A Child Called 'It' by Dave Pelzer Summary
Overview of A Child Called 'It'
Dave Pelzer's harrowing memoir exposes unimaginable childhood abuse, becoming a cultural touchstone that transformed how society views domestic violence. This New York Times bestseller, studied in therapeutic circles worldwide, asks: How did one boy's survival story help millions find their voice?
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Key takeaways
A Child Trapped in Unimaginable Horror
In the darkness of a cold garage, a young boy curls into a tight ball on an army cot, straining to hear if his mother is still asleep upstairs. This is Dave Pelzer's reality - a child living in constant terror, subjected to burns and stabbings, denied food for days, and reduced to stealing rags to wrap around his feet to stay warm. Survival has become his only purpose. What makes this story particularly heartbreaking is that Dave once had a normal, loving relationship with his mother. He treasured memories of fishing with her, deliberately keeping his bait above water to prolong their time together. But something changed dramatically in her, transforming the loving "Mommy" who took him fishing into "The Mother" - a cold, violent person who emerged when she drank and who no longer called him David but "The Boy," and eventually just "It." The psychological warfare was perhaps more damaging than the physical abuse. Mother would position Dave at the top of the stairs and demand he tell her how stupid she was - a cruel game designed to disorient and control him. When he gave the wrong answer, she would strike him across the face. "You're not a person," she would bellow. "You're a thing, an It. I can do whatever I want with you." The physical abuse escalated to horrifying levels. She would choke him until he nearly lost consciousness, only to slap him awake at the last moment. She would push him down stairs, deny him food while forcing him to watch his brothers eat, and make him sleep in the garage without blankets.
Rescue and the Journey to Recovery
Finding Purpose Through Military Service and Fatherhood
Confronting the Past and Breaking the Cycle
Finding Love and Healing
The Triumph of the Human Spirit
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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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