Kirsta Nerestant's Indestructible: The Hidden Gifts of Trauma is an excellent choice for everyone who is eager to read memoirs of people who have survived trauma and begun the healing process. Nerestant leads the reader through her life in the Philippines and the United States. The author shares her life experiences to illustrate her healing journey and what helped her heal over time. The chapters have excellent pacing and fit well with an order coping, surviving, and rising.
I would recommend this book for everyone who wants to learn more about the author's healing journey. I will caution that some of the material may be difficult, and I recommend not visualizing some of the scenes to prevent vicarious traumatization. I am eager to read her future work and to reread this book. I am reading diverse books as part of my journey of cultural humility and with my training in mental health, I was fascinated by Nerestant's journey. As a white woman, I am eager to continue my cultural humility journey and do the work of educating myself as I work toward how I can be more antiracist, advocate for social justice, and reduce my biases, in addition to how each individual approaches healing from trauma experiences.
I finished the book. It was enlightening for me to encounter Nerestant's view on how to heal from trauma and learning about her cultural identity. One of my key factors for reading books is if I would recommend it to others, and if I would reread the book. I would do both for Indestructible, with high recommendations and I would definitely read it again.
The theme is captured by the following sentences: “There were many roads to transformation. Mine were a multitude of scenic routes full of detours, bumpy roads, unglamorous pit stops, and dangerous cliffs. The secret was to keep going no matter how many times I diverted from the path. It wasn't easy, and it wasn't a passive journey; it was one that required commitment and consistency.”
Overall the book was easy to read and her experiences and knowledge throughout this book were invaluable.
Check out an interview with the author here.
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