The Drama of the Gifted Child Audiobook By Alice Miller cover art

The Drama of the Gifted Child

The Search for the True Self

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The Drama of the Gifted Child

By: Alice Miller
Narrated by: Suzanne Toren
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This best-selling book examines childhood trauma and the enduring effects it has on an individual's management of repressed anger and pain.

Why are many of the most successful people plagued by feelings of emptiness and alienation? This wise and profound book has provided millions of people with an answer—and has helped them to apply it to their own lives.

Far too many of us had to learn as children to hide our own feelings, needs, and memories skillfully in order to meet our parents' expectations and win their "love". Alice Miller writes, "When I used the word 'gifted' in the title, I had in mind neither children who receive high grades in school nor children talented in a special way. I simply meant all of us who have survived an abusive childhood thanks to an ability to adapt even to unspeakable cruelty by becoming numb.... Without this 'gift' offered us by nature, we would not have survived."

But merely surviving is not enough. The Drama of the Gifted Child helps us to reclaim our life by discovering our own crucial needs and our own truth.

©1997 Basic Books (P)2018 Hachette Audio Abuse Child Psychology Developmental Psychology Parenting & Families Personal Development Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Relationships Teenagers Mental Health Inspiring Health

Critic reviews

"Rare and compelling in its compassion and its unassuming eloquence...her examples are so vivid and so ordinary they touch the hurt child in us all."—The New York Magazine

"An unpretentious little book with an amazing impact...Many readers find themselves portrayed with an accuracy and empathy that seem uncanny, as if the author had been a silent, unseen witness to their childhood [and] their innermost and secret selves."—Vogue

"Full of wisdom and perception."—The New Republic
Transformative Insights • Profound Psychological Analysis • Engaging Narration • Relatable Client Stories • Clear Delivery
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This is a must book for more than half of our society. the narration is good with simple approach to hardcore psychology. If you're a perfectionist artist or any kind of highly sensitive person with a feeling of endless hunger maybe this book is just for you.

Beautifully crafted with loud and clear truth

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I lost count of the number of times I said, “Wow,” out loud, while listening. This book gave me comfort in its ability to help me integrate understanding and accept and forgive.

Wow

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this wonderful book pretty much summed up and unlocked the forgotten mysteries of my childhood.

lifrsaver

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I was brought to tears multiple times reading this. It is really an incredible work.

Wow

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if you are helping anyone with trauma this is the book. read it, pay attention.

Must read!

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Loved the content. Eye opening to the trauma many of us face as children. The performance of the reader was a little tough to get through for me. Her voice and cadence are very off putting. Not all the the content sank in, so I think I’ll have to go back and read a physical copy. Still a great read!

Enlightening

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I feel like I can validate and understand and empathize with myself in a way I was unable to see before. Thank you so much.

Life changing and uplifting!

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you must read this book!! it is enlightening. if you had a troubled past, you'll find some answers

a great book

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Alice Miller is a sensitive and empathetic psychologist and I personally feel her assessments will be especially useful to those who feel deeply. Its unfortunate that only the title makes explicit what the book often generalizes. Miller implies and assumes but does not diagnose mental giftedness. But people whose recognition of childhood pain drives them for their true self because of emotional neglect as children, will find an understanding author here. Giftedness is known today to be a special education need requireing extra support early on, this book counsels well past the time of damage. Miller supports adults who are drawing to surface hidden emotional childhood wounds. Some may find Miller's writing or the narrator's delivery archaic, but I found it a genuine and eloquent treat. This is a niche book that will resonate deeply with its indended audience but it is not for everybody, which is a bit confusing because the author does make universal claims beyond the honest limitations that the title provides. Yet a reader will have to dig elsewhere for explicit criteria for what giftedness is per se.

Psychologist for Gifted Childhood Wounds

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I’m glad I heard the audible of this book as an introduction to Alice Miller before reading her works. I enjoyed getting the subtle nuances from the narrator on these complex topics. It was helpful to rewind when things went in depth.
Thank you Alice Miller for putting into words what I could not clearly express myself. However, when my words convey your meaning to children I help in the future, they will be resoundingly hopeful that positive changes Are possible.

Awesome and profound.

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