What is What Happened to You? about?
What Happened to You? is an in-depth exploration of trauma and how it affects the brain. Long before we can make rational sense of traumatic experiences, they become etched into our neural circuits. They influence how we respond to stress, form relationships, and make meaning. Unfortunately, trauma is often misunderstood. By understanding trauma as both a brain issue and a societal issue, we can start to support trauma survivors with the tools they need to heal.

Who should read What Happened to You?
Survivors of trauma
Teachers, caregivers, and medical practitioners
Psychology buffs interested in trauma’s effects on the brain

About the Author
Through the power of media, Oprah Winfrey has created an unparalleled connection with people around the world. As host and supervising producer of the top-rated, award-winning The Oprah Winfrey Show, she entertained, enlightened, and uplifted millions of viewers for twenty-five years. Her accomplishments as a global media leader and philanthropist have established her as one of the most respected and admired public figures today.

Bruce D. Perry, M.D., PhD, a child psychiatrist and neuroscientist, is the principal of the Neurosequential Network, a senior fellow of the ChildTrauma Academy and an adjunct professor of psychiatry at the Northwestern University School of Medicine in Chicago. He is the author, with Maia Szalavitz, of The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog, a bestselling book based on his work with maltreated children, and Born for Love, about the essential nature of empathy.

The Key Lesson of this Book
What Happened To You?" by Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey is to promote empathy and understanding towards those who have experienced trauma. The book delves into the idea that rather than asking "What's wrong with you?" we should be asking "What happened to you?" in order to better understand and support individuals who have undergone adverse childhood experiences. The authors highlight that trauma does not only affect a person's mental health but also their physical and emotional well-being. The book emphasizes the fact that by understanding and acknowledging an individual's experiences, we can create a safe and non-judgmental space where healing is possible. The authors emphasize that this recognition can lead to the creation and development of healthy and strong relationships which in turn can help in creating a positive impact on our society. Therefore, the book empowers people to recognize that healing is not only possible but achievable and that we as a community need to work together to create and provide support.

What Happened To You Summary
Our earliest experiences shape our lives far down the road, and What Happened to You? provides powerful scientific and emotional insights into the behavioural patterns that many of us struggle to understand.



This book is going to change the way you see your life.

Have you ever wondered "Why did I do that?" or "Why can't I just control my behaviour?" Others may judge our reactions and think, "What's wrong with that person?" When questioning our emotions, it's easy to place the blame on ourselves; holding ourselves and those around us to an impossible standard. It's time we started asking a different question.



Through deeply personal conversations, Oprah Winfrey and renowned brain and trauma expert Dr Bruce Perry offer a groundbreaking and profound shift from asking “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?”



Here, Winfrey shares stories from her own past, understanding through experience the vulnerability that comes from facing trauma and adversity at a young age. In conversation throughout the book, she and Dr Perry focus on understanding people, behaviour, and ourselves. It’s a subtle but profound shift in our approach to trauma, and it’s one that allows us to understand our past in order to clear a path to our future—opening the door to resilience and healing in a proven powerful way.