Tony La Russa
Hall of Fame Manager, Three-Time World Series Champion
Book Recommendations:
Recommended by Tony La Russa
“Tom and Jen Satterly's focus on PTSD of Special Operation soldiers was created by the horrors of war and carried forward in its aftermath when they return home and confront resuming a normal life. Tom and Jen's Special Forces credentials are hard-earned and their experiences at home establish their awareness of the life-threatening consequences if PTSD is not treated. Jen had up-close exposure after spending three years embedded with Special Operations on stateside mission training. They confronted and solved Tom's serious PTS issues and committed to helping others through their All Secure Foundation. PTS is a soldier's invisible enemy because it's an internal response to the emotional, mental, and physical realities of battles. For the great majority of Americans who once again are honoring our military personnel's efforts to preserve and protect American values, the material in Arsenal of Hope reinforces our admiration, gratitude, and respect for their service. It also increases our awareness of the need to support their PTS struggles. Solutions benefit the entire family. They deserve all we can do to help.” (from Amazon)
A guide that empowers family members combating post-traumatic stress on the home front, offering hope, purpose, and tangible solutions. This book provides definitions and real-life examples of complex PTSD and complex secondary PTSD (seen in a rapidly rising number of spouses and children), and the problems that arise when untreated. Arsenal of Hope aims to help soldiers, first responders, their families, and civilians with trauma—including those dealing with COVID-19 chaos or death. Jen Satterly is a certified coach and respected authority on PTSD, having been embedded with Special Operations during large scale military training missions and married to a Delta Force Command Sgt. Major. As a cofounder of a nonprofit for warriors and their families to heal after the trauma of war, her stories, research, realistic advice, and sometimes humor, are told through a military lens. Written with award-winning collaborative writer Holly Lorincz, Satterly uses her firsthand knowledge and medical expertise to deal with each issue. Most importantly, she illustrates how to change and create habits to circumvent the symptoms of post-traumatic stress.
Recommended by Tony La Russa
“Talk about being competitive and being down to his last strike, Shane Niemeyer's harrowing journey from suicidal to successful offers everyone hope that change is possible and victory only comes when you refuse to give up or give in. I was alternately horrified and hopeful as I read the pages of this honest and intense book.” (from Amazon)
With troubles beginning as early as childhood, the trajectory of Shane Niemeyer's life seemed to have only one direction: down. His struggles with heroin addiction led him to jail, and he eventually hit rock bottom. Soon, his two pack a day cigarette habit was the healthiest thing he did. One dark night in jail, his suicide attempt failed. What happened next transcends the term recovery. The Hurt Artist is the searing yet luminous travelogue of Shane's powerful journey from suicidal addict to Ironman. He vividly depicts the landscape of pain in which he's lived his life―emotional and physical pain inflicted upon him and that he inflicts upon himself, pain that pulls him down, and, in detailing his training, the pain he harnesses to lift himself up. Ultimately, Shane's story is one of redemption and triumph, a lesson in the value of second chances and a clear reminder that nobody, regardless of how seemingly desperate their circumstances, is beyond the reach of salvation. From inmate #71768 to Ironman Triathlon World Championship competitor #1419, Shane paints a stirring self-portrait in this hilarious, horrifying, and hopeful account that is sure to hook readers of edgy sports biographies.