3 stars
Date of review: March 31, 2025
Having recently finished Stephen Porges’ The Pocket Guide to the Polyvagal Theory, I came into Our Polyvagal World already familiar with many of the core ideas, so parts of this book felt repetitive. However, Our Polyvagal World is written in a clearer and more accessible way than The Pocket Guide, making it a better introduction to polyvagal theory for new readers. Unlike the earlier book, which uses an interview format and includes a wordy glossary at the start, this one is written in a straightforward style that explains the concepts in a more digestible manner.
The book offers an interesting overview of the two branches of the vagus nerve—dorsal and ventral—and their evolutionary distinctions. It also explores how, in relationships, we mirror others’ autonomic states, sending signals via the nervous system. I learned that trauma can “retune” the nervous system to perceive danger where there is none, but it was empowering to read that resilience can be built through practices like social connection and play.
A word of warning: I listened to this book on Audible, and the narrator is one of the worst I’ve come across. The narration is completely robotic, failing to bring the material to life, and I had to listen to it on a very high speed just to make it sound somewhat tolerable. While this is not an automated voice, it very much sounds like one. For a book that spends a lot of time discussing vocal prosody and intonation in the context of polyvagal theory, it’s kind of ironic that this is the flattest voice I’ve ever heard!
Overall, while I came into the book slightly primed to find it repetitive, I think it highlights a revolutionary and highly relevant approach. Polyvagal theory is central to many somatic therapies, which are transformative, yet still somewhat against the grain. This book highlights many important concepts that are vital to understanding ourselves, our nervous systems, and our relationships, while also contributing to an ongoing shift in how we approach mental health and trauma.
Our Polyvagal World: How Safety and Trauma Change Us by Stephen W. Porges is available to purchase from Amazon UK
