In an era of Trump, the Far Right in Europe and Brexit, this book couldn't have come at a better time. It explores how societal division and disconnection can lead to different kinds of violence. It also discusses ways to reduce violence-to help make individuals more aware of their self-states and to act in a more thoughtful manner.
There's various therapeutic interventions mentioned throughout like Mentalisation Based Training, psychodynamic therapy, social dreaming (a form of group psychoanalysis) however what makes this book so unique is the way it links the personal with the political. Psychological & forensic topics are discussed alongside structural violence-poverty amongst African Americans in Baltimore, USA, women in Rwanda who have experienced sexual violence to name but a few. This combination lends the book a deep emotional richness. One of the most intriguing & provocative chapters explores how the political can sometimes be personal.
What I found truly refreshing about the book is how it doesn't preach to the reader. One is really encouraged to think deeply about all the issues presented in the book. I found myself reflecting upon the contents of the book a lot-much more than I normally would. It stirred up a lot of emotions within me-namely a deep sense of unease.
Life can be very chaotic and messy and this collection really reflects this complexity. There's no "right answers" or "ideal solutions", no "recovery stories" or "success stories". Instead, different voices are represented in the book-voices from all over the world so in this sense, the book is truly global and includes mental health professionals and psychiatric survivors alike.
The book's key strength is its inclusiveness-in a time when protectionism appears attractive to several world leaders, this collection is looking out at the world. That in itself gives me hope that a strong sense of community is one of the best ways to defeat social alienation and violence. By coming together, people can really change the world around them and themselves for that matter.
Finally, I admired how the collection closed with a quote from Rudolf Virchow. It seemed a fitting way of tying all the loose pieces together in the book.
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purplepanda
Raw, Honest and Powerful
Beoordeeld in het Verenigd Koninkrijk op 16 juli 2018