Call of the Wild

“An enthralling trip through the human nervous system: how it came to be, how it goes astray, and how to get it back on track.” — James Nestor, New York Times–bestselling author

In a culture that prioritizes executive function and “mind over matter,” many women are suffering from deeply unresolved pain that causes mental and physical stagnation and illness.

In Call of the Wild, Kimberly Ann Johnson offers an eye-opening look at this epidemic as well as an informative view of the human nervous system and how it responds to difficult events. From the “small t” traumas of getting ghosted, experiencing a fall-out with a close friend, or swerving to avoid a car accident to the “capital T” traumas of sexual assault, an upending natural disaster, or a life-threatening illness—Johnson explains how the nervous system both protects us from immediate harm and creates reverberations that ripple through a lifetime.

In this practical, empowering guide, Johnson shows readers how to metabolize these nervous system responses, allowing everyone to come home to their deepest, most intuitive and whole selves. Following her supportive advice, readers will learn how to move from wholeness, tapping into the innate wisdom of their senses, soothing frayed nerves and reconnecting with their “animal selves.” While we cannot cure the painful cultural rifts inflicting our society, there is a path forward—through our bodies.

“Kimberly Ann Johnson creates real clarity around the difficult concepts of attachment, boundaries, trauma, and sex. An attuned guide, she makes sense of entanglements, reassuring our nervous systems that we have the tools we need to cut through confusion.” —Dr. Stan Tatkin, author of Wired for Love