It's always annoyed me to see people ripping off Dr. Porges's work for a quick buck in recent years, while at the same time being forced to acknowledge that his earlier publications on polyvagal theory aren't intended for and will often be inaccessible to a large portion of the layperson audience. This book will hopefully go a long way toward closing that gap, and I'm pleased to be able to have it.

Our Polyvagal World explains the polyvagal theory of Stephen Porges. It's a fascinating theory into the impact of the feeling of safety (or lack thereof) on the human mind and body.

I wish everyone working as a psychologist or psychiatrist were well versed in mindbody (or bodymind) theory... I do believe that in a few years or decades the mindbody connection will be as obvious to everyone as it is obvious today to use antibiotics against infection. The connection between trauma and the vagus nerve is an important part of the mindbody picture.

I especially appreciate that the book concludes with a cheat-sheet of key ideas. Very useful. These include 'simple', true, but often dismissed ideas such as:
"Trauma is not just psychological. It is also physiological and can cause real changes in the body."
"Many mental and physical health diagnoses can be characterized by a nervous system that is biased toward feeling unsafe."

A few things niggled me in the writing style. Frequently, throughout the book (more than 30 times!), the text specifies that 'I' means Stephen; it's clumsy and annoying. Example: "we're going to introduce a process I (Stephen) have termed "neuroception."" When a book is published under two names (in this case Stephen and Seth, his son). It seems unnecessary, even churlish to keep doing this. As if he (Stephen) is afraid that his son (Seth) might possibly get credit for his (Stephen's) ideas. There are three (that's three too many) examples of referring to I (Seth) in the same way. (It's really annoying, isn't it?)

I don't think I really learnt anything in this book that I hadn't already gleaned from online videos. But I am glad that Porges' ideas have been formalised in a book -- it might help them reach an audience that is not open to learning from YouTube videos or websites.

There's some interesting things this book has to say, but overall I just found it very dry. It was also very repetitive. I was mostly unimpressed by it.

Assisted by his son, journalist Seth Porges, psychologist and neuroscientist Stephen Porges helps readers understand the importance of feeling safe and how to create a feeling of safety for ourselves and others. The first half of this book explains Dr. Porges’s polyvagal theory in very understandable terms. The second half of the book presents applications of the polyvagal theory in various circumstances, such as during a pandemic, at school or work, and in prisons. Although I have already read many books on the topic of trauma, this book helped me understand trauma in a new way and left me feeling hopeful that we can create a society and design environments that encourage a feeling of safety so that we all experience better health and more happiness.

This book offers a particularly good discussion of how the autonomic nervous system responds to feelings of safety and perceived threats, and how chronic stress or trauma therefore leads to widespread physical and mental health problems. I was especially impressed with the chapter on prisons, which makes it so clear why our current penal system causes more harm than good and needs to be reformed.

The back matter includes an epilogue that concisely summarizes the most important principles of the polyvagal theory, a detailed glossary, an explanation of common psychiatric diagnoses through the lens of the polyvagal theory, references, notes, and an index.

I think most people could benefit from reading this book, and I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to understand human behavior or is interested in creating a happier, healthier society.

I was provided an unproofed ARC through NetGalley that I volunteered to review.

Our Polyvagal World by Dr Stephen Porges and Seth Porges describes the polyvagal theory in simple terms, without it being weighed down with scientific jargon. Dr Porges put forward the polyvagal theory almost 3 decades back, and it has become the go-to guide for psychologists when it comes to understanding our nervous system . In this book, Dr Porges makes the principles for his theory understandable for the non-scientific community.

I loved the real-life examples along with very clear guidance using easy to understand terminology. I would recommend this as a must read for not only those who have experienced trauma, but also for anyone looking to improve their overall wellbeing.

Incredibly well-written and interesting book on this topic. The authors give great examples, outline their applications of this theory in a good amount of detail, and answer questions the reader is likely to have. I did feel like it ended too abruptly - a bit more “where to go from here” in the closing pages would have been helpful. But perhaps that’s the next book.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book.

I'm a bit torn when it comes to this book. Being a mental health practitioner, I'm quite baffled by the business of Polyvagal Theory that so far has not been supported by any independent research, and "Our Polyvagal World" further proves it. But it is an attractive and alluring concept nonetheless, and some of it's proposed interventions will be helpful for some individuals.

I assumed this book was an attempt to make the theory more accessible to individuals who are not professionals and academics, and in general I think this was accomplished. I was used to reading Porges' previous texts and couldn't bear the tone and style of them, so I appreciate that the author of the idea managed to communicate it himself in this way.

However, I found the structure of the book quite odd, because the purpose of the text became murky, when I came to the chapter on the theory vis a vie the penitentiary system, which seemed random, considering that previous chapters were more focused on an average person and how they may use polyvagal methods to function better.

First of all I would like to thank Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

So, I'm quite new to the world of Polyvagal theory. It has been mentioned to me by a Social Worker when working with a young person that I look after. I'm not going to lie it piqued my interest due to the linking with trauma informed approaches, especially given my line of work. So, when I noticed that it was an option for me to apply for copy to read and review on Netgalley, I got straight on applying and was over the moon when my applicarion was accepted.
It did not disappoint, yes it was clinical at times, however it is to be expected given the topic. It was however extremely informative and the Porges explained it perfecrly, linking it with different aspects of everyday lives, especially in respect of Looked After Children and Young People wjo tend to live ths majority of their lives, especially the younger years in fight, flight or freeze mode.

I will definitely be purchasing this book for my staff team to review and utilise the theoretical model/ framework when working with our young people.

Highly recommended for a wide audience, professionally or personally. Our Polyvagal World is a much more approachable appetizer to polyvagal theory than Porges’ earlier works. It does get clinical in certain areas, yet never beyond comprehension for the layman. I appreciated the actionable recommendations.

Thank you NetGalley and W. W. Norton and Company for granting access to an ARC

Enjoyed this read! Very informational and enlightening. I went in not knowing much, and this book has become a resource for me!

Brilliant! So clear and insightful, everyone needs to read this book!

Having been doing quite a lot of training around trauma informed approaches I had been coming across polyvagal theory quite a lot, but only had a very basic understanding of it.

In this book Stephen Porges, with the help of his son Seth, explains very clearly exactly what it means, in a way that is directly relevant to all areas of our lives.

In the middle section the theory gets a bit more technical, and in the glossary there is more technical explanations, but over all the book is very easy to read and understand.

The applications of this theory are far reaching and seem so obvious, yet also at times counter-intuitive. I can’t wait to use this learning in my work and in my life in general.

If you want to help make the world a safer, better place on any level then please do read this book!

As a nutrition practitioner, I enjoyed learning more about the Polyvagal theory and how it relates to our sense of safety. When we live in flight or flight mode, it affects our digestion and the ability to properly digest and absorb nutrients. I will definitely recommend this book to my colleagues.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

#OurPolyvagalWorld #NetGalley

I am now recommending this book to anyone and everyone. Really and truly.
I'm a clinical social worker, and I have taken some interest in exploring more about Polyvagal theory. This book is accessible to anyone-- even if you don't have a mental health degree of any kind and are simply looking to expand your knowledge for self-help. It's practically, well-researched, and well-explained without sounding wordy or pretentious.
They also cover so many applicable domains. I think such a wide range of people will be able to find something of value in this book. As a clinician working at a school, I already plan to present a lot of this research in our school trainings to provide them with a framework of evidence for emotionally safe schools.
Couldn't recommend it enough!

As I've gone to therapy, I've appreciated learning more about various theories of healing. Our Polyvagal World presents polyvagal theory in an easy-to -understand manner. I appreciated the examples and tools that the average reader can use.

Very insightful, and relatively easy to follow. This is suitable for most adult readers who want to understand more about the impact of feeling safe. Would be valuable for teachers, those who experience anxiety disorders, psychologists, mental health workers, and many more. I'd been struggling to get my head around this theory but this book broke it down step by step and gave real world applications. I now feel I have a good understanding and will utilise the concepts here.

"Our Polyvagal World" is an enlightening masterpiece penned by the esteemed Stephen W. Porges, the brilliant mind behind the groundbreaking Polyvagal Theory and Seth Porges. This remarkable work simplifies the complex principles of the theory, ensuring accessibility to readers from all walks of life.

Since its conception in 1994, the Polyvagal Theory has revolutionized our understanding of the profound connection between our sense of safety and our overall well-being. It has ushered in a paradigm shift in how trauma interventions and therapeutic interactions are approached by researchers and clinicians alike. However, until now, much of the literature on this topic has been veiled in obscure clinical texts and scientific jargon, making it challenging for the general public to grasp its significance fully.

"Our Polyvagal World" effortlessly dispels this obscurity, presenting the Polyvagal Theory in a manner that is comprehensible to all. Through the pages of this book, the authors demonstrate the practical applications of the theory, offering guidance to anyone seeking to lead a safe, fulfilling, and healthy life. The result is a captivating worldview infused with optimism and hope, shedding light on why our bodies occasionally behave in ways that defy our rational thoughts.

The book not only elucidates the theory but also provides actionable advice and real-life examples that resonate with readers. It transforms the way we perceive our own minds and bodies, instilling a fresh perspective on our ability to remain calm in a world increasingly characterized by overwhelming stressors. The authors' approachable writing style and relatable anecdotes make the content engaging and relatable, further enhancing the impact of their message. I highly recommend!