I enjoyed this book even though I'm not much of an activist. I found the information on how to cope with trauma and depression to be useful, even after having dealt with such things. It's a book I'll probably refer to in the future if I ever have any such problems again. I would definitely recommend it to any radical who is or isn't an activist, but especially activists or friends of activists. ( )

In many ways, Aftershock is a part of the Eco-Psychology Movement: acknowledging that the wound we inflict on the planet we ultimately inflict upon ourselves. And in this way Jone's book could appeal to a wider audience. However the thrust of the book is closer to Joanna Macy's style of healing those on the front lines, the activist who, seeing much of what is wrong with the world, must take care not to burn out.

Jone's book is written with a deep empathy for activists especiallygiven her own history. She seeks to validate and then alleviate the pain felt by those pushing the envelope for progressive change. The problem with Jone's book is often the problem I've seen within the activist community in general. If you are outside this community, say reading this book for more general reasons, her language can seem off putting, even ridiculous in it's attempts to make sure everyone is included and validated. It makes one wonder how anyone survived the Civil Rights movement or brought down the oppressive regimes abroad. It often resembles the navel gazing mentality that is rampant in the liberal community. It occurs to me that activists suffering from burn out may do better getting away from the whole community and go out into the wider world, see that many people live and even thrive under difficult circumstances. Resiliency, rather than vulnerability, might be a better direction for this type of healing.

Describing symptoms activist might suffer, Jones details PTSD and depression at length but without any real insight. Yes, calling 1-800-suicide when suicidal is helpful, but she is not offering anything new in these chapters. Her tips for organizations does include some good information, here you can sense this is where Jones has the most experience.

In general the book would likely help those it's geared towards and is worth a read, but it's insular language, despite being inclusive, may wind up alienating many more. ( )

in this book, patrice jones aims to provide support for and bring awareness to all activists who witness or directly experience trauma. the book is aimed at multiple audiences, but it will generally be most meaningful to activists themselves or the therapists who work with them.

i found myself most connected to the first four chapters. my work as a case manager brings me into direct contact with trauma, whether first hand or the "aftershock" of it. i have myself felt shaken by what i witness and on multiple occasions thought to myself, "what the hell is wrong with people that they could be so cruel?"

in the book, patrice jones writes of the importance of not ignoring your own feelings and reactions as an activist. the book has helpful techniques for liberating, not suppressing, those traumas that can lead to burn out and eventually harm others. she warns that, as animals, we humans cannot neglect our own needs; even if they are as simple as food, sleep and solitude.

aftershock feels like a type of handbook; you can turn to the chapter or section that you need assistance with at any given time. this isn't to say that the book cannot be read cover to cover, but i found that i skimmed the sections aimed at therapists. i also felt a bit lost in section 3. i had to keep reminding myself of the theme. i personally did not need to be reminded of the reasons that activism is essential and that injustices continue in the world.

overall, aftershock is a genuine and heartfelt guidepost to help all helpers stay healthy and able to continue working for change. ( )

Aftershock is certainly a niche book, but it will appeal to a wide range of readers in the niche. It is well-written and accessible, but still informative, without being a "pop-sci" type of book or a bland, scholarly one. It is very well-thought out.
It is mainly about psychological trauma and stress and other problems among activists and social progressives/reformers. Aftershock thoroughly and interestingly introduces ideas for helping yourself or other activists using various methods. ( )

The REAL ‘War on Terra’

(Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this book for review at the publisher's invitation.)

AFTERSHOCK: CONFRONTING TRAUMA IN A VIOLENT WORLD -> A GUIDE FOR ACTIVISTS AND THEIR ALLIES is psychotherapist/radical progressive activist pattrice jones's gift to her fellow activists and allies. In it, she imparts her plans for the REAL 'war on terror' - "the struggle for a world in which nobody lives in fear of atrocities perpetrated by human beings." This involves healing those activists who have suffered (and continue to suffer) from "aftershock," a phenomenon that jones describes as "the physical and emotional reverberations of frightening, horrifying, or otherwise traumatizing experiences endured in the course of their activism." On a larger scale, we must also work together to heal our "trauma culture," which consists of a society that is both traumatized and traumatizing and is characterized by deep divisions, such as those between groups of people, between humans and non-human animals, and between people and nature.

In the "User Guide," jones suggests specific sections that may be especially helpful to aftershocked activists, friends and allies of those suffering from aftershock, and therapists working with activists. However, I urge everyone to read AFTERSHOCK in its entirety. jones is a gifted and accessible writer, so this is hardly a chore! Even when discussing complex psychological theories, jones manages to keep the conversation friendly and interesting, with little jargon. Occasionally she'll wander off on a slight tangent - such as when discussing the rise of patrism, pastoralism, and the patriarchy - and you'll find yourself wishing she'd expounded on the idea rather than guiding you back to the issue at hand. As a result, AFTERSHOCK is filled with all sorts of intriguing ideas and theories.

Much of AFTERSHOCK addresses the activist community directly. jones begins by tackling what is perhaps the deepest division traumatizing our culture today - the artificial wall that's been erected between human and non-human animals. jones explains the physiological processes from which our "animal emotions" originate, and stresses that we cannot suppress, ignore, and neglect our bodies, our feelings, and ourselves without suffering from deleterious consequences such as burnout. Nor will ignoring a trauma make it go away; rather, doing so could exacerbate or cause aftershock. The first action we must take against trauma and aftershock is to confront and embrace our animal selves.

jones then fleshes out her concept of "aftershock." Because of the trauma they've faced, aftershocked activists may suffer from clinically diagnosable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or depression, as well of symptoms of each. Here, jones takes on some controversies within the psychological community, such as "shadow syndromes," gender bias in clinical syndromes and diagnoses, and the nature of normality. She also describes some unique symptoms of aftershock; because of what they've experienced in the course of their activism, PTSD and depression may manifest uniquely in aftershocked activists.

jones concludes her discussion of trauma in individuals with advice for combating and preventing aftershock. For individuals, healing involves sanctuary (creating safe spaces); memory and mourning (remembering and retelling the traumatic event so that it can be integrated into your memories, and grieving the person you were before the trauma, for the "old you" is gone forever); connection (with other humans, other animals, and your environment/ecosystem); and making peace (between "your wishes and the world"). Friends, allies, therapists, organizations, and the community can all help aftershocked activists by providing sanctuary, encouraging remembrance, and facilitating connections. Perhaps more importantly, we can all work together to prevent aftershock (or at least lessen its impact) in our most vulnerable activists.

This section on "Action against Fracture" is a must-read for those working within the framework of an organized, action-centered group. Speaking from experience, jones lays out a coherent action plan for making activist organizations safe spaces for their volunteers and employees. Pay extra-special attention to the discussion of sexual harassment and assault within organizations - as jones notes time and again, an individual may hold progressive ideas on one subject, but still be an agent/tool of the patriarchy when it comes to gender issues (just visit any large, liberal, male-dominated blogging community and see how teh wimmins are treated!).

The last portion of AFTERSHOCK deals with our "trauma culture." Though it does follow from the preceding chapters, its macro focus almost makes it seem like a whole new book. For me (a non-aftershocked armchair activist), this was the most stimulating section of AFTERSHOCK. Throughout the text, jones raises the issue of parallel (or intersecting) oppressions - racism, sexism, homophobia, classism, speciesism, etc. - and in discussing our fractured culture, this topic truly comes to the fore. jones cautions, "feminists ought not to be eating hamburgers and animal liberationists ought not to be wearing shoes sewn in sweatshops." A sentiment with which this fellow green / veg*n / feminist / GLBT ally / animal advocate couldn't agree more! However, many progressive social movements seem, to some degree, to be separated from one another - and ALL share a common disdain for us 'crazy animal rights fanatics.' jones entreats us to BE bridges (a step beyond merely building bridges, I guess) between movements - an admirable goal, to be sure, but I'm still left wondering how you ally yourself with movements that you may agree with, but who don't exactly sympathize with you? Speciesism is the last "ism" that's still deemed acceptable by the whole of society. Sure, we might be able to rally support on some weak animal welfare measures, such as a ban on foie gras or cockfighting, but the total liberation of animals? Fugeddaboutit.

If only there were more existentialist / eco-anarchafeminist / lesbian / dreamer-blamers like pattrice jones in the world - then I think this whole building bridges/being bridges business would be a (patriarchy-) smashing success!

In the meantime, get yourself a copy of AFTERSHOCK. Read it, share it, do it. Keep on agitating, progressing, and protesting. We're all foot soldiers in the war on the War on Terra - so let's keep one another safe and healthy!

http://www.easyvegan.info/2007/06/04/book-review-aftershock-by-pattrice-jones-20... ( )