Trauma Bonds

A fascinating journalistic exploration into the impact of intergenerational trauma on the descendants of both survivors and perpetrators

When Joshua Nelken-Zitser sought treatment for panic attacks and an eating disorder, his therapist suggested a cause he’d never considered: intergenerational trauma. As the descendant of four Holocaust survivors, Joshua grew up hearing stories from his grandparents’ experiences. But, with his therapist’s comments in mind, he began to question not just how inherited trauma has impacted him, but how it has impacted the relations of perpetrators and entire nations.

Drawing on original interviews with descendants of Nazis – from those who refused to confront their ancestors’ past to those who have gone to extreme lengths to address it – as well as psychotherapists and scientists studying how trauma is inherited, Joshua Nelken-Zitser explores the myriad repercussions of personal and national trauma.

Thought-provoking and unique, The Trauma Bond powerfully highlights how reconciliation and communication can heal generational wounds, both on an individual level and for society as a whole.