The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma

Our Review:

This is one of those books that genuinely changed how I think about being human. Van der Kolk writes with the authority of someone who's spent decades in the trenches with trauma survivors, but what struck me most is his compassion — he never reduces people to case studies or statistics. The science is fascinating (the way trauma literally rewires the brain and lives in the body), and he explains it clearly without dumbing it down.

I'll be honest: this isn't a light read. Some of the case histories are difficult to sit with, and there were moments I had to put it down and take a breath. If you're currently processing your own trauma, you might want to read it alongside support from a therapist rather than diving in alone. It's thorough, which means it's also dense — I found myself reading in small chunks rather than long sessions.

What I loved most is that it doesn't stop at describing the problem. Van der Kolk explores treatments that go beyond traditional talk therapy — yoga, EMDR, theater, neurofeedback — and makes a compelling case for why healing often needs to happen through the body, not just the mind. Whether you're a mental health professional, someone trying to understand your own experiences, or just curious about how humans carry their histories, this book offers something real. It's the kind of read that stays with you.