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Supersurvivors: The Surprising Link Between Suffering and Success – The Psychology of Remarkable Growth and Transformation After Trauma
Starting where resiliency studies leave off, two psychologists explore the science of remarkable accomplishment in the wake of trauma, revealing the surprising principles that allow people to transform their lives and achieve extraordinary things. Over four billion people worldwide will survive a trauma during their lives. Some will experience severe post-traumatic stress. Most will eventually recover and return to life as normal. But sometimes, survivors do more than bounce back. Sometimes they bounce forward. These are the Supersurvivors—individuals who not only rebuild their lives, but also thrive and grow in ways never previously imagined. Beginning where resilience ends, David B. Feldman and Lee Daniel Kravetz look beyond the tenets of traditional psychology for a deeper understanding of the strength of the human spirit. What they have found flies in the face of conventional wisdom—that positive thinking may hinder more than help; that perceived support can be just as good as the real thing; and that realistic expectations may be a key to great success. They introduce the humble but powerful notion of grounded hope as the foundation for overcoming trauma. The authors interviewed dozens of men and women whose stories serve as the counterpoint to the latest scientific research. Feldman and Kravetz then brilliantly weave these extraordinary narratives with new science, creating an emotionally compelling and thought-provoking look at what is possible in the face of human tragedy. Supersurvivors will reset our thinking about how we deal with challenges, no matter how big or small.
256 pages, Paperback
First published June 24, 2014
102 people are currently reading
1083 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
July 15, 2014
I knew going into reading this book that I was unlikely to love it. While the topic is of great personal interest to me, I am always slightly skeptical of "pop psychology" books. I did like the authors' attempts to include research (though more science-based inclusions would have been nice). More research exploring people who not only bounce back from trauma to resiliency, but take it a step further to future success is merited.
My largest complaint about the book was that I felt like the stories pick bordered on glamorizing trauma. I know this was not the authors' intentions (and I fully admit that due to my work/research in the field, I am very sensitive). I wish more examples of traumas that are commonly experienced were incorporated. For instance, rape, domestic violence and sexual assault are among the most commonly reported traumas experienced, yet not one chapter was dedicated to a supersurvivor. Of course, I understand the appeal of including vivid and remarkable stories (and they were very moving), I just wish the authors' had also incorporated more experienced traumas.
I think that for a book trying to merge popular interest with scientific research, they did a good job. And I think that many people would greatly enjoy this read and find the stories very motivating and inspiring.
My largest complaint about the book was that I felt like the stories pick bordered on glamorizing trauma. I know this was not the authors' intentions (and I fully admit that due to my work/research in the field, I am very sensitive). I wish more examples of traumas that are commonly experienced were incorporated. For instance, rape, domestic violence and sexual assault are among the most commonly reported traumas experienced, yet not one chapter was dedicated to a supersurvivor. Of course, I understand the appeal of including vivid and remarkable stories (and they were very moving), I just wish the authors' had also incorporated more experienced traumas.
I think that for a book trying to merge popular interest with scientific research, they did a good job. And I think that many people would greatly enjoy this read and find the stories very motivating and inspiring.
June 26, 2014
With Supersurvivors I found everything I like about science books nestled between its cover. This book takes a look at how some people find a new direction in life after surviving a traumatic experience. It does not gloss over the fact though that trauma is just that, a horrible experience that you would not wish on anyone.
Everyone has heard 'that' tale of someone whose traumatic life experience has given them the drive to go on to great things. The authors take a look at this phenomena and try to piece together the reason and science behind it. They achieve this by breaking the chapters up to cover a single topic like positive thinking or forgiveness. Each chapter tell the story of individuals, their trauma and how it changed them. From this we get a good sense of myriad of drivers that push people through and beyond their trauma.
This book is well balanced and thought out it delivers a highly engaging read. I particularly liked it's use of individuals story to support the authors findings. I must admit it also engaged the voyeur in me it was both fascinating and shocking to read what some people had lived through.
Everyone has heard 'that' tale of someone whose traumatic life experience has given them the drive to go on to great things. The authors take a look at this phenomena and try to piece together the reason and science behind it. They achieve this by breaking the chapters up to cover a single topic like positive thinking or forgiveness. Each chapter tell the story of individuals, their trauma and how it changed them. From this we get a good sense of myriad of drivers that push people through and beyond their trauma.
This book is well balanced and thought out it delivers a highly engaging read. I particularly liked it's use of individuals story to support the authors findings. I must admit it also engaged the voyeur in me it was both fascinating and shocking to read what some people had lived through.
January 28, 2018
This book not only made me feel depressed when I was reading it, but has made me feel a bit sad and pessimistic ever since.
February 24, 2020
It had nothing to do with the talent of these authors or their subject matter, but for inexplicable reasons, I couldn’t connect to this book. Ok, that’s perhaps a bit sweeping. I’ll amend that to say I couldn’t always connect with this book or the ideas it portrays.
While I don’t mean to oversimplify, the book essentially looks at people who have endured horrific trauma and not only bounced back with resilience but have burst the bands of limitations to do extraordinary things. The authors provide examples of such people and show you the link between that individual’s adversity and his or her successes.
There are chapters here that look at the fallacy of positive thinking. We often ascribe success to the positive nature of the individual, and to some degree, optimism comes into play, but these researchers seem to indicate that the optimism is better when it takes the form of well-grounded hope rather than the artificiality of cheerleading-type positive thinking.
The authors point to forgiveness as an important tool in the arsenal of the supersurvivor. There is much that comes from forgiving others of wrongs that contributed to the trauma the individual experienced.
I think my difficulty with the book may have been one of timing. I eagerly loaded the book to my hard drive in February of 2015; five years later, for incomprehensible reasons, I’m less interested in reading it. That’s not the fault of the authors. Sadly, I found myself drifting off to sleep and struggling to return to the last known good point in the book I could remember. I have every certainty your experience with the book will be far more positive and arresting.
While I don’t mean to oversimplify, the book essentially looks at people who have endured horrific trauma and not only bounced back with resilience but have burst the bands of limitations to do extraordinary things. The authors provide examples of such people and show you the link between that individual’s adversity and his or her successes.
There are chapters here that look at the fallacy of positive thinking. We often ascribe success to the positive nature of the individual, and to some degree, optimism comes into play, but these researchers seem to indicate that the optimism is better when it takes the form of well-grounded hope rather than the artificiality of cheerleading-type positive thinking.
The authors point to forgiveness as an important tool in the arsenal of the supersurvivor. There is much that comes from forgiving others of wrongs that contributed to the trauma the individual experienced.
I think my difficulty with the book may have been one of timing. I eagerly loaded the book to my hard drive in February of 2015; five years later, for incomprehensible reasons, I’m less interested in reading it. That’s not the fault of the authors. Sadly, I found myself drifting off to sleep and struggling to return to the last known good point in the book I could remember. I have every certainty your experience with the book will be far more positive and arresting.
January 7, 2015
This is an anthology of survivors' stories, interspersed with very light treatment of research in psychology (sometimes devolving into outright speculation). The points where Feldman and Kravetz dabble in philosophy are particularly weak (especially chapter 7 on faith). Without critical discussion, it's impossible to draw any conclusions from the research mentioned, so all you're left with is something akin to Readers's Digest Survival Stories-engaging and inspiring, but certainly not enough to learn anything substantial about 'the surprising link between suffering and success'.
April 17, 2021
Supersurvivors has a ridiculously engaging premise, which is the idea that what doesn't kill you not only makes you stronger, but propels you forward in meteoric ways. That for some who suffer, this is merely the beginning of a path to super success.
The book is interesting enough, but I found it never really followed through on it's initial promise. It tells a number of inspiring stories, which are engaging, but the through line never fully materialized for me. Had the chapters been more cohesive, or the stories more illustrative of the main idea, then I might have rated this more highly.
The book is interesting enough, but I found it never really followed through on it's initial promise. It tells a number of inspiring stories, which are engaging, but the through line never fully materialized for me. Had the chapters been more cohesive, or the stories more illustrative of the main idea, then I might have rated this more highly.
September 25, 2017
This book offers a series of illustrative cases to show how people stricken by misfortunes from illness to injustice not only survive, but thrive. Rather than following the popular advice to "think positively", these "super" survivors acknowledge from the beginning the real limitations of this post-trauma situations, grieve, and then proceed with optimism and confidence in their own capacities to rebuild. They learn to forgive, but never to forget. They ask for help, and identify those few who they can rely on at the most difficult times. They acknowledge the brevity of life and get to work. Useful and organized as it was, the writing of this book felt yeomanly more than inspired.
September 5, 2019
I liked this book for the stories of people overcoming challenges and coming back stronger than ever, and with more confidence in themselves and more love for life. I think the author was trying to illustrate a principle in each chapter, but I’m afraid the principles got lost on me. Part of that was because of the way he skipped between stories, telling part of one, then starting another, then jumping back to the first one. Sometimes I got lost in the shuffle of who was who and what challenge that person had overcome. But the book still left me with an overall good feeling of hope, and for that it was definitely worth the read.
July 18, 2020
This is a quick accessible read that blends personal stories with science to show how people survive the worst - disease, genocide, accidents, death of loved ones. It's a hopeful book that still manages to break the myth of positive thinking. It gives a realistic vision of what it takes - adaptation, a realistic mindset, support, values, determination.
I really enjoyed the stories of the people presented and hope they are all doing well, already googled Asha.
A good introduction to the topic that is informative and a bit wholesome too.
I really enjoyed the stories of the people presented and hope they are all doing well, already googled Asha.
A good introduction to the topic that is informative and a bit wholesome too.
May 14, 2022
Well, I took forever to finish this book. It’s one of those pop-science books filled with anecdotes about a variety of people from around the world but I must say largely the US, and a premise woven around a “common thread” that connects their stories. Frankly have read a lot of these books with this familiar plot. A quick breezy read if you are looking for one. But I must credit this book for one very important issue - to openly junk the so called benefits of positive thinking. Not many books do that and for that honesty I tip my hat to the authors….
March 22, 2018
This book is a great one in highlighting the lives of people who have suffered tremendously and have come out victorious- from the external and their internal world.
There are actual stories of people who have undergone pain, rape, sorrows, despair, shock, and all other emotions of a human being that occurs from an unexpected and hopeless conditions. Yet, they have come out victorious in their lives.
A book that shall remain with me in times of personal loss or need.
There are actual stories of people who have undergone pain, rape, sorrows, despair, shock, and all other emotions of a human being that occurs from an unexpected and hopeless conditions. Yet, they have come out victorious in their lives.
A book that shall remain with me in times of personal loss or need.
March 29, 2019
I'm not a huge fan of self help books but this book articulated SO MANY THINGS I have been feeling in my life perfectly. As someone who was diagnosed with multiple severe chronic illnesses as a teen, I'm tired of the platitudes and "just think positive!" advice that people like to share. I could see and hear myself in the experiences of the supersurvivors and I think it came into my life at the perfect time. I'm going to carry this book with me for a long time.
March 11, 2017
I enjoyed this book. I am not sure of the take away if you aren't one of the life/death experience survivors. What I did take away was that the amount of information you sort through to make a choice does not equate with a better/happier/content choice. AND that no matter what you choose, there are daily choices to stay with the "original" choice.
May 5, 2017
Some people are destroyed by adversity and some people survive it. Others can take a trauma and then come out the other side triumphant and better than they were before. Why? Turns out there are several factors than can contribute to living victoriously in the face of difficulty. Quick read and good real life stories.
August 13, 2018
I loved this book. It read like a novel with a lot of interwoven stories. Basically the premise is that those who suffer from trauma or PTSD can be plagued for life and wallow in self-despair or can use that trauma to springboard into success. There were other interesting points as well.
I wish they would have had an example about abuse. I felt that was missing/lacking.
I wish they would have had an example about abuse. I felt that was missing/lacking.
April 30, 2023
I have mixed feelings about this book. It offers insights from stories recounted how people face adversity. The stories are touching and uplifting. I appreciate the book’s focus, mostly because it helped my to confided my capacity to deal with adversity because there may not always be a tomorrow.
October 20, 2023
An enjoyable read filled case studies that give perspective to the often messy topic of trauma.
With a solid foundation in the science of hope you gain insight into research in a non academic way that speaks to the heart rather than just the mind. You can’t possibly read this book and not feel you have the superpower within you to live a better life with better choices no matter the adversity.
With a solid foundation in the science of hope you gain insight into research in a non academic way that speaks to the heart rather than just the mind. You can’t possibly read this book and not feel you have the superpower within you to live a better life with better choices no matter the adversity.
November 8, 2020
I liked the ideas in this book. The idea that one can spring forward after a trauma and not just bounce back. I ended up mega-skimming the second half though, it just wasn't very engaging. I'd recommend it though, even though I think it would have been better at about 100 pages ha
March 25, 2018
Very interesting read. Great airplane reading for me.
September 16, 2018
A well-written, wide-ranging and thought-provoking book on how ordinary people overcome immense challenges. Highly recommended.
November 23, 2018
Inspiring
December 21, 2018
3.5 interesting people profiled. Not a lot of meaningful takeaways.
January 27, 2019
A lot of stuff that I have read in other books. It is nice to hear a new perspective on older stories.
May 29, 2020
The example stories in here are legit. So many have done so much with only a change of mindset. The last chapter is quite compelling.
March 17, 2023
too many anecdotes, not enough research
July 21, 2023
The book is a blend or narrative and expository writing. A fascinating read that sparked my curiosity.
June 9, 2017
I knew when I met Lee Daniel Kravetz that his book would be a smart read, possibly even inspirational, but it's so much more than that. If you're paying attention, this is actually a practical manual for how to create a meaningful life. These "supersurvivors" have not only survived a difficult, often tragic turning point, but they've used it to propel themselves forward into an entirely new and far more fulfilling path. What I took away from their stories is that fulfillment, happiness, contentment, success—all that good stuff most of us want comes down to this one critical ingredient: purpose. Kravetz's supersurvivors found theirs the hard way, but maybe we don't have to. Maybe we can learn from their example thanks to this book. At the very least, it helps to know what you're really looking for.
August 16, 2014
We're all powerless against the vicissitudes of fate
Author/psychologists David B. Feldman and Lee Daniel Kravetz have placed before the general reading public a book that tackles some of those life questions we all face, separate out individuals who have survived seemingly impossible odds, and use their work with these people to probe the arena of `supersurvivors' and in doing so negate some old misunderstood perception and myths about what makes people able to make the most out of a hopeless situation.
To get us to the point of understanding the effects of trauma of the psyche and the physical body they offer information form several fine experts; Judith Herman is quoted: `At the moment of trauma the victim is rendered helpless by an overwhelming force. When the force is that of nature, we speak of disasters. When the force is that of other human beings, we speak of atrocities. Traumatic events are extraordinary, not because they occur rarely, but rather because they overwhelm the ordinary human adaptations to life.'
The manner in which they describe the feats of some people who have endured severe hardships and why is enlightening. They also apply the findings of interviewing the `giants' of success by relating the information to daily living. `Successful people fail a lot, but they try a lot, too. When things don't work they move on until an idea does work. Survivors and great entrepreneurs have this in common.' They describe the halo effect and other aspects of phenomena that affect the manner in which the well discussed supersurvivors have functioned.
Toward book's end they state `Throughout this book we've seen that the otherwise destructive forces of trauma can sometimes initiate dramatic positive transformation. But is it really necessary to suffer in order to experience this magnitude of change?' `Pain will change you. It does change you. But so does knowledge.' This is a beautifully written book that opens many windows of thinking and allows the reader to reevaluate the way trauma is viewed, experienced and utilized. It is a book about Hope. Highly Recommended.
Author/psychologists David B. Feldman and Lee Daniel Kravetz have placed before the general reading public a book that tackles some of those life questions we all face, separate out individuals who have survived seemingly impossible odds, and use their work with these people to probe the arena of `supersurvivors' and in doing so negate some old misunderstood perception and myths about what makes people able to make the most out of a hopeless situation.
To get us to the point of understanding the effects of trauma of the psyche and the physical body they offer information form several fine experts; Judith Herman is quoted: `At the moment of trauma the victim is rendered helpless by an overwhelming force. When the force is that of nature, we speak of disasters. When the force is that of other human beings, we speak of atrocities. Traumatic events are extraordinary, not because they occur rarely, but rather because they overwhelm the ordinary human adaptations to life.'
The manner in which they describe the feats of some people who have endured severe hardships and why is enlightening. They also apply the findings of interviewing the `giants' of success by relating the information to daily living. `Successful people fail a lot, but they try a lot, too. When things don't work they move on until an idea does work. Survivors and great entrepreneurs have this in common.' They describe the halo effect and other aspects of phenomena that affect the manner in which the well discussed supersurvivors have functioned.
Toward book's end they state `Throughout this book we've seen that the otherwise destructive forces of trauma can sometimes initiate dramatic positive transformation. But is it really necessary to suffer in order to experience this magnitude of change?' `Pain will change you. It does change you. But so does knowledge.' This is a beautifully written book that opens many windows of thinking and allows the reader to reevaluate the way trauma is viewed, experienced and utilized. It is a book about Hope. Highly Recommended.
March 16, 2015
Honestly, I would've given this book a slightly better rating if I weren't in such a bad emotional state. I feel like, compared to the people profiled in this book, I've been wasting my life. I know that's not the intent of the author(s) and they do go out of their way to acknowledge the fact that not everyone who has been touched by trauma will come out the other side a superior being, improved, empowered and eager to help others and improve the world. I know I didn't, having been nearly killed at age fourteen when a passenger in a car where the driver had fallen asleep at the wheel and careened off the side of the highway. I know the author(s) did not intend to make anyone feel bad for not becoming a superhero after reading this book. But I look around myself, remembering how the author offered a hint into my daily experience... imagine being afraid of death every moment of your life. I live that every day. In August of this year, it will have been a quarter century since my own initiation into the world of survivors. I cannot say that my life has improved as a result of my trials. I experience physical pain and mental anguish every day, nearly every moment of my waking life, and often while I sleep. Why do they feel motivated by their pain and one like me, clearly no great idiot, lives trapped in my own life, in poverty and suffering, each day considering suicide and afraid of everything? As I finish this book, I'm left with no answers. I don't credit or blame some "god" for my problems (I'm an atheist.) Maybe it's just the way I'm wired. Maybe I shouldn't have lived through it; every day, that thought crosses my mind (and if there is a god, maybe that's why I'm so miserable - I failed to meet my fate!) I suppose I came to this expecting some insight, but I achieved none of that. I did enjoy hearing some of the others' stories, as biographies of incredible lives interest me. But answers to my own puzzles didn't come out of this book, and I fear I may never know.
June 30, 2014
This book was recommended to me by the parent of a young adult cancer survivor. I thought it would be one more book about the power of positive thinking. NO WAY! In fact, that is one of the urban legends the authors take on. With research and data to back them up, they tell personal stories of survivors of war, brutality, disease, and other traumas, and delve into how differently each individual handles (or not) the experience. What they find is common to everyone of these people is that they are changed and they must deal with the fact that life is no longer what it was prior to the experience that changed them. They try to help the reader travel with the survivors to grasp the powerful tools that the event gave each one, that allowed them to find something within themselves with which they could transform and overcome adversity, to move into a new mode of living. The only reason I did not give this book 5 stars is that I can't figure out who the target audience is, and how they will be reached. I would never have picked this book up off a shelf in a store or a library, or ordered it, but for the recommendation. I'm so glad I read it, but still, I wonder: Who reads this book? If you have that answer, please comment. It's message is liberating and challenging, not inspiring. It's about ordinary people, many of whom remain ordinary on the outside. Inside, they are super; they have become something they never realized was possible, before the event that changed them forever. The book tells the reader that no matter what life throws at you, you can take charge of it in some way and figure out a way to turn it into something useful for you. I'm not positive I buy that premise, but I do think it is the book's message.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews