62 pages • 2 hours read
What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma
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Book Brief
352
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
San Francisco, California • 2010s
2022
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo is a memoir about healing from C-PTSD that begins with her diagnosis in 2018, retracing her history in an abusive household and exploring the themes of trauma and silence in Asian American communities. Foo transforms her C-PTSD from a debilitating disorder into a manageable, defining trait, highlighting human resilience and hope. This memoir discusses child abuse, physical and mental abuse, torture, neglect, panic attacks, dissociation, depression, and suicidal ideation.
Emotional
Contemplative
Inspirational
Challenging
Dark
Reviews & Readership
57,345 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Stephanie Foo's memoir, What My Bones Know, presents an intimate exploration of trauma and healing. Critics praise Foo's raw, evocative storytelling and the depth of her emotional insight. However, some feel the narrative occasionally meanders and lacks cohesion. Overall, it is heralded as a powerful, moving contribution to the mental health discourse.
Who Should Read What My Bones Know?
A reader who finds solace in memoirs addressing mental health and trauma, akin to works like The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk and Educated by Tara Westover, will be captivated by Stephanie Foo's What My Bones Know. This deeply personal exploration of complex PTSD resonates with those seeking stories of resilience and self-discovery.
57,345 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
352
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
San Francisco, California • 2010s
2022
Adult
18+ years
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