This is a great primer for those who are dealing with PTSD or who know someone who is. While it is written by someone who does not have PTSD (which, for any anxiety disorder, greatly reduces any sense of authority on the subject), Goulston is experienced in the therapeutic field, and offers some good strategies for understanding the condition, how to think about help, how to find help, and how to evaluate the help received.

Goulston does suggest alternative therapies (holistic therapies), but kind of on a "buyer beware" basis, which means to me that he does not have much personal experience with these therapies. This is not such a bad thing, as he points to many helpful techniques that are not prescribed by a doctor. But this reflects the major purpose and limitation of this book. It is simply a primer, not a PTSD bible. It's a great starting point, but I would never recommend for someone to use this book as an exclusive guide. Goulston does, to some extent, acknowledge this situation in that he says "not every treatment is going to be right for everyone." However, let us please remember that this was written by a psychiatrist/clinical therapist . . . and so, that bias should be acknowledged and kept in mind for the duration of reading this primer.