Handpicked books / The Body Keeps the Score
The Body Keeps the Score
Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.
- Trauma, insult or abuse
The Body Keeps the Score
by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D., 2014
Trauma is not only a memory. It lives in the body — and the body can heal.
Spent nearly 300 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list.
Opens Amazon India. Outside India? Amazon.com
- No Kindle device needed — read on the free Kindle app
- Free sample before you pay
- Delivered to your phone in seconds
Does this sound like you?
- “Your body reacts — racing heart, tight chest, freezing — before your mind knows why.”
- “You “know” you’re safe now, but you never feel safe.”
- “Talking about what happened hasn’t made the feelings go away.”
- “Sometimes you feel numb, like you’re watching your life from outside.”
If even one of these is true, this book was written for someone exactly where you are.
The book in 60 seconds
One of the best-known books on trauma. A psychiatrist describes decades of work with survivors and argues that trauma changes how the body and nervous system respond, not just how we think. He explores approaches beyond talking — EMDR, yoga, movement, theatre — and why feeling safe in your body matters for healing.
After reading, you’ll be able to…
- Understand why your body reacts the way it does — and that it isn’t weakness
- Know the range of treatments people use, beyond talk therapy
- See why connection and safety matter so much for recovery
- Ask better questions when choosing help
How this book helps
From where you may be now, to where it can take you.
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Where you are
Body on alert, can’t switch off
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Step 1
Understand how trauma affects the body
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Step 2
Learn about body-based ways to feel safe again
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Where you can be
A wider map of paths to healing
Try this tonight — free
A two-minute body check-in
A small exercise from the book. Five minutes, a pen, and some quiet.
- 1 Sit comfortably. Notice where your body touches the chair and the floor.
- 2 Breathe in for a count of four, and out slowly for a count of six. Repeat five times.
- 3 Ask: where in my body do I feel tension right now? Just notice it — don’t try to fix it.
Inspired by the book’s emphasis on noticing body sensations and steady breathing. Not a treatment — a small way to start.
That’s one exercise. The book has the full method.
Get it on KindleWhat’s inside
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Part 1: The rediscovery of trauma
Van der Kolk’s early work with war veterans, and what it taught him about trauma.
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Part 2: This is your brain on trauma
How he understands the effects of trauma on the brain and alarm system.
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Part 3: The minds of children
Attachment, and how early relationships shape how safe we feel.
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Part 4: The imprint of trauma
Memory, forgetting and the body’s role in what we remember.
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Part 5: Paths to recovery
EMDR, yoga, neurofeedback, theatre, writing and more — approaches beyond talk.
Big ideas you’ll take away
- 1
Trauma is physical too
Racing heart, numbness and hyper-alertness are the body’s response, not weakness.
- 2
Safety and connection heal
Relationships and feeling safe are central to recovery.
- 3
More than talk
An overview of EMDR, yoga, neurofeedback and other approaches.
The book’s approach
- Case stories
- Science
- Long
- Practical tools2/5
- Science & research4/5
- Stories & feeling4/5
- Reading effort
- Demanding
Is this book right for you?
Read it if…
- You want to understand why your body reacts before your mind does
- Talking alone hasn’t helped and you want to know other options
- You like case stories mixed with science
Maybe not, if…
- You want settled science — several of its claims are disputed by researchers
- Detailed case histories of abuse would be too much right now
What others say
Packed with science and human stories. New Scientist
Quotes from the publisher’s page or published reviews. Read reader reviews on Amazon
About the author
Dr. Bessel van der Kolk is a psychiatrist who has worked with trauma survivors since the 1970s. He founded the Trauma Center in Brookline, Massachusetts, and has taught at Boston University School of Medicine.
A month from now
A month from now, your body may still react. But instead of thinking “something is wrong with me”, you’ll understand it as your system trying to protect you — and you’ll have a clearer idea of which kinds of help to look for.
Get it on KindleQuestions people ask before buying
I’ve heard it’s controversial. Should I still read it?
Many readers find it helps them understand their reactions. But researchers dispute several of its claims, so read it for understanding, and choose treatment with a professional.
It’s long. Do I need to read all of it?
No. Parts 1 and 5 give you most of the value.
Will it be triggering?
It includes detailed case histories of abuse. Go slowly and skip sections you’re not ready for.
Do I need a Kindle device?
No. Download the free Kindle app on your Android phone, iPhone or computer and read there. Your book appears in the app right after you buy.
Can I try before I buy?
Yes. Amazon lets you send a free sample — usually the first chapters — to your Kindle app. Look for “Read sample” on the book’s page.
What if I buy it by mistake?
Amazon has a return policy for Kindle books bought by mistake, usually within 7 days. Check the current terms on Amazon under Your Orders.
Worth knowing before you buy
Many researchers criticise the book: a 2025 review found several of its claims about brain damage and body-based therapies were not supported by current evidence, and that it undersells proven treatments like CBT. Read it for understanding, and choose treatment with a professional.
How to read it if you’re hurting
It is long. Parts 1 and 5 (what trauma is, and paths to recovery) give you most of the value.
The Body Keeps the Score
Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.
Your next step can be small.
Read the free sample on Amazon. If it speaks to you, keep going.
In this book:
- ✓Understand why your body reacts the way it does — and that it isn’t weakness
- ✓Know the range of treatments people use, beyond talk therapy
- ✓See why connection and safety matter so much for recovery
- ✓Ask better questions when choosing help
Also helps with this
Not sure this is the one? These help with the same things.
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Why Does He Do That?
Lundy Bancroft
Why Does He Do That?
It isn’t your fault, and it isn’t his anger. It’s how he thinks.
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Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving
Pete Walker
Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving
If your childhood taught you to always be on guard, this book explains the rest of your life.
If you are in crisis right now, please talk to someone. In India, call Tele-MANAS free, 24 hours: 14416
Disclosure: links to Amazon are affiliate links. If you buy through them, this library earns a small commission that helps keep it free. The price you pay is the same. Books are chosen because we think they help, not because of the commission.
The Body Keeps the Score
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