The Body Keeps Score
The book "The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel van der Kolk M.D. explores trauma and its effects on a person’s perspective in life. The book explores trauma by looking at different therapeutical methods to tackle it, looking at PTSD in wartime soldiers, and the minds of children.
Analysis
The writing style felt like a textbook with examples included of Kolk’s experience. It was sometimes a bore, and I fell asleep a lot while reading. The stories were informative and sometimes hooked me, but a continual add-in of scientific theory led to it pulling you in and out continually. The theory and stories intermixed with the opinions of the author made it a hard book to follow through.
Takeaways
I had two main takeaways: 1/ how relatability is how we understand others and 2/ how mindset can have a huge impact on someone’s worldview.
For the takeaway on relatability, those who have gone through similar experiences can find solitude in knowing that they can relate to the type of pain endured. For example, if someone went to war and experienced losing comrades and talked with someone who did not, the person who experienced it would not bring it up. If it was brought up, the one who did not experience could only imagine, but not truly relate to the other person.
For the takeaway on mindset, the author talks about how trauma interrupts the plot of the person’s main character story. They are impeded by it as a roadblock and need additional aid to move forward. Changing that mindset and pushing past the trauma then leads to changing the subjective view of the world and how they interact with it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma" by Bessel van der Kolk M.D. offers valuable insights on the effects of trauma but was like reading a textbook.
Score Breakdown:
Writing Style: 3/5
Clarity: 4/5
Entertainment Value: 2/5
Takeaways: 3/5
Overall: 3/5
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