Scan barcode
theglossreview's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
5.0
nyky's review
4.0
Not quite as good as his Complex PTSD book but still very good for anyone looking into past traumas and how to navigate them presently.
azureyoshi's review against another edition
5.0
Went through this one very slowly as a slow burn to digest what he had to say. Ton of great information here about working through the feelings associated with trauma and grieving the losses associated. I highly recommend any of Pete Walker's works.
bookbanshee's review against another edition
4.0
An important read (listen) for me that prompted lots of reflection on my relationship to past hurts and to true forgiveness. The audiobook version I listened to was read a little severely/sternly, and I’m still not sure if I liked it or not. It added a kind of masculine authority feeling to the text, and I’m unsure whether my response to it would have differed with another voice or approach. This is a directive text, but also an offering of meditations—not so much in terms of detailing meditation exercises, but in terms of opening spaces in which you might dwell to consider your own experiences of childhood hurt and suffering and how they continue to effect your present life. It provides suggestions to help open yourself to the full spectrum of emotional pain, particularly grieving, and the healing this can bring. This isn’t new or articulated especially differently than in similar texts, although it’s somewhat more forceful (and therefore perhaps quite validating?). I appreciated the frequent quoting of others, although was irritated at the overwhelming predominance of white cis-men in these examples, hard as it is to stay angry at these often quite beautiful words. The binary gendering throughout presented me with some challenges, but reading “through” that still offered a lot to me (it was written in the 90s, and is still very sex-positive with an expansive view of spirituality and self-love). Overall, a supportive text for people doing healing work (esp if you are also undergoing therapy etc).
cezanj's review against another edition
4.0
A beautiful example of why books about trauma and mental illness are best written by people who have those experiences. Pete Walker offers solid guidance while also making the reader feel seen and understood.