Bruce D. Perry - The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog: And Other Stories from a Child Psychiatrists Notebook

In beautifully written, fascinating accounts of experiences working with emotionally stunted and traumatized children, child psychiatrist Perry educates readers about how early-life stress and violence affects the developing brain. He offers simple yet vivid illustrations of the stress response and the brains mechanisms with facts and images that crystallize in the mind without being too detailed or confusing.

P UBLISHERS W EEKLY

Perry has learned a thing or two about how not to raise a prospective sociopath. Here he shares the stories of several children he has encountered in his decades as a child psychiatrist and expert on childhood trauma. He makes a powerful case for early intervention for disruptive children to prevent adult sociopathy.

B OOKLIST

Readable, informative about the workings of language, memory, trust, and choice, and ultimately optimisticwhile critical of a society that exudes violence and ignores preventionthis book demands and deserves attention from parents, educators, policymakers, courts, and therapists. Highly recommended.

L IBRARY J OURNAL, Starred Review

I have never encountered a child advocate with a better mind, a bigger heart, or a more generous spirit than Bruce Perry. This book captures the essence of his insights and the heroism of his actions on behalf of children who have encountered the dark side of human experience.

J AMES G ARBARINO, P H. D., author of Lost Boys: Why Our Sons Turn Violent and How We Can Save Them

The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog is Bruce Perrys finest achievement It gives us the opportunity to unlock the deepest mystery of our species: why some children turn out to be heroes and others to be predatory sociopaths. Anyone who wants to understand childhood trauma and its heartbreaking consequences must read this book.

A NDREW V ACHSS, best-selling author of Mask Market and founder and national advisory board member of PROTECT: The National Association to Protect Children

Filled with compassionate, caring stories by a wise healer and scientist, this book will appeal to all who are interested in understanding how children heal.

L YNN P ONTON, M.D., author of The Romance of Risk

I have admired and respected Bruce Perry for over a decade. His commitment to helping young children raised in chaotic and abusive environments is nothing short of remarkable. This book is an important tool in helping us understand the critical impact of early experiences in childrens lives, and it shows us how to help those who have been damaged by neglect. Anyone who deals with vulnerable or troubled youthfrom social workers to judges, daycare workers to high school teachers, parents to politicianscan gain important perspectives from this book.

R OB R EINER

In this harrowing but profoundly humane book, Perry and Szalavitz provide an all too timely, utterly engrossing account of traumatized childrens lives Once I opened it, I could not put it down.

S ARAH B LAFFER H RDY , author of Mother Nature: Maternal Instincts and How They Shape the Human Species

For many years, Bruce Perrys work has been deserving of our highest praise. This book is his crowning achievement, the ultimate combination of science and humanity.

J OEL A. D VOSKIN, P H. D., ABPP, University of Arizona College of Medicine, and President, American Psychology-Law Society

Bruce D. Perry:

For my Clan

Barbara, Jay, Emily, Maddie, Benji, Elizabeth,

Katie, Martha, Grant, and Robbie

In memory of Arlis Dykema Perry (19551974)

Maia Szalavitz:

For my mother, Nora Staffanell