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.
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What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma
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What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma
What My Bones Know is a powerful memoir by Stephanie Foo, exploring her journey with complex PTSD. The book is praised for its deeply personal and thoroughly researched account of healing from trauma, offering hope and insights for those affected by similar experiences.
"Beautifully written and I loved the mix of memoir/essay style with pages of factual information and research." — Catt
"Such a helpful book for anyone dealing with PTSD or C-PTSD." — R L.
"Fantastic read - very insightful and a great book about trauma and recovery." — LITB
Reviews
True story of a surviver
"This is a really good book for anyone who needs to learn more about CPT SD. And p t s d and how generational trauma affects each individual differently."
— Kayla (5/5)
5 ⭐️
"I picked this up as a way to get out of my reading funk. Poignant, made me ugly cry and mad and happy and I related to parts of this even when I thought I wouldn't. Beautifully written and I loved the mix of memoir/essay style with pages of factual information and research. I loved this so much but I dont think I can read it again."
— Catt (5/5)
Both/And - Lived experience expertise can enhance professional expertise
"What I enjoyed most about this book was the sharing of the lived experience of Complex PTSD and Stephanie's personal recovery journey paired with her review of current trauma and alternative approaches."
— Debra D. (4/5)
Loved by both me and my dad
"Amazing book! I read a few pages to my dad and he stole the whole book so he could finish it! Highly recommend!"
— Lara (5/5)
Worthwhile Read
"As the author says it is a hard read to get through if you suffer from c-ptsd, but a worthwhile and illuminating read. It gave me hope."
— Terry (5/5)
Gorgeous and personal writint
"Such beautiful memoir and the most validating book about living with CPTSD. I laughed, I cried and I just said “wow” out loud so many times to count."
— Kateisgr8 (5/5)
What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo
"A beautiful, profoundly compelling memoir that focuses on the complexity of living with complex PTSD. The book has such a unique blend of investigative journalism and memoir to understand the science behind complex trauma. This book is such a testament to human strength and resilience to heal invisible wounds. A must read for anyone seeking an insightful look at mental health and healing."
— Haley (5/5)
Good association with the emotional subject matter
"A great review of someone's childhood trauma and discovery of herself as she struggles through relationships and growth into adulthood. Foo's journey of healing is great for anyone who is on the same path looking to help themselves explore the different paths of self growth"
— Katie (4/5)
Beautiful book
"The cover is so pretty and the book is amazing for anyone dealing with CPTSD"
— Beatrice (5/5)
such a good book
"this book is so good to read and let you know about your brain"
— Theo (5/5)
Q&A
Published date: Feb 21, 2023
Language: English
No. of Pages: 352
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
ISBN: 9780593238127
Dimensions:
5.17" W x
0.73" L x
7.97" H
“Absorbing . . . a reckoning, and Foo approaches it with candor and rigor . . . profoundly affecting.”—The New York Times
“Foo’s happy ending is nothing short of deliverance—rich and joyful and full of care the child was denied. . . . Possibility still glows around the edges of her sight.”—USA Today
“An unflinching reminder of the hidden struggles many face, told with the keen eye of a researcher and the brutality of a documentarian.”—NPR
“Many trauma survivors struggle to describe the seemingly indescribable sense of carrying something intangibly sharp—something there but not there—inside. But in What My Bones Know, Stephanie Foo details that and more. Her achingly exquisite memoir takes us on a journey through complex trauma, illuminating her path of self-discovery and providing real hope for those who long to heal.”—Lori Gottlieb, New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
“At turns funny and devastating, terrifying and transcendent, Foo’s quest for understanding should be relevant not just to someone with C-PTSD but to anyone seeking to grow and be present in this one life.”—Jenny Odell, New York Times bestselling author of How to Do Nothing
“Funny and tragic, unflinchingly honest and relentlessly hopeful, What My Bones Know is a marvel of a book.”—Ed Yong, New York Times bestselling author of I Contain Multitudes
“I cried while turning the pages; I knew that I was witnessing an astonishing literary endeavor. For others who live with C-PTSD, this is a crucial, life-changing book.”—Esmé Weijun Wang, New York Times bestselling author of The Collected Schizophrenias
“What My Bones Know is an absolute triumph. Foo’s beautifully written memoir is a balm and a light for anyone afraid that their early traumas have permanently stunted their capacity for connection, love, and purpose. This book is a must-read for anyone hungry for hope.”—Christie Tate, New York Times bestselling author of Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life
“A striking memoir . . . Stephanie Foo’s voice is singular—at times poetic, at times biting. This is a must-read for anyone healing from complex trauma.”—Jennette McCurdy, #1 New York Times bestselling author of I’m Glad My Mom Died
“This book is a major step forward in the study of trauma. It’s also a huge artistic genre-busting achievement. Stephanie Foo’s brilliant storytelling and strong, funny, relatable voice makes complex PTSD enjoyable to read about.”—Kathleen Hanna, singer for Bikini Kill, Le Tigre, and The Julie Ruin
“This is a work of immense beauty.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Foo’s writing is shrewdly insightful. In telling her story so compellingly, she joins authors such as Anna Qu and Ly Tran in adding nuance to the ‘model minority’ myth, if not actively subverting it.”—Library Journal, starred review
Stephanie Foo is a writer and radio producer, most recently for This American Life. Her work has aired on Snap Judgment, Reply All, 99% Invisible, and Radiolab. A noted speaker and instructor, she has taught at Columbia University and has spoken at venues from Sundance Film Festival to the Missouri Department of Mental Health. She lives in New York City with her husband.
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