Waking Up from War: A Better Way Home for Veterans and Nations - Hardcover

"Read this book and begin to understand a great deal about how we are neglecting our men and women veterans, about what is wrong today in America, and most vitally, about how to change for the better both situations." --Lawrence Wilkerson, Colonel (retired), US Army, Former Chief of Staff for Gen. Colin Powell

"In this poetic guide, Joe Bobrow uniquely combines Western psychoanalysis and Eastern Zen Buddhism to create a practical and holistic approach to helping veterans and their families recover from war-zone trauma. I like Joe's ideas, but I love his heart. His deep compassion for the warrior and respect for the warrior ethos are written on every page." --Bill Nash, M.D., former head, US Marine Corps Combat and Operational Stress Control programs

"A candid account of deep pain and great healing, Waking Up From War is something we can all learn from. Profound common-sense wisdom shines through this chronicle of war and recovery. . . . I highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to see our human situation more clearly and more compassionately." --Sharon Salzberg, author, Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness

"Bravo! Waking Up from War says what needs to be said, and does so with intelligence and compassion. It is both a compelling critique of our nation's involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, and a no-holds-barred exposé of how we've betrayed those we send in harm's way." --John Briere, Ph.D., co-author, Principles of Trauma Therapy, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology, USC Medical School

"Dr. Joe Bobrow is a true American hero. He's worked tirelessly to support our community through the hardest times and the toughest spots. He overflows with wisdom and has been a real leader. His dedication, innovative approach, and compassion serve as an example and an inspiration to people worldwide. His words should be a wake-up call for anyone who cares about the future of our country." --Paul Rieckhoff, founder and CEO, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America; author, Chasing Ghosts

"Joseph Bobrow combines psychology, Zen Buddhism, years of experience as the founder and leader of the Coming Home Project, and a wise and understanding heart, to write what I am sure will become a classic text on how to bring our warriors home and back into community. . . . This book hits home page after page." --Karl Marlantes, author, What It Is Like To Go To War and Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War

"Joseph Bobrow has captured the soul of the young Americans who go to war to defend our freedoms. His book tells the story of the Coming Home Project as it shepherds our veterans back into their communities and families, and goes beyond usual approaches to support and nourish their deepest experience." --Stephen N. Xenakis, M.D., Brigadier General (Ret)

"Waking Up From War is a 'must read' not only for mental health professionals treating our veterans and their families, but for all of us. Bobrow's emphasis on the need for an accepting and compassionate culture that will truly listen to the moral suffering of our veterans is profoundly important." --Judith Broder, M.D., founder, The Soldier's Project

Voices and stories of veterans, their families, and their care providers, reveal what is necessary for postwar healing

This book argues that the elements that contribute to healing war trauma—including safety, connection, community, dialogue, mutual respect, diversity, and compassion—can help build a stronger nation. But this message comes with a warning and a challenge not just for caregivers, veterans service organizations, governmental departments, Congress, and the White House, but for all Americans. War creates incalculable suffering—not only among those on the front lines, but also among those left behind. For every soldier killed or injured on the battlefield, countless others are affected—particularly relatives and friends—often in isolation and silence. As a nation, the U.S. must do everything it can to repair the injuries caused by war, whether physical, emotional, or moral, both for those who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere, and for the country itself. Only after the nation provides the top-quality care our veterans have earned will we be able to begin to end our reliance on war and truly build a durable peace.