The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog: And Other Stories from a Child Psychiatrist's Notebook

What Traumatized Children Can Teach Us about Loss, Love, and

4.37 based on 41 reviews.

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Product Description

Child psychiatrist Bruce Perry has treated children faced with unimaginable horror: genocide survivors, witnesses, children raised in closets and cages, and victims of family violence. Here he tells their stories of trauma and transformation.

Product Details

  • Media: Paperback Book, 275 pages
  • Publisher: Basic Books (Dec. 31st, 2007)
  • ISBN-10: 0465056539
  • ISBN-13: 9780465056538
  • Dimensions: 5.35 x 8.04 x 0.75 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 0.60 lbs

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Customer Reviews

  • Book Rating 4 out of 5
    Read Reviews on Goodreads

    by Bethany from Rochester, NY | Jan 10, 2008

    The Boy Who Was Raised As a Dog, and Other Stories from a Child Psychiatrist’s Notebook: What Traumatized Children Can Teach Us About Loss, Love, and Healing is a book worthy of such a hefty title. Dr. Bruce Perry writes, in conjunction with journalist Maia Szalavitz, about some of the most distinctive cases that he has worked over his years as a child psychiatrist. In the process, Perry makes powerful arguments for early intervention in the lives of traumatized children, and gives many insights into working with troubled people of all ages. There are some tremendously sad stories contained within these pages. Even so the reader’s eyes are opened to a great number of things that can be immensely helpful.

    Anyone who works with children, particularly children who have behavioral issues, should read this book. It is informative, well-written, and enlightening.


     2 people found this review helpful


  • Book Rating 5 out of 5
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    by Licia from The United States | Oct 21, 2008

    This book should be read by everyone who cares for children professionally. We know that children are abused and suffer, yet when we meet some of these children we often don't understand how to help them. This book of stories from Doctor Perry's practice shows us children who come from backgrounds of neglect or abuse. These stories tear at your heart, but knowing that Doctor Perry and others are using what we know about neuroscience to heal offers us hope. If anything, reading this book will make you realize the amazing power of touch in your own life. (And you can go out and use touch to help heal the world:)

    Some people I have recommended this book to in the fields of health and childcare say that they couldn't read it because it sounds too upsetting. I think that if you work with children and you want to live in a "my little pony land" you will be hurting those who need you most. You can't help children and work toward changing the world for children if you remain ignorant.


     1 people found this review helpful


  • Book Rating 5 out of 5
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    by Yune from Mountain View, CA | Aug 17, 2008

    Perry refutes the adage that children are resilient, and walks us through the cases of traumatized children -- the consequences on their psyches and behavior, and how to heal them.

    A few minutes of stress for baby rats can affect their brain into adulthood. Yet these children are expected to handle abuse, witnessing the murder of a parent, systematic neglect... What seems to affect them the most is the lack of love, even while medical diagnoses are offered. A disruptive girl has ADD, of course. But Perry is more concerned about the two years of abuse she suffered.

    One mother, who moved foster homes every six months, fails to provide physical affection to her child, and the girl is hailed as the first case of infantile anorexia when her growth halts. Perry helps the mother learn to become more demonstrative; the child begins to thrive again. But:

    "Like those who learn a foreign language late in life, Virginia and Laura will never speak the language of love without an accent."


     1 people found this review helpful


  • Book Rating 4 out of 5
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    by Terry from The United States | Aug 5, 2008

    WOW. This book is MIND BLOWING! I cannot say enough good things about it. It is utterly fascinating. I heartily recommend it to anyone interested in neuroscience, psychology, and/or child development. He combines short narratives of his experiences working with various children with very scientific analysis of what he learned about the brain's development; and as the book evolves his theories and knowledge build on what he's learned and observed before. The "science" part of the book is challenging to read at times but so clearly and thoughtfully written that it's worth the challenge. It's also gut-wrenching what some parents/caregivers actually do to their children, so if you have a too-tender heart it might be very upsetting to read. On the other hand he gives a great deal of hope (and scientific proof) that severe trauma and neglect--and their effect on the brain--can be reversed. The book would also be excellent for educators to read, especially people who work in special education. I found the portions of his book on ADD/ADHD diagnoses and misdiagnoses fascinating--he points to the need for a whole re-evaluation of special education. And any administrator who wants to eliminate recess, P.E., dance, music, and art classes, especially at the early childhood level, is just so wrong I can't even put it into words. The only very minor quibble I have about this book is that the chapter on the satan-worshippers seems really out of place. However, the chapter on the surviving children of the Branch Davidian compound disaster is all-too-relevant to the children of the FLDS compounds. Sigh. Anyway--fantastic book and highly recommended!


     1 people found this review helpful


  • Book Rating 5 out of 5
    Read Reviews on Goodreads

    by Melissa from The United States | May 15, 2008

    Bruce Perry treats children who have suffered childhood trauma using a neurosequential approach. This approach supposes that as the brain grows from the most basic deep structures to the most complex outer structures (basically from the inside out and from the bottom up) in the first 3 years of life, trauma at any phase of that development shapes or prevents the proper physiological development of the brain area that is developing. Because the higher brain structure development depends on development in the areas beneath it, trauma in childhood can affect brain development long after. The treatment of these children depends on determining how the trauma sensitized the stress response system and how the children coped with the trauma, such as disassociating, and retraining the brain beginning from when the trauma occurred. This may include rocking, music and movement classes, life skills training, CBT etc. The final chapter gives suggestions for minimizing childhood trauma in our society emphasizing that the breakup of the EXTENDED family and our increasing social isolation are increasing our risk. Appreciate the author's assertion that humaneness is learned, not inborn, that we cannot love ourselves unless we are loved by someone else, and that the key to healthy individuals and society lies in numerous strong relationships. Excellent insightful book.


     1 people found this review helpful


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