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Bessel van der Kolk

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Books Written by Bessel van der Kolk

Van der Kolk is a psychiatrist who has spent over four decades researching how trauma reshapes the brain and body, and was part of the first neuroimaging team to observe those changes directly. His book The Body Keeps the Score became an unlikely, years-long bestseller.

The Body Keeps the Score is by far his most widely read book. His earlier edited volumes are aimed at clinicians and researchers rather than general readers.

By Lisanne Swart · 3 books · Psychiatry & Trauma · Updated August 2026

Quick answer

Bessel van der Kolk is best known for The Body Keeps the Score (2014). His earlier academic work includes the edited volumes Psychological Trauma (1987) and Traumatic Stress (1996). The Body Keeps the Score is the place to start.


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Psychiatry · TraumaStart here

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma

Bessel van der Kolk · 2014

Van der Kolk’s synthesis of decades of research on how traumatic experience reshapes the brain, making the case for body-based treatments alongside talk therapy.

Spent years on the bestseller list, though a 2025 review found some specific claims about brain damage and treatment efficacy weren’t fully supported by current research — worth reading with that context.

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Watch: Therapy, Psychedelics, and Why the Body Keeps the Score

Bessel van der Kolk discusses the connection between body, mind, and language, and what happens when trauma goes unrecognized.


Where to start with Bessel van der Kolk

If you’re new to trauma research

The Body Keeps the Score is by far the most accessible starting point.

If you want the academic foundation

Traumatic Stress is denser but underlies much of his popular work.

If you want historical context

Psychological Trauma shows where the field stood earlier in his career.

Frequently asked questions about Bessel van der Kolk’s books

How many books has Bessel van der Kolk written?

Best known for The Body Keeps the Score (2014), along with earlier academic works he edited, including Psychological Trauma (1987) and Traumatic Stress (1996).

What is the best Bessel van der Kolk book to start with?

The Body Keeps the Score — his most accessible and widely read book.

Has The Body Keeps the Score been scientifically questioned?

Yes. A 2025 review in BJPsych Bulletin found some specific claims about brain damage and body-based treatment efficacy weren’t fully supported by current research.

Written by Lisanne Swart

Lisanne curates books for curious readers at lisanneswart.com, publishing original reading lists, author deep-dives, and honest recommendations since 2021. Read more about Lisanne.


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