About the Author

Stephanie Foo is a writer and radio producer, most recently for This American Life. Her work has aired on Snap Judgment, Reply All, 99% Invisible and Radiolab. A noted speaker and instructor, she has taught at Columbia University and has spoken at venues from Sundance Film Festival to the Missouri Department of Mental Health. She lives in New York City with her husband.

Reviews

A striking memoir...A must-read for anyone healing from complex trauma
*Jeanette McCurdy, bestselling author of I'M GLAD MY MOM DIED*

An intimate, deeply engrossing story of psychological recovery
*The Australian*

As Foo sheds necessary light on the little-discussed topic of C-PTSD, she holds out the hope that while 'healing is never final . . . along with the losses are the triumphs' that can positively transform a traumatized life. . . . A sharp, insightful and stirring memoir.
*Kirkus Reviews*

Foo's writing is shrewdly insightful. In telling her story so compellingly, she joins authors such as Anna Qu and Ly Tran in adding nuance to the 'model minority' myth, if not actively subverting it. . . . Highly recommended.
*Library Journal (starred review)*

This is a work of immense beauty.
*Publishers Weekly*

Many trauma survivors struggle to describe the seemingly indescribable sense of carrying something intangibly sharp - something there but not there - inside. But in What My Bones Know, Stephanie Foo details that and more. Her achingly exquisite memoir takes us on a journey through complex trauma, illuminating her path of self-discovery and providing real hope for those who long to heal.
*Lori Gottlieb, New York Times bestselling author of MAYBE YOU SHOULD TALK TO SOMEONE*

What My Bones Know is an absolute triumph. Foo's beautifully written memoir is a balm and a light for anyone afraid that their early traumas have permanently stunted their capacity for connection, love, and purpose. This book is a must-read for anyone hungry for hope.
*Christie Tate, New York Times bestselling author of GROUP*

Stephanie Foo's incredible memoir speaks to so many things at once: the horrors of an abusive childhood, the enduring power of trauma, the messy science of the brain and the lifelong quest for meaning and healing. Funny and tragic, unflinchingly honest and relentlessly hopeful, What My Bones Know is a marvel of a book.
*Ed Yong, New York Times bestselling author of I CONTAIN MULTITUDES*

Foo's journalistic eye serves her generously through a hard-won examination of trauma and its aftermath. I cried while turning the pages; I knew that I was witnessing an astonishing literary endeavour. For others who live with C-PTSD, this is a crucial, life-changing book.
*Esmé Weijun Wang, New York Times bestselling author of THE COLLECTED SCHIZOPHRENIAS*

At turns funny and devastating, terrifying and transcendent, Foo's quest for understanding should be relevant not just to someone with C-PTSD but to anyone seeking to grow and be present in this one life.
*Jenny Odell, New York Times bestselling author of HOW TO DO NOTHING*

In What My Bones Know, Stephanie Foo mines her past in search of answers, uncovering what it means to navigate trauma over generations. With striking candidness, Foo takes readers on her journey to understand her diagnosis of complex PTSD, weaving together reporting and personal history. A testament to Foo's determination, What My Bones Know is an act of reclamation - and a bold, defiant proclamation: "I am here."
*Kat Chow, author of SEEING GHOSTS*