2024 the best memoirs review

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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A searing memoir of reckoning and healing by acclaimed journalist Stephanie Foo, investigating the little-understood science behind complex PTSD and how it has shaped her life

“Achingly exquisite . . . providing real hope for those who long to heal.”—Lori Gottlieb, New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The Washington Post, Cosmopolitan, NPR, Mashable, She Reads, Publishers Weekly

By age thirty, Stephanie Foo was successful on paper: She had her dream job as an award-winning radio producer at This American Life and a loving boyfriend. But behind her office door, she was having panic attacks and sobbing at her desk every morning. After years of questioning what was wrong with herself, she was diagnosed with complex PTSD—a condition that occurs when trauma happens continuously, over the course of years.

Both of Foo’s parents abandoned her when she was a teenager, after years of physical and verbal abuse and neglect. She thought she’d moved on, but her new diagnosis illuminated the way her past continued to threaten her health, relationships, and career. She found limited resources to help her, so Foo set out to heal herself, and to map her experiences onto the scarce literature about C-PTSD.

In this deeply personal and thoroughly researched account, Foo interviews scientists and psychologists and tries a variety of innovative therapies. She returns to her hometown of San Jose, California, to investigate the effects of immigrant trauma on the community, and she uncovers family secrets in the country of her birth, Malaysia, to learn how trauma can be inherited through generations. Ultimately, she discovers that you don’t move on from trauma—but you can learn to move with it.

Powerful, enlightening, and hopeful, What My Bones Know is a brave narrative that reckons with the hold of the past over the present, the mind over the body—and examines one woman’s ability to reclaim agency from her trauma.

From the Publisher

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ballantine Books (February 21, 2023)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0593238125
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593238127
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.14 x 0.78 x 7.95 inches
Reviewer: Andrea
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A Life-Affirming Masterpiece on Trauma and Healing
Review: This book! This book! This absolute gem of a book!!!In a year where I’ve devoured countless remarkable autobiographies—each one a testament to the human spirit’s resilience, fortitude, and the triumph over unimaginable adversities—none has left me as deeply moved, as utterly transformed, as Stephanie Foo’s "What My Bones Know."Stephanie Foo has created something extraordinary. Yes, her life alone—marked by a childhood so harrowing, it’s almost unbearable to contemplate—could have provided enough material for a powerful, emotional memoir. But this book is so much more than that. It transcends the personal and delves into the universal, becoming a lifeline for anyone who has ever grappled with trauma, with the scars that are etched not just in our minds but in the very marrow of our bones.What makes "What My Bones Know" stand out is Foo's fearless, unflinching willingness to be open and vulnerable, not just about the trauma she endured, but about the messy, non-linear journey to healing. She doesn’t present her story as a neat narrative of overcoming; instead, she invites us into the chaotic, often excruciating process of recovery. She shares not only her victories but also her setbacks, her moments of despair and doubt, making this book a true reflection of the complicated reality of living with trauma.But Foo doesn’t stop at sharing her personal story. She goes further, offering a deeply researched exploration of trauma—its roots, its impacts, and, most importantly, the many paths to coping and healing. She examines the intersections of trauma with issues of racism, sexism, and classism, making her book not just a memoir, but a critical analysis of how societal structures can compound individual suffering. This intersectional approach is both enlightening and empowering, providing readers with a broader understanding of their own struggles and the tools to address them.Moreover, Foo’s commitment to helping others is evident in every page. She shares large portions of her therapy sessions, making this book a resource for those who might not have access to the same level of care. This generosity, this willingness to expose the rawest parts of herself for the benefit of others, is what truly makes this book one of the most important works on healing and trauma that I have ever read.I have recommended "What My Bones Know" to all my friends and acquaintances because it is not just a book—it’s a gift. It’s a companion for those dark nights of the soul, a guide through the tangled woods of trauma, and a beacon of hope that healing, though arduous and painful, is possible. Stephanie Foo has given us a masterpiece, a book that will resonate in your bones long after you’ve turned the last page.If you read only one book this year, let it be this one. "What My Bones Know" is an extraordinary, life-affirming work that has the power to change the way we understand trauma, healing, and the human capacity for resilience. This book is, quite simply, a triumph.

Reviewer: Valerie
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A hopeful and readable account of trauma & recovery
Review: Foo’s account of her childhood trauma and its effects on her life & self since then should be required reading for every student of psychology, therapist, and person. So easy to read. This book is full of insight into how we process threats and absorb them into perspectives and behaviors that can last a lifetime. So much detail on her recovery and what helps to heal and become a more self compassionate, confident, grounded person.

Reviewer: LB
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Good read about cPTSD but not a good review of therapies
Review: I am a therapist specializing in cPTSD. There are many well-written aspects of this book and it is well-researched. However, as a psychotherapist specializing in PTSD and cPTSD, I have a few issues:1. Just because someone has a PhD does not make them a good therapist. It’s not about book smarts or education. It’s about how one can connect to and work with the relational aspects of trauma. These comments about MA vs PhD pissed me off. I am not a PhD, mostly because I have an education background in biochemistry and neuroscience (undergraduate degrees), having worked in biotechnology for 15 years. I don’t need a PhD to have knowledge and skill to address relational trauma.2. I am a certified EMDR therapist, trained in 2001. I have been using EMDR therapy in my practice for over 20 years with consistently effective results in addressing cPTSD. I also have a cohort of excellent somatically-based colleagues who also effectively treat cPTSD, most of us lowly MA or MS-level LPC’s or LCSW’s (not PhD’s). Not all EMDR therapists are created (or trained) equally. Check out Dr. Arielle Schwartz, a friend and exceptionally skilled colleague. Yes, a PhD but that’s not what makes her exceptional. Check out her books and videos.3. I am also trained in IFS. “Mr. Sweater Vest” is not representative of IFS, as presented in this book. At all, sadly. “The Hulk” as presented here is a “part” that served as a protector. Too bad it apparently wasn’t addressed. And no mention of Self energy?There are many poignant aspects of this well-written book. I have compassion and appreciation for the author and her courage to heal. However, I am frustrated by her cynicism and negativity, painting a slanted portrayal of effective approaches to healing cPTSD.

Reviewer: Gracie
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Love this book! Thank you, Stephanie.
Review: This is one of the most beautiful and interesting books I have ever read. It helped me better understand my own childhood experiences and how they live in me now. I think we all know this on some level - that our body and nervous system remember and the wounds get reactivated when we experience certain people, vibes, and situations, but it's a challenge to connect the dots and identify specific behaviors (responses) and beliefs. With that awareness we can reframe our thinking and take different (healthier) actions. It is not helpful to be critical of ourselves. The "move on already" approach has not worked for me. Compassion for myself (understanding the why and trying to appreciate all parts) is fascinating. Stephanie explains tools and resources I have considered too. She has shared so much. This is beautifully written!

Reviewer: Jen W
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Powerful, emotional, healing
Review: I picked this up because my favorite science writer Ed Young recommended it. I’m so glad I read this. The author bravely shares her abusive and traumatic childhood and how that caused her complex PTSD. This book was incredibly powerful. Highly recommend to everyone. This book wasn’t only one woman’s journey of healing and self knowledge but also such a profoundly human tale of resilience, empathy and love.

Reviewer: janz
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: So relatable and real. Absolutely recommend. Sometimes sad and triggering too, but I’m so glad I found and read this book. It takes so much courage to heal, and even more to write about it so that world knows it’s possible to live well with trauma.

Reviewer: Carolina
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Stephanie Foo describes perfectly what it's like living with Complex PTSD. For the first time I fell like someone understands what I go through every day. Thank you for sharing your story.

Reviewer: Kevin Hayden
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: A book you won't put down. Very well written and easily read in simple lanhuage. I recommend it to anyone who's suffered from cptsd or childhood trauma.

Reviewer: Nicole Herman
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Although C PTSD is a heavy topic I found this book was well written and a good read. It gives a lot of insight into how childhood trauma impacts us as adults and outlines the steps that the author took on her own healing journey.

Reviewer: Ms. C. Gourlay
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Having been diagnosed with cPTSD a little over two years ago, I was very keen to read someone else’s account of trauma and how they learned to deal with it.This book was amazing - there were sections I could relate to absolutely, and others where I learnt about new techniques for managing cPTSD. The amount of research conducted by the author is huge.I devoured this book in two days and loved everything about it. Highly recommend.