The Body Keeps the Score
by Bessel van der Kolk
Mentioned 4 times across 5 shows · first heard Oct 2025 on Huberman Lab.
The general take
Andrew Huberman respects The Body Keeps the Score as a pioneering work with an exceptionally catchy title that left a mark on people's thinking, but he views it as somewhat outdated now. He gives credit to Bessel van der Kolk for the book's impact, though the implication is that the field has moved beyond it.
About
#1 New York Times bestseller “Essential reading for anyone interested in understanding and treating traumatic stress and the scope of its impact on society.” —Alexander McFarlane, Director of the Centre for Traumatic Stress Studies A pioneering researcher transforms our understanding of trauma and offers a bold new paradigm for healing in this New York Times bestseller Trauma is a fact of life. Veterans and their families deal with the painful aftermath of combat; one in five Americans has been molested; one in four grew up with alcoholics; one in three couples have engaged in physical violence. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, one of the world’s foremost experts on trauma, has spent over three decades working with survivors.
Who said what
Jamie Kern Lima👍 Recommends
…discussing healing modalities and how trauma is stored in the body
“I believe our body keeps the score. I believe that book. I believe all of it. And I think for so many people, while that book is phenomenally popular for so many people, the concept is brand new. Like what do you mean my body keeps the score? Oh, if I haven't healed the thing that happened then, it's still in me and affecting me.”
The Jamie Kern Lima Show — Monica Lewinsky Reveals All: Life-Changing Lessons on Reclaiming Your Story, Your Power & Your Life! It’s Never Too Late!at 44:48- KB
Kevin Brown👍 Recommends
…referencing trauma psychology book in discussion of healing
“You know, they say the body keeps the score. It's the best of the book about trauma. And, uh, and so that's an interesting thing. It's like to be in a state of consciousness where you feel somatically stay safe enough to like go back to it, visit it, look at it, acknowledge it, and also realize it's in the past.”
Tomorrow, Today — Can AI Help Us Live 250 Years? The Future of Human Longevityat 38:46 
Hayley Williams👍 Recommends
…hayley discussing interest in somatic and nervous system work
“And then obviously, you know, all these many, many years later and everything that I, I love to learn about the body and, and especially what, what do you like body keeps the score type stuff. Yeah. I love, I'm really interested in that and reading about how the voice can tone the, the vagus nerve, which controls so much of this, this anxiety stuff and how we regulate.”
Good Hang with Amy Poehler — Hayley Williamsat 22:37
Andrew Huberman👍 Recommends
…discussing powerful book titles in psychology and wellness fields
“The Body Keeps the Score. No other book in the field of kind of psychology, biology, wellness has resonated in people's minds as much and as long as The Body Keeps the Score. Because it's just an awesome title.”
Huberman Lab — How to Overcome Inner Resistance | Steven Pressfieldat 2:11:49
Listener reviews
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