's role in storing trauma and the limits of talking therapies. Van der Kolk's work challenges traditional psychiatry and advocates for a more holistic approach to treatment.

The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk has become a significant cultural phenomenon, especially during the pandemic. The book delves into the complexities of trauma and PTSD, highlighting how the body retains trauma in ways that talking therapies alone cannot address. Van der Kolk's insights are drawn from his extensive work with trauma survivors, including veterans and abuse victims. He emphasizes the importance of understanding trauma's physiological effects and advocates for a more holistic approach to treatment, incorporating practices like yoga and bodywork. His work challenges the traditional psychiatric focus on analysis and pharmaceuticals, advocating for a more personalized and experiential approach to healing.

Quick quotes

    The urgent work of the brain after a traumatic event is to suppress it, through forgetting or self-blame, to avoid being ostracised.

    The reality, of course, is that being traumatised does make you a difficult person to get along with.

    If the body is storing trauma in its musculature, in its hormonal pathways, then it is the body that needs experiences that deeply and viscerally contradict the helplessness, rage or collapse that result from trauma.

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