"This is more than a book. American PTSD is a healing journey. Reading it can free us from the Disorder and reawaken the Dream."

~ Lynne Twist, author, The Soul of Money, and co-founder, The Pachamama Alliance

"Are you one of the many millions of Americans who feel that our country has lost its way? Then Mark Gerzon's new book - American PTSD - is for you. It shares an insightful new framework for understanding what went wrong and will help you figure out how to respond constructively and creatively."

~ Peter C. Goldmark, former president, Rockefeller Foundation

"American PTSD is a brilliant heart-rending book in this perilous time. It reads like a gripping family saga written by a relative whose love for his family never clouds his honest assessment. Gerzon has cut through the hazy Gaslit Era to reveal our mental instability and remind us that it comes from trauma — and trauma can be healed. This desperately needed diagnosis can heal the historically accumulated trauma that is tearing our nation apart. His prescription has the potency to enable the U.S. to become a respected and beloved world leader."

~ Jennifer Fraser Ph.D., author, The Gaslit Brain

"Mark Gerzon takes us on a courageous journey into the depths of the collective psyche of the United States, illuminating the hidden dimension of the trauma landscape we all share. Collective trauma is one of the most influential yet unseen root causes of suffering in our world. If we want to live in a world that is a home for everyone—and one that moves past the phrase 'history repeats'—we need to read this book."

~ Thomas Hubl, host of the Collective Trauma Summit, and coauthor of Releasing Our Burdens: A Guide to Healing Individual, Ancestral and Collective Trauma

"Mark Gerzon knows that we cannot answer the question, 'How do we get out of this mess?' until we have answered the question, 'How did we get into this mess?' We historians have good reason to welcome a colleague who is equally adept at answering both questions. In American PTSD, Gerzon proves to be skilled at both diagnosing the origins of today’s dilemmas and prescribing down-to-earth routes to recovery.

~ Patricia Limerick, Professor of History, and Faculty Director of the Applied History Initiative at the University of Colorado, and author, The Legacy of Conquest

"As an American Indian, I suffer from PTSD and recognize the importance of this book. American PTSD is a comprehensive assessment of the challenges that many People face in our world today. Respect is the first law of American Indian People, and Gerzon correctly highlights that as a way of healing. This book is a must-read for those who are suffering from the chaos that we live in today."

~ Richard Williams, President, People of the Sacred Land

"If you feel American culture is in a downward spiral and you don't want to pulled down with it, read American PTSD. It provides a powerful path toward healing ourselves, restoring our communities, and renewing America." 

~ Maria Brinck, author, The Leadership We Need

"Mark Gerzon offers a thoughtful and provocative exploration of the psychological and cultural forces shaping American life. American PTSD is a timely book that challenges us to think differently about trauma, polarization, and healing."

~ Jonathan Alpert, psychotherapist and author, Therapy Nation

"In a powerful and practical way, Mark Gerzon explores how the inner and outer traumas of our lives are intertwined. May this book serve as another guiding voice to bring us out of the fog of separation and domination so that we can create the lives, and world, we long for. Ones that hold life as sacred."

~ Staci K. Haines, author of The Politics of Trauma: Somatics, Healing and Social Justice

"America's future depends not only on what we build, but on what we are willing to heal. In American PTSD, Mark Gerzon shows how the intersecting legacies of poverty and racism have become sources of collective trauma that diminish us all. These are not simply historical injustices; they are wounds carried in our institutions, our communities, and our relationships. This book is a timely call to pursue healing alongside justice. Our shared flourishing depends upon our willingness to tell the whole story of America and to build a future where every person belongs, and every community has the opportunity to thrive."

~ Michael McAfee, CEO, PolicyLink

"Given the reality of our lives—constant bombardment with images and sounds of horrendous events; wars in the Middle East and Ukraine; innocent people killed/murdered by agents of our own government; and an almost daily abuse by the most powerful of the rule of law, a fundamental pillar of American democracy—it is clear that we are all suffering from collective trauma. Add to that the traumas the each of us experience in our personal lives and Mark Gerzon's book is an essential read for our time. He provides readers with a wise and deeply moving gateway to understanding the path to healing our traumas individually and collectively."

~ Carolyn Lukensmeyer, Founder and President, AmericaSpeaks; founding executive Director, the National Institute for Civil Discourse.

"In American PTSD, Mark Gerzon invites us to look honestly at the wounds that have shaped our national story and helps us understand them. Our scars are signposts toward our possible future. Of we face them with courage and compassion, we can move closer to fulfilling our highest ideals and realizing the promise of America."

~ Bill Shireman, civic innovator, Founder of Circle America and author, What the GOP Can Learn from Nike

"Drawing on his decades of work mediating conflicts that divide our country, Mark has written a book that is both critical and patriotic. American PTSD is a bold and loving call to heal our collective traumas and find a way to realize the American Dream of liberty and justice for all."

~ Jason Jay, co-author, Breaking Through Gridlock, and Director, MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative

"American PTSD is an exceptionally comprehensive analysis of the sources of trauma in the United States today. The best way to start healing our country is to pursue the six practices outlined in this timely book."

~ Jim Halderman, Rotary Club Ombudsman, and author, Wizard Brain and Monkey Mind

"Mark Gerzon is the kind of patriot our nation needs. His brilliant new book, American PTSD, goes directly to the collective problem and how to solve it by finally addressing the grief and trauma in ourselves. This book is a must read for those of us who want to heal our nation."'

~ Dr. Ken Druck, international expert on traumatic loss

"In American PTSD, Mark has once again written a book that helps us heal the soul of America. The book tells our collective story that has often been shaped by individual and collective traumas. This book is filled with hope and charts a way forward together.”

~ Gary Ivory, President and CEO, Youth Action Projects

"American PTSD is about what becomes possible IF we dare to face our nearly universal societal trauma. The resulting fear causes much of the unkindness, inhumanity, and 'othering' in our world. Understanding our trauma can enable us to replace fear with the ability to hold divergent views in our heads and hearts and help our society heal its divisiveness."

~ Jerilyn DeCoteau, Turtle Mountain Chippewa and Native American Rights lawyer, cofounder of Right Relationship Boulder.

Positioning Statement:

A groundbreaking exploration of America's unhealed collective traumas and a roadmap for national recovery, written by a veteran mediator who has worked with Congress, the UN, and conflict zones worldwide. Mark Gerzon reveals how four centuries of repressed trauma—from colonization and slavery to war and cultural violence—continue to fuel our political dysfunction and social division, offering a transformative framework for acknowledging our wounds, reclaiming our wholeness, and building a future where "United States" becomes more than a name—it becomes our reality.

Market and Author

Market Opportunity:

Political polarization crisis: 80%+ of Americans believe the country is more divided than ever; urgent demand for frameworks to understand and bridge divides

Civil conflict concerns: Serious observers warning of civil war risk; How Civil Wars Start (Barbara F. Walter) and similar titles resonating with anxious readers

Collective trauma awakening: Post-2020 (pandemic, racial justice protests, January 6th) heightened awareness of shared societal wounds

Mental health crisis: Record levels of anxiety, depression, PTSD diagnoses—readers seeking macro-level explanations for micro-level suffering

Truth and reconciliation movement: Growing interest in South African TRC model; calls for U.S. reckoning with historical injustices

Racial justice reckoning: Caste, How to Be an Antiracist, The 1619 Project demonstrating massive appetite for reexamining American history

Political dysfunction market: Readers seeking deeper explanations beyond partisan talking points for governmental gridlock and cultural chaos

Trauma-informed culture: The Body Keeps the Score phenomenon; mainstream acceptance of trauma as explanatory framework

Election anxiety: 2024 and beyond—readers seeking understanding of seemingly inexplicable political behavior and societal breakdown

Healing/wellness trend: Self-help and collective healing books performing strongly; readers want hope and actionable paths forward

Intergenerational trauma research: Growing scientific literature on epigenetic trauma transmission creates credibility for collective trauma framework

Author Credentials:

Mark Gerzon is president of Mediators Foundation, catalyzing projects offering alternatives to hyper-partisanship, conflict, and violence

Congressional mediator: Best known for groundbreaking work with U.S. Congress on bridging partisan divides—rare insider access and credibility

International experience: Career includes assignments with United Nations and international organizations in conflict zones worldwide

Decades of mediation expertise: Deep practical knowledge of conflict resolution, reconciliation processes, and healing divided communities; TedX Vail 2017 Speaker

Bridge-builder credentials: Trusted by both sides of political divide; unique positioning to speak to entire American spectrum

Global perspective: International work provides comparative framework for understanding American exceptionalism and dysfunction

Mediators Foundation leadership: Platform for ongoing projects touching lives of citizens seeking alternatives to violence and division

Published author: Track record of books addressing American political and cultural challenges

Cross-partisan trust: Ability to convene and facilitate dialogue across seemingly unbridgeable divides

Practical experience: Not merely theoretical—has facilitated real healing and reconciliation in high-stakes environments

Systems thinking: Understands how individual trauma, collective memory, and institutional dysfunction interconnect

Publicity

Print, Broadcast & Major Media:

Major trade reviewers: Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, and Booklist (among others)

National newspapers: The New York Times (op-ed page, Sunday Review), The Washington Post (article, not a book review), USA Today, Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal

Political media: The Atlantic, The New Yorker, Politico, The Hill, Roll Call, The Nation, National Review, The American Conservative

General interest: Time, Newsweek, Foreign Affairs, Harper's Magazine, Mother Jones

History/culture: Smithsonian Magazine, American Heritage, American History Magazine, Lapham's Quarterly

Mental health/trauma: Psychology Today, Psychotherapy Networker, Psychiatric Times, Scientific American Mind

Black media: The Root, Essence, Ebony, The Grio (historical trauma angle)

Progressive media: YES! Magazine, Sojourners, Tikkun, Common Dreams, Truthout

Centrist/bridge-building: The Fulcrum, Bridge Alliance publications, The Conversation

NPR shows: Fresh Air, On Point, 1A, All Things Considered, Morning Edition, To the Best of Our Knowledge

Broadcast: PBS NewsHour, 60 Minutes, Frontline (documentary tie-in potential), Amanpour and Company, C-SPAN Book TV

Cable news: CNN (segments on national unity), MSNBC, potentially Fox News (bridge-building angle)

Op-ed strategy: Bylined pieces in major newspapers on collective trauma, reconciliation, path forward from division

Podcasts:

Politics & Current Events:

Pod Save America
The Ezra Klein Show
Throughline (NPR)
Amicus (Slate)
The Argument (NYT)
Left, Right & Center
The Bulwark Podcast
The Gist
Political Gabfest
Skullduggery

History & Culture:

Backstory
The History of American Slavery (Slate)
You're Wrong About
American History Tellers
The Civil War (1865 Podcast)
Revisionist History (Malcolm Gladwell)
Scene on Radio (Seeing White series)
Uncivil

Psychology & Healing:

On Being with Krista Tippett
Hidden Brain
The Tim Ferriss Show
Unlocking Us with Brené Brown
We Can Do Hard Things
The One You Feed
Terrible, Thanks for Asking
Where Should We Begin? (Esther Perel)

Social Justice & Race:

Code Switch (NPR)
About Race with Reni Eddo-Lodge
Therapy for Black Girls
Pod Save the People
Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast
Intersectionality Matters

Spirituality & Meaning:

On Being
Harry Potter and the Sacred Text
Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
The RobCast
Cosmic Transitions (Sounds True)

Conflict Resolution & Bridge-Building:

Mending America (Starts with Us)
Bridging the Divide
A Braver Way
Make America Relate Again

Marketing, Social Media & Digital Marketing

Author Platform & Built-in Demand:

Mediators Foundation: Built-in network of mediators, facilitators, peace-builders, and organizations seeking alternatives to conflict

Congressional network: Relationships with current and former members of Congress, legislative staff, political operatives across spectrum

United Nations connections: International network of diplomats, peace-builders, conflict resolution professionals

Bridge-building community: Established relationships with organizations like Bridge Alliance, Living Room Conversations, Braver Angels, Better Angels

Speaking circuit: Regular keynotes at conflict resolution conferences, political science gatherings, civic engagement forums—15-25+ engagements annually

Previous book readers: Existing audience from author's earlier works on American politics and social healing

Mediation professional community: Network of practitioners, trainers, academic programs in conflict resolution

Facilitation experience: Decades of workshop participants who have experienced author's work firsthand

Cross-partisan credibility: Trusted by progressives and conservatives—rare ability to reach across divide

Audience

Primary Audience: The Concerned Citizen Seeking Understanding

Age: 35-70, slightly more female, educated, politically engaged across spectrum

Political identity: Moderates, independents, exhausted partisans on both sides seeking deeper explanations

Education: College-educated, many advanced degrees

Values: Democracy, truth, reconciliation, justice, national unity, civic engagement

Pain points: Despair over political dysfunction; strained relationships across political lines; fear of national collapse; confusion about how we got here; desire for hope and actionable solutions

Reading habits: 15-30 books/year in politics, history, current events, self-help; follows political news obsessively

Online behavior: Reads long-form journalism (The Atlantic, NYT Magazine); listens to political podcasts; Facebook political discussions; seeks balanced perspectives

Why this book: Offers macro-level framework to make sense of chaos; provides hope through healing narrative; validates their exhaustion while offering path forward

Secondary Audiences:

Racial Justice Advocates & BIPOC Readers (25-65)
Mental Health Professionals (30-70)
Educators & Students (22-70)
Bridge-Builders & Mediators (30-65)
Faith Leaders & Communities (30-75)
Political Professionals & Policy Makers (28-70)
Veterans & Military Families (25-75)
History Buffs & Public Intellectuals (40-75)

Unique Positioning

American PTSD uniquely combines the trauma-informed framework that resonated in The Body Keeps the Score with the racial justice reckoning of Caste and the political analysis of How Civil Wars Start—offering what none of these bestsellers provide: a comprehensive diagnosis of America's collective wounds AND a practical roadmap for national healing. Mark Gerzon's rare combination of Congressional mediation experience and international reconciliation work gives him unparalleled credibility to speak to the entire American spectrum. Unlike purely historical critiques that leave readers in despair or partisan analyses that preach to the choir, this book offers hope grounded in proven healing methodologies—acknowledging four centuries of repressed trauma while insisting that wholeness, both personal and national, remains our birthright. This is the book for Americans exhausted by division who are ready to do the deeper work of genuine reconciliation.