Alice Miller is a world...
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Alice Miller is a world-renowned German child psychologist. For decades she has led the field in examining the long-term effects of childhood experience, especially trauma. Magazine articles, talk shows, and news reports daily remind us of the increasing evidence that traumatic childhood events can impact the subsequent adult life in many ways. Miller writes about the lives of a number of famous people. The childhood experiences of Picasso, Hitler, Buster Keaton, and others are researched and compared to their "famous" adult lives. What is startling is that all of the artists and political leaders she portrays had very difficult lives as children. Many were abused or endured horrifying experiences, such as earthquakes, as young children. Yet, the outcome of their lives is not the same. For some there is an adult life of sustained evil. Hitler is a prime example. Others experienced lives of ongoing creativity, contributing many gifts of their artistry to the world. They exhibit the ability to turn evil into good.
