When Rabbit Howls [Mass Market Paperback]

Truddi Chase (Author)

Book Description

Release date: April 1, 1990

"To escape the horror of violent abuse, the two-year-old child "went to sleep" and created the inner world of "the Troops," the 92 voices that shielded her from pain, but that she didn't know existed until adulthood. this is a journey through the fragmented world of the multiple personality—told by the Troop."—Amazon.com.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Phillips, a Washington, D.C., therapist, explains that "The Troops" are the multiple personalitiesapproximately 80 men and womenof the pseudonymous Truddi Chase, who first consulted him in 1980. He further maintains that the patient, a successful businesswoman now in her 50s, has been "asleep" since she was raped at the age of two by her stepfather, who continued to sexually abuse her for 14 years. The cluster of personalities, speaking through a troop member dubbed the "Recorder," talk about their suffering for the primary victim who, it is also revealed, was mistreated by her mother as well. There are sensational episodes described by beings identified as social Alvira, hard Nails, alert Gatekeeper and others. Although the novelistic overtones in the text strain credibility, the book nonetheless proves to be a convincing, affecting case study. Author Tour.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

The strange world inhabited by those afflicted with schizophrenia or multiple personality syndrome is virtually impenetrable. By illuminating these convoluted worlds, both books make major contributions to the understanding of mental illness. North began to exhibit manifestations of schizophrenia as a child. Desite her acceptance of "voices" and "visions" as reality, the reader can easily identify with her as she struggles through her schooling. She graphically descibes her breakdowns and traumatic hospitalizations during her college years and in medical school. Her eventual success in conquering her disability and attaining her goal of becoming a physician evokes a sense of exhilaration. --Carol R. Glatt, New Jersey Bioethics Commission, Trenton
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Jove; Reprint edition (April 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0515103292
• ISBN-13: 978-0515103298
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.1 x 6.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (133 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #249,155 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 47 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A thank you to the Troops for Truddi Chase January 29, 2000

By "cindysd"

Format:Mass Market Paperback

This book is very gripping and very emotional. You will feel everything as you read The Troop's account of their lives: happiness, terror, revulsion, anger, joy. This is no easy read; the Troop's are hard to follow and the content is so striking. But it gave me a more complete understanding of this disorder, and how we cope with it. It caused me to feel a need for much more help for those who suffer with it, and possibly not just in the field of psychology. I gained a greater insight into my own personality, and while I am not a mutiple, I have been able to recognize several "selves" I created to cope with my own life. I believe every human does this. It is with the multiples, however, that it moves in much deeper levels. I also caught a glimpse of the divine in the Troop's story. I saw the activity of the soul and even the influence of those who have not incarnated. This is a wide, terrifying, exhilarating ride. You will cry with the injustice of what happened to these people, but you will also glow with their ability to survive. I thank each one of them and I send my blessings.

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Only Sane Response to an Insane Situation... January 17, 2000

By [e-mail]

Format:Mass Market Paperback

The Human Spirit is resilient and the mind of the child born as Truddi Chase and who became the Troops are pioneers for those who have until recently no voice ... she exposes poignantly the horror, the pain and the marvelous way a mind can protect itself through the creation of many to help cope with the devastation heaped on her by two very deranged people, who called themselves parents. The movie based on the book is Voices Within and does a good job ... but read this book if you or anyone you know is a multiple and/or a survivor of intense and long term abuse. Troops thank you all!

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars SUBJECT MULTIPLE PERSONALITY EXPLORED December 11, 1998

By [e-mail]

Format:Hardcover

I have read many books about this subject and this one is the most fascinating I have ever seen. As far as I know, this is the only autobiographal book on this terrible illness. All of the others have been written by the doctor of the patient. the hard cover copy is especially interesting because there are handwriting samples of many of the 92 personalities....yes 92! this case is also unique in that it is the only treated patient whose many personalities were not melded into one surviving personality. This account is written in horrific detail of her abuse by her father. The disorder is always caused by unbearable abuse heaped on a very young child. The formation of multiple personalities is a survival technique employed by the mind. I was very impressed by the author's ability and choice to not merge the personalities and still be able to function...hold a job..be a parent ,etc. The 92 personalities are of many ages, both male and female. They function in the many areas of Trudy' life as befits their capabilities. It has been quite a few years since I read this book but I will never forget it. Altho Trudi is not a professional writer,as far as I know, it is beautifully written. The pocketbook edition lacks the handwriting samples on the cover, which impressed me by their being totally different..The personalities had different abilities, such as driving, tastes in food and drink, smoking and allergies. The allergies being different makes you wonder about their source being phychological rather than physiological...a real mind-boggler for me. I have always suspected that that might be true. Sure could put a different spin finding cures through a different approach. The perpetrator of Trudi's abuse was still alive when this book was published and one of the most enlightening passages in this book was her account of her visiting the cause of her illness. This proved to me that her decision not to merge the personalities had not prevented her being able to function in life. It is an amazing account of tremendous courage. The first multiple personality formed was the reason for the title of this book. In other accounts I've read the multiples still existed but Trudi's first one died, as I understood it. No book I have ever read has shown how much a child can be affected by the treatment of people who are their caretakers..their parents, teachers, relatives etc who are supposed to give them love and aid them when needed. Of course I highly reccommend this book It was written by Truddi Chase..