kixes's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
bookreviewswithkb's review against another edition
informative
4.0
i really really needed this book. i was like a sponge, soaking it all up. at times, it felt like the author was peering into my soul and plastering what she knew i needed to hear onto these pages. as a social worker working as a therapist with youth in residential treatment, the secondary trauma/vicarious trauma is REAL, but something i always minimize. the author calls this “trauma exposure response” and her descriptions really validated my experiences
“i had absorbed and accumulated trauma to the point that it had become part of me, and my view of the world had changed.”
i remember being in grad school and having professors caution against burnout and feeling like yeah okay whatever never could be me. but this work is hard and grueling and i have to take care of myself
what i didn’t love though was the lack of examination of the trauma and harm some of these fields also cause, particularly police work. i also at times felt like the message was similar to “send love and light and you’ve done enough.” there was a lack of an examination of how privilege, racism, and oppression interact with the work of helping professions and the harm white people can and do inflict
what i didn’t love though was the lack of examination of the trauma and harm some of these fields also cause, particularly police work. i also at times felt like the message was similar to “send love and light and you’ve done enough.” there was a lack of an examination of how privilege, racism, and oppression interact with the work of helping professions and the harm white people can and do inflict
wastedwings's review against another edition
3.0
There's some good concepts I will take with me.
Main gripes:
- could be more intersectional and that people can be intersecting multiple points of marginalization
-with the above said, no real view point from the the disabled and neurodivergent community aside from depression/anxiety
-lacks understanding of systemic racism and oppression
-lacks understanding of the multitudes of people's class status and situations.
-gives simple answers from problems that are complex (ie:the idea of working less hours when you are working wild hours bc you quite literally don't have a choice if you want to eat or have a home)
-includes systemic damaging oppressive professions like cops
-describes pictures in audiobook but then the one ACTUAL IMAGE that needs to be read about in depth (the 5 points compass) was glossed over. I had to google an image to understand it
I would follow up by saying read the user Milo's review for this book.
There are good things to take away from this book FOR SURE, but it's a mixed bag for me.
Main gripes:
- could be more intersectional and that people can be intersecting multiple points of marginalization
-with the above said, no real view point from the the disabled and neurodivergent community aside from depression/anxiety
-lacks understanding of systemic racism and oppression
-lacks understanding of the multitudes of people's class status and situations.
-gives simple answers from problems that are complex (ie:the idea of working less hours when you are working wild hours bc you quite literally don't have a choice if you want to eat or have a home)
-includes systemic damaging oppressive professions like cops
-describes pictures in audiobook but then the one ACTUAL IMAGE that needs to be read about in depth (the 5 points compass) was glossed over. I had to google an image to understand it
I would follow up by saying read the user Milo's review for this book.
There are good things to take away from this book FOR SURE, but it's a mixed bag for me.
rick2's review against another edition
5.0
Is this the ultimate answer to trauma, life, the universe and everything?
No
Is this going to be one of my most recommended books for the next several months?
Yes. By far
A well organized and clearly written collection of hard won wisdom around working with and through trauma. The author does an impressive job of balancing their own experience with larger lessons. Bringing in a variety of really impactful sources.
I do volunteer work for an organization that works with survivors of institutional abuse. This book is so spot on with the experience that I’ve had. Between vicarious trauma, picking up and internalizing the experiences that those you work with have had, doing work in an attempt to heal yourself, and many other behaviors that lead to burnout. This book gives language to and provides a shared vocabulary for those who work in and around those who wrestle with trauma.
Lastly the emphasis on sustainability and long-term health is pretty spot on. I know personally I go through cycles of excessive work and a sort of mild burn out. It can be really difficult to find that healthy balance. And while Im not sure any book can give you the exact formula for yourself, it’s heartening to hear that many others have found sustainable long-term solutions.
No
Is this going to be one of my most recommended books for the next several months?
Yes. By far
A well organized and clearly written collection of hard won wisdom around working with and through trauma. The author does an impressive job of balancing their own experience with larger lessons. Bringing in a variety of really impactful sources.
I do volunteer work for an organization that works with survivors of institutional abuse. This book is so spot on with the experience that I’ve had. Between vicarious trauma, picking up and internalizing the experiences that those you work with have had, doing work in an attempt to heal yourself, and many other behaviors that lead to burnout. This book gives language to and provides a shared vocabulary for those who work in and around those who wrestle with trauma.
Lastly the emphasis on sustainability and long-term health is pretty spot on. I know personally I go through cycles of excessive work and a sort of mild burn out. It can be really difficult to find that healthy balance. And while Im not sure any book can give you the exact formula for yourself, it’s heartening to hear that many others have found sustainable long-term solutions.