What do you think?
Rate this book
Trauma Proof: Healing, Attachment and the Science of Prevention
'Lucid, clear, visionary' - Bessel van der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps The Score
'An important book' Bruce Perry, author of What Happened to You?
'Buy this book' - Lemn Sissay, author of My Name is Why
'A book of profound importance' - Lisa Damour, author of Untangled
In recent years the word 'trauma' has become ubiquitous. Yet it remains widely misunderstood. In Trauma Proof international expert Benjamin Perks redefines how we see childhood trauma, and outlines a new path towards healing and prevention.
For 25 years, Perks has worked for the UN and UNICEF on eradicating global barriers to child wellbeing, including poverty, hunger, disease, the mobilisation of child soldiers and population displacement. But he has also been on a personal journey of healing from his own childhood, spent living in the UK's care system and on the streets.
Today, new research is revealing little-known aspects of childhood trauma. It is no surprise that it drives addiction or poor mental health. But how does it explain a heightened risk for heart disease or diabetes? Why does it so comprehensively correlate with poor life outcomes? And how can we not only heal from, but prevent, the types of experiences that negatively impact on child development?
In Trauma Proof, Perks explains the science behind these findings, and argues that making simple changes can break damaging inter-generational cycles. Ultimately, he shows how building secure attachments and improving the quality of your relationships can radically transform your life, at any age.
'An important book' Bruce Perry, author of What Happened to You?
'Buy this book' - Lemn Sissay, author of My Name is Why
'A book of profound importance' - Lisa Damour, author of Untangled
In recent years the word 'trauma' has become ubiquitous. Yet it remains widely misunderstood. In Trauma Proof international expert Benjamin Perks redefines how we see childhood trauma, and outlines a new path towards healing and prevention.
For 25 years, Perks has worked for the UN and UNICEF on eradicating global barriers to child wellbeing, including poverty, hunger, disease, the mobilisation of child soldiers and population displacement. But he has also been on a personal journey of healing from his own childhood, spent living in the UK's care system and on the streets.
Today, new research is revealing little-known aspects of childhood trauma. It is no surprise that it drives addiction or poor mental health. But how does it explain a heightened risk for heart disease or diabetes? Why does it so comprehensively correlate with poor life outcomes? And how can we not only heal from, but prevent, the types of experiences that negatively impact on child development?
In Trauma Proof, Perks explains the science behind these findings, and argues that making simple changes can break damaging inter-generational cycles. Ultimately, he shows how building secure attachments and improving the quality of your relationships can radically transform your life, at any age.
321 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 19, 2024
11 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 27, 2025
This was a great read (or listen for me in this case). The ideas are accessible yet not patronising and engaging without being fear-driven. I found it truly thought-provoking—a must-read for parents, educators, and anyone working with families and children.
September 14, 2025
Trauma Proof is a powerful reminder that healing is possible and resilience can be nurtured. Benjamin Perks brings deep wisdom, compassion, and clarity to one of the most important issues of our time—helping break cycles of trauma and unlock hope.
August 24, 2025
Benjamin Perkins spent most of his teenage years in an orphanage in Birmingham, at a time when corporal punishment was the norm. Later on in life he wonders why he ends every romantic relationship before it gets serious and why he feels impostor syndrome in a room full of his peers at UNICEF. When his Eastern European therapist starts working with him, he realises how much unprocessed childhood trauma he has...
As someone who has experienced and is interested in the topic of childhood trauma, I really wanted to like the book. There were good parts, for sure, such as the very personal story of the author's upbringing, the vulnerability he felt upon encountering his adult daughter and the experience of becoming a father for the second time. I think it's laudable that he's seemingly on a mission to eradicate trauma from the world and the information on the ACE score was insightful. Certainly, the ideas of paid maternity leave, with the glorious example of Estonia, seems sensible, as does the abolition of corporal punishment. With all this being said, a newspaper article or at most, a short dissertation would have been more than enough - there was no need for a book.
Why? Don't we need a book on trauma? Yes, but... I found the book either brutally dry and monotone or uncomfortably detailed when it came to some of the child abuse he or his acquaintances experienced. At one point I had just about enough .
Twice, Benjamin Perks mentions Brené Brown, the vulnerability and shame researcher, and I've just read her work one book ago. If he was trying to copy her style, he failed - his writing style was less engaging, the personal anecdotes were more depressing and I even found the author much less likeable as a person than Brené Brown. I didn't feel like there was much personality to the book at all (with the few exceptions I've named above), mostly everything sounded very clinical and matter-of-fact, as if the author was actively trying to detach himself from the topic (which is ironically likely a trauma response).
In general, the book is depressing. You're going to say "DUH - it's a book about childhood trauma". Yes - but I thought there would be more of a focus on healing and it ending on more of a positive note. I found the book was largely about prevention and focused excessively on individual (negative) fates.
I don't know what to tell you, I had to actively force myself to keep reading. I have to hope that there are better books on the topic and the high rating of this *gestures in Italian* makes me lose my faith in humanity somewhat. I don't recommend "Trauma Proof", then again I haven't found a better alternative (yet)
As someone who has experienced and is interested in the topic of childhood trauma, I really wanted to like the book. There were good parts, for sure, such as the very personal story of the author's upbringing, the vulnerability he felt upon encountering his adult daughter and the experience of becoming a father for the second time. I think it's laudable that he's seemingly on a mission to eradicate trauma from the world and the information on the ACE score was insightful. Certainly, the ideas of paid maternity leave, with the glorious example of Estonia, seems sensible, as does the abolition of corporal punishment. With all this being said, a newspaper article or at most, a short dissertation would have been more than enough - there was no need for a book.
Why? Don't we need a book on trauma? Yes, but... I found the book either brutally dry and monotone or uncomfortably detailed when it came to some of the child abuse he or his acquaintances experienced. At one point I had just about enough .
Twice, Benjamin Perks mentions Brené Brown, the vulnerability and shame researcher, and I've just read her work one book ago. If he was trying to copy her style, he failed - his writing style was less engaging, the personal anecdotes were more depressing and I even found the author much less likeable as a person than Brené Brown. I didn't feel like there was much personality to the book at all (with the few exceptions I've named above), mostly everything sounded very clinical and matter-of-fact, as if the author was actively trying to detach himself from the topic (which is ironically likely a trauma response).
In general, the book is depressing. You're going to say "DUH - it's a book about childhood trauma". Yes - but I thought there would be more of a focus on healing and it ending on more of a positive note. I found the book was largely about prevention and focused excessively on individual (negative) fates.
I don't know what to tell you, I had to actively force myself to keep reading. I have to hope that there are better books on the topic and the high rating of this *gestures in Italian* makes me lose my faith in humanity somewhat. I don't recommend "Trauma Proof", then again I haven't found a better alternative (yet)
April 1, 2025
Every parent should read this outstanding and inspiring book. This book interweaves a gripping, deeply personal story, with the latest science of attachment and recovery from the childhood traumas that affect so many of us. As I read this, Benjamin Perks took me on his journey from the streets of London's Camden Town, to UNICEF leadership in New York, via Afghanistan and Montenegro, and I learned about simple, clear ways to change stories of neglect and abuse, towards futures of hope. An exceptional read.
March 28, 2025
I believe that this book should be read by all the professionals who work with children so they can see their impact on each child they serve.
The real-life stories and the facts help me better understand trauma and how I can help others.
Parents who have experienced trauma should see this book as a source to understand more of how we react and how to learn to be the parents that we want to be for our children.
The real-life stories and the facts help me better understand trauma and how I can help others.
Parents who have experienced trauma should see this book as a source to understand more of how we react and how to learn to be the parents that we want to be for our children.
May 13, 2025
Slow burn as lots of content was thought provoking and brought up my own demons
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews