The Body Keeps the Score

“Essential reading for anyone interested in understanding and treating traumatic stress and the scope of its impact on society.” —Alexander McFarlane, Director of the Centre for Traumatic Stress Studies

A pioneering researcher transforms our understanding of trauma and offers a bold new paradigm for healing in this New York Times bestseller

Trauma is a fact of life. Veterans and their families deal with the painful aftermath of combat; one in five Americans has been molested; one in four grew up with alcoholics; one in three couples have engaged in physical violence. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, one of the world’s foremost experts on trauma, has spent over three decades working with survivors. In The Body Keeps the Score, he uses recent scientific advances to show how trauma literally reshapes both body and brain, compromising sufferers’ capacities for pleasure, engagement, self-control, and trust. He explores innovative treatments—from neurofeedback and meditation to sports, drama, and yoga—that offer new paths to recovery by activating the brain’s natural neuroplasticity. Based on Dr. van der Kolk’s own research and that of other leading specialists, The Body Keeps the Score exposes the tremendous power of our relationships both to hurt and to heal—and offers new hope for reclaiming lives.

Cover image: © 2020 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York Courtesty of the Archives Henri Matisse, All rights reserved.

Audiobook Details

• Narrated by: Sean Pratt
• Length: 16 hrs 15 mins
• Publisher: Penguin Audio
• Release year: 2021
• Audible category: Health & Wellness / Alternative & Complementary Medicine / Health & Wellness

Listener Ratings

The Body Keeps the Score holds an average listener rating of 4.8/5 from 14086 Audible ratings.

On Audible, ratings for this title break down into narration performance and story separately:

• Performance (narration): 4.8/5
• Story: 4.8/5
• 5-star ratings: 88% of all ratings

What Audible Listeners Are Saying

4/5 stars — “Written for therapists but learned a ton”
This book was a recommendation to me from a health professional. Although it was dense with research for the first 11 chapters, it was a good foundation to build on for future chapters. The narrator did a good job keeping pace and tone consistent to keep interest. I wouldn’t have made it through the book without audible. Start at Chapters 12/13 for those who want specific, evidence based interventions.

— Christine, Audible listener

5/5 stars — “Eye opening”
Wow. Never has an intro to a review been more appropriate. This book opened my mind and delivered an understanding of myself and everyone around me in a manner I had not considered before. Bottom line for me: everything matters. The body doesn’t forget anything, no matter what our brain tries to do to help us cope with life. Truly worthwhile listen for me. My gratitude to the author and his years of researching that brought this work to light.

— Shannon, Audible listener

5/5 stars — “Incredible “
I am close to finishing this book and I have already recommended it to everyone I know. There are no negative words which I could use to describe this book. From the writing, to the consistency, organization, level of comprehension, detailed examples/stories, knowledge and much more, this book is the most put together piece of writing that I have ever had the pleasure of reading/listening to in my life. Not only that, but the information given about Trauma has been life changing for me. This is a book I’m going to be coming back to many times.

— ChestyLarou, Audible listener

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