This book is a wellspring of information for survivors of any kind of trauma. Is it triggering? Sometimes. It's it all applicable to every trauma survivor? Not even remotely. Is there an abundance of useful and necessary information about resources, therapy modalities and studies about ptsd and ACEs? Absolutely. His explanations of traumatic memory and IFS is especially exceptional.

I also want to mention that I understand and don't want to diminish the experiences of those that couldn't get past chapter one because of van Der Kolk's sympathy to an individual who committed some pretty egregious things. I'm, however, of the mind that arguments that some people don't deserve compassion is a dangerous stance. Research has proven that when we start to justify the dehumanization of our enemies, we start to break apart our own humanity. We are at our most human when we can offer compassion who those who don't deserve it and it's an important and deeply challenging part of recovery.