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Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma Paperback – Illustrated, July 7, 1997

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 3,710 ratings

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Nature's Lessons in Healing Trauma...

Waking the Tiger offers a new and hopeful vision of trauma. It views the human animal as a unique being, endowed with an instinctual capacity. It asks and answers an intriguing question: why are animals in the wild, though threatened routinely, rarely traumatized? By understanding the dynamics that make wild animals virtually immune to traumatic symptoms, the mystery of human trauma is revealed.

Waking the Tiger normalizes the symptoms of trauma and the steps needed to heal them. People are often traumatized by seemingly ordinary experiences. The reader is taken on a guided tour of the subtle, yet powerful impulses that govern our responses to overwhelming life events. To do this, it employs a series of exercises that help us focus on bodily sensations. Through heightened awareness of these sensations trauma can be healed.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Every life contains difficulties we are not prepared for. Read, learn, and be prepared for life and healing."
—Bernard S. Siegal, M.D., Author of
Love, Medicine & Miracles and Peace, Love, and Healing

"Fascinating! Amazing! A revolutionary exploration of the effects and causes of trauma."
—Mira Rothenberg, Director Emeritus of Blueberry Treatment Centers for Disturbed Children, Author of
Children With Emerald Eyes

"It is a most important book. Quite possibly a work of genius."
—Ron Kurtz, Author of
Body Reveals and Body-Centered Psychotherapy

"Levine effectively argues that the body is healer and that psychological scars of trauma are reversible—but only if we listen to the voices of our body." 
—Stephen W. Porges, Ph.D., Professor of Human Development and Psychology, University of Maryland
 
"A vital contribution to the exciting emerging science of mind/body interaction in the treatment of disease."
—Robert C. Scaer, M.D., Neurology, Medical Director, Rehabilitation Services, Boulder Community Hospital

"Peter Levine’s work is visionary common sense, pure and simple."
—Laura Huxley, lifetime partner and collaborator of Aldous Huxley
 
“[
Waking the Tiger] is an excellent resource for those who have been traumatized or know someone who suffers from trauma, like a soldier returning from war. Finally, there is help that doesn’t ask us to relive what happened and re-experience the pain. Instead, it follows the body’s wisdom in its search for renewal and healing.”
Soaring Again

From the Back Cover

Waking the Tiger offers a new and hopeful vision of trauma. It views the human animal as a unique being, endowed with an instinctual capacity to heal as well as an intellectual spirit to harness this innate capacity. It asks and answers an intriguing question - why are animals in the wild, though threatened routinely, rarely traumatized? By understanding the dynamics that make wild animals virtually immune to traumatic symptoms, the mystery of human trauma is revealed. Waking the Tiger normalizes the symptoms of trauma and the steps needed to heal them.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ North Atlantic Books; Illustrated edition (July 7, 1997)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 155643233X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1556432330
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.1 x 0.74 x 8.93 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 3,710 ratings

About the author

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Peter A. Levine
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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
3,710 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book provides a holistic understanding of trauma responses and provides great information. They find it easy to read and comforting, with clear and coherent writing. However, opinions differ on its effectiveness, with some finding it helpful and providing practical strategies for healing, while others consider it useless as self-help instructions. There are mixed views on the science content, with some finding it amazing and helpful, while others feel it's too nonscientific and theory-based.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

243 customers mention "Insight"239 positive4 negative

Customers find the book provides a holistic understanding of how our bodies respond to trauma. They find it educational and helpful for personal healing. The accounts provided are graphic, but the research presented is interesting. Readers say the approach makes sense and the exercises described make good sense.

"Waking the Tiger is such a inspirational book about how to heal trauma within ourselves...." Read more

"...functions; his book "Trauma and Memory" explains how traumatic memory works, and how it is different from non-traumatic memory, and the..." Read more

"My therapist recommended this book. It was very helpful." Read more

"...The author asserts that psychological wounds are reversible and that healing comes when the physical and mental letting go occurs, similar to the..." Read more

163 customers mention "Readability"160 positive3 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and helpful. They describe it as an intriguing, fascinating read that is well-done and logical. The book is also a good choice for spouses or loved ones because it helps them understand the person better. Readers mention that just reading the book can be transformative.

"...and of course, a must read for any therapist in this field." Read more

"Must read!" Read more

"...I found this 266-page book to be a fantastic read!" Read more

"I cannot praise Peter's work enough; it is absolutely brilliant and in my personal opinion, Peter Levine, for his initial insight into the fight/..." Read more

66 customers mention "Writing quality"55 positive11 negative

Customers find the book well-written and easy to read. They appreciate the clear, coherent language that is relatable. The message is simple and balanced, even though it's a lot to absorb.

"...It has the added benefit of not being talk-centered, so I don't have to constantly delve into details of my past that I often would rather not..." Read more

"...Peter Levine explains his topic in an easy-to-read manner, which left me wondering that the knowledge he expounds upon should be so commonplace, yet..." Read more

"...say that it might be a little too spiritually/new agey, but the message is clear, concise and balanced...." Read more

"...transform the consequences of trauma. It is easy to read and that is important in helping the reader to grasp this point-of-view. I think..." Read more

12 customers mention "Comfort level"9 positive3 negative

Customers find the book comforting and scientific. They say it helps them relax and let their bodies do what they naturally do. The author empathizes with readers' experiences and dispels fears.

"...The exercises created by this author dispels fears...." Read more

"...Get in touch with your body. Feel the sensations...." Read more

"...very hard to digest in this approach. I don't think it is a book for all to read. It might be best to be in therapy while reading this book..." Read more

"...being rear-eneded to having gone through emotional hurts, can lead to pain in the body...." Read more

31 customers mention "Effectiveness"21 positive10 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book. Some find it helpful with practical strategies and information to help them get started on their own. They say the techniques described work and are an important first read for recognizing, understanding, and moving symptoms of trauma. Others find it confusing, not helpful as self-help instructions, and hard to follow.

"...I still don't understand how Somatic Experiencing has worked so incredibly effectively, but I highly recommend this therapy to anyone who has a..." Read more

"...read, with interesting stories of actual people, and with info to help you get started on your own." Read more

"...I thought the content was mediocre and unhelpful...." Read more

"...Reading the book helped deepen my understanding and broaden my ideas about the practice...." Read more

28 customers mention "Science content"12 positive16 negative

Customers have different views on the science content. Some find it helpful with insights into trauma physiology and psychology, including an excellent comparison of animal physiology and behavior to human responses to fear and danger. However, others feel the book is too nonscientific and lacks supporting evidence, such as peer-reviewed scientific research.

"...So I just couldn't relate because the theorys just didn't apply to me and the deeper I got into the book, the more it didn't make sense based on who..." Read more

"...I have gained respect for the human reptilian nature and understand better our lost connections to the animal world...." Read more

"...It's a good book. a little dated though" Read more

"...That its effect is physiological is obvious and understandable becomes clear in this book...." Read more

Great book but Printed incorrectly
5 out of 5 stars
Great book but Printed incorrectly
Peter Levine’s books are incredible.The book skips from page 83 to page 133 and then repeats again, it’s printed completely wrong.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2024
    Waking the Tiger is such a inspirational book about how to heal trauma within ourselves. Peter Levin started for many years ago teaching us, that if we want to heal a trauma, we need to feel it and experience it over again with our feelings. So, it Is not enough to let it go or just entertain it in our thoughts. A must for all of us with trauma in us. and of course, a must read for any therapist in this field.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2016
    After reading this book, I sought out a somatic experiencing therapist who is touch-certified and it has changed my life. I had previously tried talk therapy, group therapy, CBT, and very briefly - EMDR. I was not a good candidate for EMDR, due to my problems with dissociation. Somatic Experiencing has helped me more than any other type of therapy I have done in recovering from a long history of childhood verbal, emotional, and physical abuse. Even after having read this book, I still don't understand how Somatic Experiencing has worked so incredibly effectively, but I highly recommend this therapy to anyone who has a history of childhood trauma, regardless of what that childhood trauma stems from (neglect, dysfunction, emotional, verbal, physical, or sexual abuse.)

    Somatic Experiencing has somehow taught my body to self-regulate emotions, without causing more dissociation after sessions. It has the added benefit of not being talk-centered, so I don't have to constantly delve into details of my past that I often would rather not repeat again and again. It has by-passed my problematic thought-processes that often hinder my recovery, by working directly on my body. Somehow, without cognitive effort, I end up feeling much better without even trying to think my way better. In fact, my thoughts and perspectives have somehow changed of their own accord, as my body begins to feel better on its own. It's like my body just started healing on its own, and then my brain catches up with it accordingly. I see the world differently now, I see myself differently now, and without even trying to implant new thoughts or perspectives into myself.

    When I was doing CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) I felt like I was constantly exerting immense effort on myself, trying to make my brain interpret my environment differently. I was repeatedly attempting to force new thoughts into my head, and this made me feel resentful at the constant argumentation I would have going on inside my brain, and angry because I felt that I was lying to myself with these new thoughts I was forcing into my head. Somatic Experiencing with a touch-certified therapist has removed this battle from my mind; and healthier thoughts and perspectives have slipped into my brain unnoticed by me at first. Despite having read this book, I still don't fully understand how it is possible that somatic experiencing is so effective.

    This book explains somatic experiencing very well. Not only does Peter Levine go into the details of how trauma effects the brain and body, but he describes some somatic experiencing sessions with clients in enough detail that the reader can learn what he or she can expect in a somatic experiencing session. I highly recommend his other book "Trauma and Memory" for a detailed explanation of traumatic memory. This book "Waking the Tiger" explains how trauma effects the brain-body and how somatic experiencing functions; his book "Trauma and Memory" explains how traumatic memory works, and how it is different from non-traumatic memory, and the difference between explicit and implicit memory. For those of us who feel confused about our patchy, gap-ridden explicit memories, coupled with our highly valent emotional patterns of reaction, his "Trauma and Memory" book sheds much light on this confusion.

    CBT is woefully under-equipped to handle childhood attachment trauma; it only made me fight inside my head more, and feel resentful at the constant effort of forcing myself to think differently. EMDR did not work for me, as it attempted to cram more trauma into my brain while leaving my body behind in the process, which mainly led to further dissociation. Talk therapy has been helpful for my own understanding of what happened to me, but it, too, left my body out of the picture, and did not help me with the daily emotional dysregulation which caused me so much constant grief. Somatic Experiencing, on the other hand, has put the healing emphasis onto my body, and caused it to heal itself, resulting in my body feeling better and my brain responding to my improved feelings in my body. My brain just keeps catching up to my healing body without much exerted effort on my part.

    I highly recommend this book, and somatic experiencing with a touch-certified therapist, to anyone who has experienced childhood attachment trauma.
    1,134 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2024
    My therapist recommended this book. It was very helpful.
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2003
    Peter Levine in "Waking the Tiger," postulates that trauma exists not in the event or in the story of the event, but is stored within the nervous system. Many common physical ailments are actually residues of thwarted trauma reactions incurred during such events as surgical procedures, falls, pre or perinatal stress and/or childhood accidents and traumas. The body has a natural, innate, and miraculous capacity to heal once these reactions are understood and guided.

    Levine reinforces the holistic nature of the human being. Our bodies and brains connect instinct, emotion and rationality to our experience. Trauma may create damaging and often enduring symptoms. Human beings have a harder time than do animals in releasing trauma and may carry it throughout our lives. We often become frozen in trauma, unlike animals that can cope with the unpredictability of nature. This may provide a major interference with our health, peace of mind and the ability to live joyfully and creatively. When human trauma remains unhealed, the energy of the trauma and accompanying emotions remain locked within the brain and held within the body's musculature, tissues and organs, awaiting discharge.

    The author writes about an oft-forgotten aspect of trauma, freezing or immobilization during a traumatic experience. Modern medicine/psychiatry emphasize the "flight or fight" response while often neglecting the freeze response. The concept of the freeze response in the face of overwhelming threat provides a missing link to symptoms such as dissociation that our old ideas of "fight or flight" fail to explain. Immobilization in the face of threat is an automatic biological response that is not voluntarily chosen by the victim. This provides redeeming message to trauma survivors.

    Levine points out that our memories are not literal recordings of events, but rather, a complex of images that are influenced by arousal, emotional context, and prior experience. Memories may even transform over time as new experiences add layers of meaning to the images. While remembering the past can be an important aspect of therapy, appreciating the subjective quality of memories is crucial to integrating them appropriately into the healing process.

    Those with deep psychological scars may have dissociated the memory from their minds and are living in a numbed, tensed body awaiting its release so the body can return to wholeness and optimum mental and physical health. The author asserts that psychological wounds are reversible and that healing comes when the physical and mental letting go occurs, similar to the way the tiger experiences the coming and going of threat, tensing in response to danger, and as the threat passes, the tiger's muscles shake, twitch and let go right then and there the fear related energy which now is forever out of mind and body. Trauma is stored energy that must be released.
    394 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2024
    Must read!
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2024
    This book was referenced in several classes from the past. I thought I would purchase and read the whole book: wise decision. Excellent help working with clients that are stuck as a victim.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

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  • erika salinas
    5.0 out of 5 stars MUY BUEN TRABAJO. SENSIBLE.
    Reviewed in Mexico on July 9, 2024
    Este libro nos habla del corazón humano y como fácilmente se expone a los traumas. Sin embargo, tenemos un mecanismo para liberarnos y salir de ellos. Un mecanismo natural.
  • Antje Strafiel
    5.0 out of 5 stars Geniales Buch!
    Reviewed in Germany on September 3, 2024
    Gibt ein Verständnis über Trauma generell, insbesondere dem 'freeze state' und dessen Heilung/Auflösung, vor allem auch über den Körper.
    Es ist gut verständlich geschrieben und enthält zudem Übungen
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 25, 2024
    My experience reading this book was truly mind blowing. This book is so easy to understand and really insightful it opened up a new way of thinking for me when it comes to trauma. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and learned a whole lot. I’m very thankful for this book and will definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking to learn about trauma responses and effective ways to heal from trauma.
  • chiara grazia rosi
    5.0 out of 5 stars ottimo prodotto
    Reviewed in Italy on October 25, 2019
    ottimo libro, molto utile, scritto in maniera molto chiara e fluida. i concetti sono espressi molto chiaramente, Assolutamente consigliato a chi si occupa di terapia.
  • janice latham
    5.0 out of 5 stars Game changer
    Reviewed in Australia on February 23, 2023
    Can't put this book down. So interesting. Looking at trauma in the simplistic form of our relationship to animals. Will be a great assist to those with ongoing trauma and how to release it.