Soul Soothing

I got this for a friend suffering from PTSD from the Vietnam war and read it before giving it to him. The author does a magnificant job explainly why we, as a society need to address why we still have war and warriors. If we can't stop war (or until we do)we certainly are compelled to treat these warriors in a special fashion which entails bearing some of the burdens these warriors suffer for us. We might not agree with the policies of administrations but the soldiers who suffer the consequences deserve our respect and admiration and especially our emotional support for doing their duty. Every politician who has the ability to send our troops into battle should be required to read this book (and do some counseling!)to fully understand the emotional toll of war. Amazing that a therapist would be willing to look beyond "pills and talking" to see that PTSD is a soul disorder. Kudos to Mr. Tick for caring enough to do so.

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A must read for clinicians, veterans and their loved ones

Edward Tick's work is unique and dynamic. The use of Joseph Campbell like writing was riviting and powerful. As a clinician and wife of a war veteran, his book is one of the best out there and offers a different and important look at the subject.

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All Vets are not damaged...

So much of the damaged vet syndrome gets my demons growling. I spent 13 years recivilizing and discovered a better, stronger man underneath the carnage I survived. I admire the author's compassion, but sometimes the touchy feely crap gets too sacchrin, and reality becomes distorted with do-goodness on both sides of the therapeutic fence. I personally never had a problem with war. What does that make me--sick? How much peace have you known? I had (and have) a problem with people who don't understand war and try to fit us vets into their little bell-curve where we don't belong in the first place. This book tries too hard to do this, but in a nice and sensitive fashion. I don't belong in the bell-curve, nor do I care to be there, and resent it when people try to lump me in there. Hericletus said it best (500BC): "Of the hundred men you send me, 10 have no business being here; 80 are targets; nine are great fighters; but it is the one who brings us home with victory." This book is for the first 90 men of that hundred, which means there is quite the following. This book is not for the other ten, nor for those people who will never be able to understand those 10.

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