What Experts Say

Golding offers a fresh, eye-opening study of Holocaust trauma, focusing on a dimension of it hardly researched before. Rather than set the focus on the small circle of Holocaust survivors and their children, Unseen Scars tells the story of how the Holocaust has impacted us – that is, the much wider circles of scholars, teachers, docents, students, visitors to Holocaust museums, and those traveling to sites of former ghettos and concentration camps. This book is a must read for all engaged in the field of Holocaust education, both as professionals or laypeople.

By centering the role of affect in learning, Golding's book offers a new and much-needed account of the role that emotions play in Holocaust education. With exquisite attention to the power of museums and memorials to evoke unpleasant feelings, Golding asks Holocaust educators to consider how their students might experience these sites, and, in the process, develops an innovative student-centered approach to Holocaust education.

Unseen Scars is a transformative work on how we can teach about trauma without causing it. Drawing on psychological insight and empirical research, Golding crystallizes the challenges educators face in Holocaust education and redefines the field through a trauma-informed lens, offering a vital guide for all who engage with the emotional weight of this history.

There are many gems of wisdom throughout this work. Golding is reflective and critical, insightful and demanding. This book is significant reading for those planning museums, for teachers bringing students to museums, for docents who shape visits to a museum, for visitors to the museums, and for Holocaust and trauma-related educators. Be prepared to be challenged and be prepared to be impressed.

A major contribution to Holocaust education - Golding's emphasis on the psychological impact on learners is an important reminder of our responsibility not only to the history we tell but for the emotional wellbeing of those who encounter this difficult, traumatic past. Essential reading for all who work in this field.

Unseen Scars is a riveting and beautifully written exploration of the human capacity to face trauma. It is essential reading for every educator, therapist, and anyone who seeks to understand the emotional cost of bearing witness.