Summary of Trauma and Recovery

This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. Trauma and Recovery is the foundational text on understanding the experiences of trauma survivors. In this groundbreaking work, psychiatrist Judith L. Herman argues that psychological trauma cannot be separated from its social and political context. Through her research on incest and a comprehensive review of literature on combat veterans and victims of political terror, she reveals surprising parallels between private traumas, such as child abuse, and public horrors, like war. Herman’s work emphasizes the societal factors that shape and amplify the impact of trauma, showing how individuals are affected not only by personal experiences but by broader political and cultural forces. This edition includes a new epilogue by the author, offering a thoughtful assessment of the progress made—and the areas that remain in need of attention—in the understanding and treatment of trauma over the past three decades. Haile by The New York Times as “one of the most important psychiatry works to be published since Freud,” Trauma and Recovery remains essential reading for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of how trauma affects individuals and how we can heal.