Book cover of Our Polyvagal World: How Safety and Trauma Change Us

Book description

Since Stephen Porges first proposed the Polyvagal Theory in 1994, its basic idea-that the level of safety we feel impacts our health and happiness-has radically shifted how researchers and clinicians approach trauma interventions and therapeutic interactions. Yet despite its wide acceptance, most of the writing on the topic has been…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked Our Polyvagal World as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

This is a highly accessible book that names and explains one of the most fundamental realities of our time, i.e., that we are all traumatized by the relentless cycle of frightening news, the breathtaking rate of change, and the existential threat due to climate collapse, which predisposes us to live in a perpetual state of fight, flight, and freeze, which is very destructive to our health and well-being physically, emotionally and spiritually.

I loved their clear description of the complexity of the function of the vagus nerve, which is the best I ever read. This book provides guidance and wisdom…

If you love Our Polyvagal World...

Book cover of December on 5C4

December on 5C4 by Adam Strassberg,

Magical realism meets the magic of Christmas in this mix of Jewish, New Testament, and Santa stories–all reenacted in an urban psychiatric hospital!

On locked ward 5C4, Josh, a patient with many similarities to Jesus, is hospitalized concurrently with Nick, a patient with many similarities to Santa. The two argue…

Want books like Our Polyvagal World?

Our community of 13,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Our Polyvagal World.

Browse books like Our Polyvagal World

Book cover of Callings: Finding and Following an Authentic Life
Book cover of Toxic: Heal Your Body from Mold Toxicity, Lyme Disease, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, and Chronic Environmental Illness
Book cover of The Wahls Protocol Cooking For Life: The Revolutionary Modern Paleo Plan to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions

Share your top 3 reads of 2026!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

181

readers submitted
so far, will you?

📚 If you like Our Polyvagal World, you might also like...

Book cover of Sexy Selfie Nation: Standing Up for Yourself in Today's Toxic, Sexist Culture

Sexy Selfie Nation by Leora Tanenbaum,

The problem is not with the actions young women take but with the toxic, sexist conditions they are responding to.

Tanenbaum found, based on six years of interviews with young people ages 14-30, that young women are navigating a culture littered with gendered dress codes, revenge porn, and sexually explicit…

Book cover of In This Together: Connecting with Your Community to Combat the Climate Crisis

In This Together by Marianne E. Krasny,

In This Together explores how we can harness our social networks to make a real impact fighting the climate crisis. Against notions of the lone environmental crusader, Marianne E. Krasny shows us the power of "network climate action"—the idea that our own ordinary acts can influence and inspire those close…

5 book lists we think you will like!