Wounded Workers: Tales from a Working Man's Shrink
By Bob Larsen (MCDBio'73)
(Working Man's Press, 220 Pages; 2021)
Wounded Workers: Tales from a Working Man’s Shrink is Dr. Bob Larsen’s first book intended for an audience of folks who have worked or are still working. The book recounts the stories of America’s workforce subjected to physical and psychological trauma for doing their jobs. Tales from the trenches, of workers tormented by ill fortune, both natural and man-made, is the book’s focus. A bank teller robbed one too many times, a paramedic who cannot save his own father’s life, a prostitute who becomes an advocate for sex workers and other unfortunate employees find themselves sent to Dr. Bob.
Wounded Workers will grab your attention while experiencing the human response to horrific, yet common critical incidents. Clinical terminology is minimized. You won’t need a medical degree to understand what these workers go through. Dr. Bob’s personal journey as a working-class kid who becomes a scientist, physician and professor is intertwined with the dynamics of victimization, recovery, and advocacy. Readers will be exposed to stories of workers subjected to shootings, amputations, sexual assaults and healthcare-induced disability. Readers will relate to the plight, courage and persistence of victims who could be your neighbor, friend, family member or co-worker. You will be glued to the couch while turning pages.