katie0528's review

Go to review page

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.75

A conversation between Oprah and pyschiatrist Bruce Perry explores childhood trauma and how it follows though life. It encourages reflection and introspection of trauma you or others have faced and ways regulation and community can help. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

theverycraftyvegan's review against another edition

Go to review page

informative medium-paced

5.0

I wish I could have read this book 11 years ago when I was a first time mom struggling with PPD and PTSD after a traumatic birth. 

This book was chock full of information about how our brains work and how crucial the first few months of our lives are. If this book had been around in 2012 it would have helped me better understand what my baby needed from me and how I needed help to give it to them. 

Even if you don’t think you’ve experienced anything traumatic in your life, you should still read this book. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

cryfest's review

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

ladygetslit's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful informative medium-paced

5.0

Forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past could’ve been any different. —Oprah

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

olivemason's review

Go to review page

emotional informative inspiring fast-paced

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

litliz's review

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.5


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

greenlivingaudioworm's review

Go to review page

emotional informative reflective sad

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

ksuazo94's review

Go to review page

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

kelly_e's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

Title: What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing
Author: Bruce D. Perry & Oprah Winfrey
Genre: Non Fiction Psychology
Rating: 4.25
Pub Date: April 27 2021

T H R E E • W O R D S

Fascinating • Liberating • Meaningful

📖 S Y N O P S I S

Through deeply personal conversations, Oprah Winfrey and renowned brain and trauma expert Dr. Bruce Perry offer a groundbreaking and profound shift from asking “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” An important book about understanding people, behavior, and ourselves as it relates to traumatic experiences.

💭 T H O U G H T S

I am so glad I picked this up on a whim, as it's one of those books I didn't know I needed! It approaches trauma in a much more human way, as opposed to the more clinical perspective found in many self-help and psychology books. It is as helpful as it is informative, and in the process shifting our approach and mentality towards trauma. It puts forth the idea that practitioners, parents, caregivers, teachers, coaches, etc. need to provide trauma informed care on a person by person basis. It showcases how trauma changes a person at their core, not just mentally and emotionally but physically. It gave me so much to think about and reflect on, especially in relation to my own traumas.

My biggest take away from this is how as a society it's important to shift from a 'what's wrong with you?' (insinuating something to be fixed) mentality to a 'what happened to you?' mentality (insinuating something to be healed). After reading this, I looked at my own trauma in a different light. The trauma is a part, and will always be a part of who I am now, but I am not broken, but that I can heal.

I will say this one is made for audio. The conversational nature of the dialogue is best consumed by listening, pausing, and reflecting. I hope this book evokes more empathy in a world where trauma is prevalent.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• mental health practitioners
• anyone who works with kids
• trauma surviours

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"Now when I begin to feel overwhelmed, I pull back. I have learned to say no. When I'm around someone who drains me, I put up a barrier - a nonphysical wall that keeps that person's negative energy away. I've also created a sacred personal space, blocking out Sundays as a time of renewal, allowing myself to be with myself, allowing myself to simply be. When this time is interrupted or threatened by someone who invades my state of calm, I become irritable, anxiety-prone, and distressed about making decisions - not the person I want to be in the world. The quickest and most consistent way for me to get back to my own rhythm is to walk in nature. Just focusing on my breath, my steady heartbeat, the stillness of a tree, or the intricacy of a leaf can center me in the wholeness of all things. Music, laughter, dancing (even a party for one), knitting, cooking - finding what naturally soothes you not only regulates your heart and mind, it helps you stay open to the goodness in your and in the world." 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

juliana_caterin's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.75

I really loved this book, the audiobook is incredible. 
I learned a lot, even as a med student, there are things that we don´t know or don´t even investigate that much. It was amazing, and it took a complex topic and made them understandable. I would recommend this book for everyone, it can be a bit overwhelming at times. But it's worth it. 
I not only learned so much about the brain and development, but I was able to translate that to my real life. I understand and empathize more with people around me, and about myself. I understand myself a little better now. 
I'll read this book again in the future because I don't think that I would get the most of it from reading it only once. 
I don't agree with everything that was written on the book, but I still loved it and would recommend it. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
More...