Emotional Inheritance is a book about trauma, and how it's passed down through generations. We can experience the symptoms and feelings of trauma that we didn't even experience, and sometimes it's trauma that we never even learned the details of - it's just part of our family history. It's a fascinating subject to me, but I'm not sure that the book tackled or addressed it in the way that I expected.

I had expected a deeper and broader explanation about how trauma is passed down, why it's passed down, and more specific suggestions on how to stop the flow of trauma or even fix it in our own lives. Instead it was a more anecdotal book in which the author shared stories of experiences she's had with some of her patients.

While it was still really interesting and eye opening, I don't know that I really "got" much out of this book that I'll carry with me or that I learned and can apply to my own life.

It's not really a fault of the book that it didn't give me what I expected - I think perhaps my expectations were wrong (even the synopsis says she includes patient stories as well as some of her own stories). So taking it for what it is, I did like it. It wasn't necessarily a book that will stick with me, but it was an interesting read nonetheless.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I thought this was an interesting read about how the past affects us in very real ways. I wish there had been more empirical data to support the stories, but I still enjoyed it.

EMOTIONAL INHERITANCE :: Galit Atlas, PhD

Every individual and family hold a history of trauma. Those who study the intergenerational transmission of familial trauma investigate how the trauma of those who came before us is passed down like a gene, an "emotional inheritance," leaving its mark on us and future generations. In Emotional Inheritance, Dr. Galit Atlas describes how different traumas are held within families and impact those who are not yet even born, even if those traumas are kept secret. Fascinating, mind-blowing, and difficult to think about.

Dr. Atlas's belief is that silenced experiences belong to everyone in our family tree and impact our ability to live up to our full potential. "They effect our mental and physical health, create gaps between what we want for ourselves and what we are able to have, and haunt us like ghosts."

The work is broken into three sections. The first relates to our grandparents and the trauma of past generations. The second involves our parents and how those secrets and traumas are carried on to our generation, and the final section is about you and me, ourselves and how we break the cycle.

Dr. Atlas writes in a matter-of-fact way that is not dumbed down but quite understandable by a layperson. Some ideas are wilder than others, yet when walked through some of Dr. Atlas's examples, one is left without doubt. For example, evolutionary or epigenetic changes occur when a generation (or individual) is marked by trauma. Take, for instance, the Holocaust. Research has shown that the offspring of Holocaust survivors (similarly to enslaved people, war veterans, etc...) are more likely to present with PTSD following traumatic events.

Perhaps in a "survival of the fittest"/Darwinian way, the biological changes of such trauma might be seen to prepare the children of survivors for environments such as those experienced by their ancestors. However, they also often leave them vulnerable to carrying symptoms of trauma that they didn't experience firsthand.

By weaving the stories of her patients' narratives in with her own personal stories, Dr. Atlas helps provide a way for us to recognize some of these issues or changes within ourselves. The key is to deal with the disconnect between ideas and feelings, thus knocking down the protective walls that keep us from feeling something devastating. Of course, the walls also keeps the trauma "isolated and unprocessed." An emotional Catch-22, for sure, but one that gives new meaning to the phrase "we are only as sick as our secrets."

Emotional Inheritance is an utterly engrossing work that will have readers thinking about their own histories, family terminologies and stories, and the trauma that shapes so many of our relationships and paths in life.
at 1:00 AM

Therapy still seems like a very taboo subject even in 2022, even with so many people struggling with things that hinder their lives and relationships, things they can't even explain or understand. Enlightening read and very well written!

Emotional Inheritance resonated with me as it discussed the pattern between Atlas's patients and generational trauma. While not genetically traced down, these consequences can pass from generation to generation through nature and nurturing within family or event dynamics. Trauma is something only know being plumbed in depth and being talked about, the relations between this book were great.

Non=fiction

What if the struggles in your life are due to traumas experienced by your grandparents? Is emotional inheritance a cutting edge theory or psychobabble? Gait Atlas, PhD in Psychoanalysis posits that emotional inheritance is real and that the legacy of trauma must be addressed in order to heal the client.

Atlas's book is very readable. I enjoyed her patient's stories. Many of her patients are Jewish and some have the legacy of the Holocaust in their ancestry.

While I really liked reading about her client's problems and how they tackled them, I don't really believe she proved her point. She touches on a person's ability to recognize unconscious clues - it's how babies learn. I think her book was missing more research into this aspect. I, do believe, that some of her clients unconsciously picked up on the ancestral pain and it played out later in their lives, but I don't think then that inherited is the correct word. Gait brings in some research done by Freud and others over the years, but I think we needed a bit more science to round out the book.

This was a noble effort at explaining some cutting edge psychoanalytic theory. Regardless, of whether she answered the question, there is no doubt that there is a cause and effect between prior family trauma and contemporary struggles.

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for my ARC of this book.

This book was a great read and has some wonderful insight as to getting in touch with our emotions and trauma. Generational trauma can get passed down just like our genes. I related to more than one story in this book and the damaging effects this can have on my future kids to come.

The capacity to love, to live life fully, and to achieve our dreams, is an ongoing dialogue in our search for emotional truths to tolerate pain and to mourn. In our journeys towards self-fulfillment, we must unpack our "emotional inheritance" in order to truly transform our futures.

The scars we inherit from our forefathers leave vacillating, indelible marks on how we view the world, our pasts, and our futures. This awareness underlies the unexamined lives of previous generations and how it shapes our lives and the lives of the following generations. If this book has taught me anything, it's that our ancestors are our future in the making. When each generation hears the stories of the generations before, we recognize how that history shapes their present lives, and they identify the ways in which the past dictates the present and future.

Breaking the intergenerational cycle of suffering requires self-initiation to address our genetic heritage as both fate and a catalyst for change. Where scientists previously believed that environmental factors had little effect on genetic legacy, the narrative has since shifted with the rising field of epigenetics, which provides an alternative theory on how nature and nurture come into play. Genes have "memories" that can be passed from one generation to the next, and this tangible trauma can have long-lasting impacts for decades.

Future generations not only carry the despair of the past but also hope for the future as their mere existence is evidence that their family has prevailed and that a sustainable future is possible. To change the trajectory of the past takes great courage and pain, but once achieved, the fruits of emotional liberation and future redemption are limitless, and the healing from which is achieved diminishes our pain and forges a path of love for self and others that was never fully realized before.

This book might just be my book of the year. It has been a long while since I have read something that I have resonated so much with, cried so much over, and ached for days after reading. People are fickle beings, but our resilience is what allows us to endure through thick and thin, albeit the traumas of our past or our own. There is ample food for thought upon each re-read of this wonderful piece on the legacy of trauma, and I cannot recommend this book enough for all to read.

The thought that our genes have "memories" is a fascinating idea. I found this to be a very interesting and accessible read that I made my way through very quickly. As someone who read this genre with regularity they can sometimes get a little too in-depth and I found this to be just right. I am left with so many things to ponder about my own life- and a longing to learn more about this topic. Well done!

Understanding the roots of our pain and suffering - mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual - are crucial for our healing and ultimate well-being. Emotional Inheritance recognizes that those roots often extend through entire family trees and offers a thoughtful, compassionate, and scientific examination of various kinds of trauma and the implications for future generations trough the lens of patient stories, personal observations, and clinical expertise. It's validating, eye-opening, and encouraging for those struggling with confusing and unhealthy thought and behavior patterns. Dr. Atlas is a storyteller and questioner, offering insights and layered probing that readers experiencing similar struggles can apply and learn from. It was enlightening to learn that some professional view therapy as a tool that can actually change the circuitry of the brain in ways similar to medications. Heavy on case studies, I did hope this book would offer more in the way of guidance for readers. I would recommend this as a companion to It Didn't Start With You and The Body Keeps the Score for a powerful trilogy on the what, why, and how to begin the healing process.

I received a digital pre-publication copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of my favorite reads of 2021, and that's saying a lot as I've logged over 300 books this year.

Dr. Atlas shows us how we pass on our trauma through generations just as we pass on our biological genes, even when our stories are never discussed between generations. She uses a different case history of one of her patients for each chapter, along with weaving in her own history. She is the perfect blend of brilliant and caring, and makes a fascinating author. Highly recommended.

Expected publication: January 25th 2022

I read a digital ARC of this book via Net Galley.

“Like detectives, my patients and I try to follow the signs and listen not only to what they say but also to their pauses, to the music of that which is unknown to both of us.”

For any human being that has experienced or seen any degree of trauma, this is for you. The introspection Atlas provides into generational trauma is both heartbreaking and incredibly relatable. The authors personal tale regarding their childhood makes the piece hit even harder.

For fans of Brene Brown, The Body Keeps the Score, and What Happened to You?- this is what you want to read next.

I was expecting some dry, dense writing considering the topic but there wasn't any. This was a well written, engaging look at how trauma and secrets affect families, particularly future generations.

The author shares stories and examples from her own family, along with those of her therapy patients. She mixes these anecdotes with research, facts, and quotes from other professionals. I was invited in each story and connected with the characters who are discussed. I related too their stories in regard to my own family trauma and journey to heal.

This book is helpful for understanding why and how families keep secrets and/or get stuck in patterns of trauma and pain. It made me think about my family in new ways and affirmed my desire to break the cycle, be different, and heal myself.

I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to understand their family history.

We inherit more from our ancestors than we might realize and those who have come before us live within us even when they are no longer around. In EMOTIONAL INHERITANCE, Dr. Galit Atlas, a psychoanalyst, shares stories of her patients, her own life, and research that helps readers understand how the emotional struggles of previous generations find their way within our selves, although it is not always easy to recognize. In order to live meaningful, fulfilled lives, we can follow the breadcrumb trail of family secrets and "ghosts" that connect our struggles with the "emotional inheritance" we've received.

I found myself connected to each of Dr. Atlas' patients, although there was a wide variety of themes covered, although many situations I haven't experienced myself. The humanity of both patient and practitioner is apparent, and I feel that I've become more aware of how much of one's behavior is linked to what happened to them and those who came (even long) before them. Atlas' stories helps explain the concept of nuance and how important self-awareness is to living authentically and freely. This book feels like sitting in a chair just beyond the therapy couch; I'm grateful to the patients who consented to their stories being shared as they help the reader see how much of the human experience is shared.

Readers with an interest in psychotherapy, getting a glimpse of what goes on in a therapy room or those who have experienced trauma, held family secrets, and those who wish to better understand themselves and those around them will not be disappointed by this compassionate and intriguing book.

(Thanks to Little, Brown and Company for providing an ARC via NetGalley)

I finished the book in a day. This is a book for the curious practitioner that see's parts of themselves in each client yet hasn't yet unpacked their own emotional inheritance as well as the seasoned practitioner that continues to delve further into their inner architecture to learn and grow. Early on Dr. Atlas states that "a psychoanalytic investigation is a complex and nuanced journey into one's delicate heart." I completed the book with the thought that if we were all aware that our journey would be nuanced would we choose more consciously, as you aptly highlighted the emotions and trauma associated with money and sex in today's culture. Emotional Inheritances provides you with an atlas of the different ways you inherit emotions and stories of how others have navigated with the help of Dr. Atlas and the generations of research from neuroplasticity to still face.

This reminded me a lot of "It Didn't Start with You" by Mark Wolynn, only more personalized in patient story form, and actually included sexual abuse trauma as a part of the inherited emotional baggage people can carry from their parents and grandparents. Galit Atlas is no distant partipant in her patients' stories of the unexplained trauma they carry; she carries her own from Israel and examines the lives of her own family and their relationship to Israel and the Holocaust. Highly recommended for anyone who has trauma, or in the psychotherapy field. Very readable, intense, and needed.

Galit Atlas' Emotional Intelligence is an inspiring and transformative read. Both clients and therapists would benefit from this wise and compassionate book. I will be recommending widely!

This is a good read but a really tough read. Dr. Atlas does a really nice job helping the reader understand the concept of emotional inheritance through stories from his patients. If you have done a lot of work healing trauma from the past, or if you're open to going on that journey, there is a lot here that will really resonate.

However, this book can also open a lot of wounds. Please be cognizant of the trigger warnings that come with this. There is extensive discussion of traumatic scenarios, especially for those of Jewish descent. Although interesting and important I think readers should go in knowing that it is structurally similar to the wildly popular Maybe You Should Talk to Someone but this read does not have the same sort of levity. So please approach with caution.

Big thanks to the publisher and #NetGalley for the ARC.

I picked up Emotional Inheritance because I wanted to learn more about epigenetics in the area of emotional trauma and how to lessen its influence on us. Many of us have inherited emotional baggage from our ancestors. While I’ve taken many approaches to cut myself free from the unintended consequences of my parents and beyond, I still struggle to set myself free.
Being a thoughtful parent, I don’t want to pass down these negative energy and hurtful trauma patterns to my children and future grandchildren. So I’ve taken it upon myself to do what I can to heal my ancestral lines. I have explored the spiritual realms through my professional abilities as psychic and medium, used cognitive-behavioral and family system therapy practices, and practiced intentions and meditation.

I expected Emotional Inheritance to be Maybe You Should Talk to Someone (Lori Gottlieb) meets It Didn't Start with You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle (by Mark Wolynn). I would place this book just below those two impactful books.

It’s appropriate that she begins with the quote by psychoanalysts Maria Torok and Nicolas Abraham: “What haunts are not the dead, but the gaps left within us by the secrets of others.” In her private practice, she helps people uncover these “invisible” influences that come out in her patients’ behaviors. Many of her clients and those of us reading this book are, I suspect, the “...[family] member who is unconsciously assigned to carry the symptoms” of the inherited family trauma, aka the “identified patient.”

Ms. Atlas does a great job of showing how inherited trauma transmits itself and how some of her patients have broken the chains that made them sick. I do recommend Emotional Inheritance as a worthy contribution to this emerging field of psychotherapy. I highly recommend the two books mentioned above as breakthrough books in their areas. With the information from all three, you can begin to clear up what didn’t originate with you and deal with what needs to be healed for a better emotional state and life. Good luck!

I was given an advanced reader copy by NetGalley for review purposes. My reviews are my own opinions. I just reviewed Emotional Inheritance by Galit Atlas. #NetGalley [NetGalley URL]