Have you ever wondered "Why did I do that?" or "Why can't I just control my behavior?" Others may judge our reactions and think, "What's wrong with that person?" When questioning our emotions, it's easy to place the blame on ourselves; holding ourselves and those around us to an impossible standard. It's time we started asking a different question.

Through deeply personal conversations, Oprah Winfrey and renowned brain and trauma expert Dr. Bruce Perry offer a groundbreaking and profound shift from asking “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?”

Here, Winfrey shares stories from her own past, understanding through experience the vulnerability that comes from facing trauma and adversity at a young age. In conversation throughout the book, she and Dr. Perry focus on understanding people, behavior, and ourselves. It’s a subtle but profound shift in our approach to trauma, and it’s one that allows us to understand our pasts in order to clear a path to our future―opening the door to resilience and healing in a proven, powerful way.

About the Authors

Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D. is the Senior Fellow of The Child Trauma Academy, a not-for-profit organization based in Houston (www.ChildTrauma.org) and adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University School of Medicine in Chicago. Dr. Perry is the author, with Maia Szalavitz, of The Boy Who Was Raised As A Dog, a bestselling book based on his work with maltreated children and Born For Love: Why Empathy is Essential and Endangered. Over the last thirty years, Dr. Perry has been an active teacher, clinician and researcher in children’s mental health and the neurosciences holding a variety of academic positions.

His experience as a clinician and a researcher with traumatized children has led many community and governmental agencies to consult Dr. Perry following high-profile incidents involving traumatized children such as the Branch Davidian siege in Waco, the Oklahoma City bombing, the Columbine school shootings, the September 11th terrorist attacks, Katrina hurricane, the FLDS polygamist sect and many others.

Dr. Perry is the author of over 300 journal articles, book chapters and scientific proceedings and is the recipient of numerous professional awards and honors, including the T. Berry Brazelton Infant Mental Health Advocacy Award, the Award for Leadership in Public Child Welfare and the Alberta Centennial Medal.

Oprah Winfrey is a global media leader, philanthropist, producer and actress. She has created an unparalleled connection with people around the world, making her one of the most respected and admired figures today.

For 25 years, Winfrey was the host and producer of the award-winning talk show “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” where she entertained, enlightened, and uplifted millions of viewers. In her role as Chairman and CEO of OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, she guided her cable network to success, is the founder of O, The Oprah Magazine and digital site OprahDaily.com, and oversees Harpo Productions. In 1996, Oprah’s Book Club launched, serving as a catalyst for the creation of book clubs around the world and millions of books sold across genres, with the 100th selection recently being named.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

1.0 CPD hour

CPHRs - As per the Summary of Qualifying Activities, under Self-directed learning, roundtables, non-credit courses, practice knowledge sharing through formal professional networking, you can claim up to 5.0 CPD hours annually for your participation.

About Book Club

The purpose of this Book Club is to motivate, connect, and foster self-growth while building a stronger HR community. The Book Club is open to all members of the association. Books range in topics with suggestions from the membership.

HR Book Club is held the third Wednesday of each month from 12pm - 1pm via Zoom. 

Hosts

Angela Boyes, CPHR
Angela currently works at CAE in Moose Jaw, SK as the Labour Relations Manager/HRBP.  She holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Human Resource Management and the CPHR designation. Angela holds additional studies in Sociology and Psychology, is a Qualified Mediator Designation, and is a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist. Angela's business acumen has been honed working in: Manufacturing, Construction, Oil and Gas, Municipal Government and Utilities in Saskatchewan, Alberta, and the Yukon. Angela loves reading, traveling and exploring, cooking and baking, quilting, biking, and spending time with friends and family.  

Nadine Genest, CPHR Candidate
Nadine currently works as HR Director for Croptimistic Technology Inc, an agriculture technology company with headquarters in Saskatoon, SK. She is a CPHR Candidate and has spent the last 7 years working in the Human Resources field with private companies. Prior to entering the HR field, Nadine spent almost 15 years working in corporate business until she discovered her passion for improving the employee experience. She is enthusiastic about recruitment, coaching and digging into total rewards programs. Nadine loves being her son’s #1 fan at all his sporting events, spending time at the lake and reading.

Koreen Mak, CPHR
Koreen is the founder and CEO of Peppermint Technologies Inc, the developer of MYNTIX™, a skills-based learning management system. Koreen is a CPHR and holds an Advanced Certificate in Human Resources, Undergraduate degrees in Arts and Education, and a Masters in Leadership. Koreen spent a decade managing a learning and development department for a Saskatchewan-based company before starting her own business. She is passionate about learning, employee experience, and organizational culture. Koreen loves reading, travelling, and spending time with her husband, two adult children, and her dog.