The Power of Suffering is psychologist David Roland's personal investigation into the nature of human suffering. When our world is turned upside down, what does it do to us, how do we survive it, and, most importantly, how can we grow as a result? David takes the lived experience of eleven incredible people and follows them along each step of their journey from crisis through to acceptance and triumph. Within each story, David draws on his own experience of life-altering trauma and clinical research to offer insights we all can gain from. Each life story examined is a moving testimony of the human spirit's ability to rise and rise again – an executive tragically loses his family in a car crash and finds healing in the rehabilitation of wildlife, a teenage victim of domestic violence becomes a fierce advocate for abused women and brain-injured youth, a football superstar overcomes bigotry and dyslexia to forge a career in acting, a mother experiences the aching depth of love lost after her teenage child's life is tragically cut short. These are but a few of the intimately told stories, all pointing to a path through the storm and beyond. The Power of Suffering is a revelatory account of how the darkest night can lead to the most profound dawn.
Life beyond Suffering
I have just finished reading The Power of Suffering by David Roland. Great beginning, great ending and so much in between. David’s investigation into the power of suffering and post traumatic growth is exquisitely and skillfully written. David shows such kindness, compassion and empathy with the interviews of each of his storytellers; being backed up by inclusion of his own experiences and post traumatic growth. Such diversity of situations; the intertwining of the knowledge of those experts in trauma and suffering along with individuals who have courageously related their own journey and given this book such a powerful force. The stories related are brilliant and clearly outline acceptance of suffering and the ability to achieve post traumatic growth. There would be very few people who would not have faced some form of suffering and I am no exception. I found this book validated my own experiences, even down to simplifying my life by giving away many possessions that I no longer needed, allowing me to focus on what really matters.
Well done David Roland.
Karen, 10/03/2020
