What It Takes to Heal

How Transforming Ourselves Can Change the World

By: Prentis Hemphill

Narrated by: Prentis Hemphill

Length: 6 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • From one of the most prominent voices in the trauma conversation comes a groundbreaking new way to heal on a personal and a collective level.

“I love this book.”—Bessel van der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the Score

“In a time when so many of us are being trained in cynicism, this book stands in necessary defiance.”—Cole Arthur Riley, author of Black Liturgies and This Here Flesh

As we emerge from the past few years of collective upheaval, are we ready to face the complexities of our time with joy, authenticity, and connection? Now more than ever, we must learn to heal ourselves, connect with one another, and embody our values. In this revolutionary book, Prentis Hemphill shows us how.

What It Takes to Heal asserts that the principles of embodiment—the recognition of our body’s sensations and habits, and the beliefs that inform them—are critical to lasting healing and change. Hemphill, an expert embodiment practitioner, therapist, and activist who has partnered with Brené Brown, Tarana Burke, and Esther Perel, among others, shows us that we don't have to carry our emotional burdens alone. Hemphill demonstrates a future in which healing is done in community, weaving together stories from their own experience as a trauma survivor with clinical accounts and lessons learned from their time as a social movement architect. They ask, “What would it do to movements, to our society and culture, to have the principles of healing at the very center? And what does it do to have healing at the center of every structure and everything we create?”

In this life-affirming framework for the way forward, Hemphill shows us how to heal our bodies, minds, and souls—to develop the interpersonal skills necessary to break down the doors of disconnection and take the necessary risks to reshape our world toward justice.

©2024 Prentis Hemphill (P)2024 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“In the tradition of James Baldwin, Hemphill invites us in close and personal to experience life, pain, beauty, injustice, and healing. I’ll read this again and again.”—Staci K. Haines, author of The Politics of Trauma

“This book reckons with our major issues—trauma, race, social upheaval—and opens us up to the possibility that everything actually could be different. And it does so one gorgeous sentence after the next.”—Resmaa Menakem, author of My Grandmother’s Hands

“This book will be both the ‘aha’ moment and the balm for so many people who are saddled with vacant platitudes that don’t give them a way forward. It is what we need in this moment and will be foundational for generations to come.”—Tarana Burke, author of Unbound

Grateful and right on time

Thank you Prentis for sharing these thoughts, experiences, and courage. I feel gathered and held by what you have given us at this time when these conditions call for it most.

Brilliant and well articulated! Right for our times!

I love the organization of this book. It began in the right place and ended on the perfect note.

A Soft and Powerful Paradigm Shift

As a longtime fan of Prentis Hemphill’s podcast, I’ve been looking forward to this book for a long time. What a gift to the world it is. Hemphill has such a unique and beautiful way of opening portals with simple language. Portals that take the listener into new realms of possibility. Spaces open to create what we never thought was possible. Softness where we have only felt rigidity. I treasure this book and am deeply moved and changed. Thank you from the bottom of my heart on behalf of my own soul and the soul of this achingly beautiful world.

Compelling irresistible compassion

what we all need to hear right now, inviting welcoming beautiful invitation to heal ourselves & together

Wow! Life shaping book!!

deep breath. mmm. and wow. Prentis’s journey, stories, earned wisdoms, and invitations are liberating. this will now center and shape present & future generations towards the worlds our communities deserve. fullest gratitude for everyone that made this happen. highest recommendation to read, continue reading, and practice towards embodiment. Love from Oakland!

it hits that which we need to hear but find easier to ignore

As a parent and an educator, this is so true about healing and what is needed for our world, our children and life. Change truly is the only constant. I listened to it on audible and wrote down many key things to remember. If as a world, we choose to not accept each other, learn with one another and realize that all we have is one another, we will, I believe, extinct ourselves. Humans are made for connection and that involves human contact and interaction..which involves listening, respect, talking and learning
There is a reason why storytelling is easily remembered, because we find connection..which we need. Pick it up, ponder, enjoy, and stretch yourself and your beliefs.

Experience the power of authenticity and vulnerability on every page!

In this book, Prentice does a beautiful job of weaving their personal and professional experiences around trauma, healing, and social Justice. Their raw vulnerability and the authenticity is palpable and inspiring. As an Indigenous woman doing work on trauma and healing for over a decade with Indigenous communities, Prentice’s words resonated deeply in my spirit and confirmed the path I’m on, and the way in which I do my work. Chi Miigwech (many thanks) to Prentice for their courage to speak from the heart, and share the message we all need to hear during these challenging times… calling us all to individual and collective transformation grounded in love and deep connection.

Not much substance

The book has a few good points but overall it lacked substance and felt generic.