Unbroken: The Trauma Response Is Never Wrong: And Other Things You Need to Know to Take Back Your Life

First, this book is extremely well written. This is no small thing. I have started several books on this topic recently that I soon found unreadable for all manner of reasons. It has a style that is warm, humble, earthy, humorous and sophisticated all at the same time. I found the example of each chapter to be very helpful. There were many ideas I had not come across before, some of which have helped me enormously during a recent very tough time. The only idea I strongly disagree with is that there is no such thing as an evil person. If what the author meant was that there is no such thing as a person who is born evil, I would be prepared to listen to an argument. But I know there are people who, for whatever reason, become evil. Other than that, this book has affected me deeply and been a great friend. I expect to read it again in due course.

I have been in trauma recovery for 10+ years, for multiple traumas spanning years of my life, (emotional, mental, physical), sexual assault, a housefire, sudden job loss that affected every aspect of my identity and life, losses through death, marriage ending due to infidelity, just to name a little of my story. Think, CPTSD exponentially. Suffice it to say, I have been through therapies of all modalities, counseling, treatments and a lot of self-healing with an endless variety of tools, an ever-evolving quest for peace. THIS BOOK is by FAR the best I've ever read on trauma, so good, as soon as I finished it, I reread it, taking notes and highlighting, then read it a third time. It was as if she wrote this book specifically for me. It is truly amazing.

I found MaryCatherine Macdonald so delightful during a trauma conference interview that I wanted to read her book. I found that she writes with as much passion, honesty and forthrightness as she speaks. The book was a pleasure to read, despite the difficult content.In was also happy to find that the book is physically easy to read. Not true of the many others I've read recently. The covers and pages are not stiff, so I can lay the book down as I'm reading. Though it sounds trivial, I really appreciated the fact that reading it was much less tiring for my small, aging hands.

"Unbroken: The Trauma Response is Never Wrong" is a transformative and powerful book that sheds light on the often misunderstood world of trauma and its effects on individuals. The author, whose expertise is evident throughout the book, takes the reader on a journey of understanding trauma and its responses, and provides an insightful and compassionate view into the minds and experiences of those who have gone through it.The book is written in an engaging and accessible style that will appeal to both professionals and lay readers alike. The author's depth of knowledge and experience is evident on every single page, as she explores the nuances and complexities of trauma and its effects on individuals. The client stories are fascinating and easy to connect with. Each is presented in a beautiful and compelling way.One of the most powerful aspects of the book is its emphasis on the fact that the trauma response is never wrong. This message is particularly important in a world where trauma is often stigmatized and misunderstood. The author's emphasis on the need for understanding, empathy, and support for those who have experienced trauma is a refreshing and much-needed perspective in today's society.Overall, "Unbroken: The Trauma Response is Never Wrong" is a groundbreaking book that is sure to make a significant impact in the field of trauma therapy. It is a must-read for anyone who has experienced trauma, or who works with those who have. Highly recommended.

I ordered this book after hearing her on NPR. She spoke about her book and I got hooked and had to buy it. The book is informative and written well…almost like you are sitting in a class she teaches as college. However now that I’m reading it, I do wish I waited until it came to my library and I could have borrowed it instead. I have read other books on this subject matter. I really recommend “The Body Keeps Score” and am glad I own that book. So what f you are anxious to read a book on trauma, read and buy “The Body…” book. Wait for her book to come to your library.

MaryCatherine McDonald is the best teacher/writer about trauma to come along since Bessel Van Der Kolk, Peter Levine and Deb Dana. This book is a big sigh of relief in paper form.I have ADHD and struggle to read books without re-reading the same sentences over and over again until I get bored and put the book down … especially nonfiction. Unbroken is the first book I’ve been able to digest without having to do that 100% of the time. It’s a quick read that packs a punch. Afterward, you’ll have a better understanding of trauma in yourself and recognizing it in others. For me, I’ve found that most of the well known books on trauma over explain - which is great if you want that, but my neurodivergence makes that challenging. I recommend this be the first book about trauma you read before going further (if you need to at all).

What I really loved about how the author wrote the book, was a couple things....first it's very engaging, at times funny, at times deeply sad, but written in a way where I could not put it down! Second she explains what is happening in our brain with an overwhelming event ( trauma) , and then she normalizes how we respond, as the response is a normal biological response. I have recommended this book to many of my clients as a way to help them understand themselves. Beautifully written!!

After attempting to read or listen to books that are completely devoid of the human touch and concentrate solely on the science of trauma, Unbroken is the healing simple knowledgeable salve I have been looking for. I learned the most about trauma from this book because of its clear, human and empathetic approach. Despite my disassociation I have retained the most from Unbroken and received such healing. I cried when it was over but it has helped me utilize techniques that actually do help. I am still searching for my emotional home and people to connect to but that’s on me. Her “no small T trauma” made me understand why my trauma lives not in the major traumas that happened to me. This was a game changer realization. She did not discuss fawning but other than that this book was extremely informative and healing. Best first book on trauma IMHO.