Greater Than Gravity By Michael J Menard Exposes Childhood Trauma As Humanity’s Hidden Killer

On The Table Read Magazine, “the best arts and entertainment magazine UK“, in Greater Than Gravity, engineer and trauma survivor Michael J. Menard reveals childhood trauma as America’s hidden leading killer—claiming over 1,400 lives daily through addiction, suicide, and disease—while delivering a bold, actionable blueprint to end it entirely.

Greater Than Gravity

Childhood trauma represents one of the most profound yet underrecognized threats to public health and societal well-being. In his book Greater Than Gravity: How Childhood Trauma is Pulling Down Humanity, Michael J. Menard, an engineer and inventor, applies a systems-thinking approach to reveal how unresolved trauma from early life drives many of the leading causes of death and social problems in the United States.

A Survivor’s Journey to Discovery

Menard grew up as one of 14 children in a family facing poverty in Kankakee, Illinois. What he once viewed as a merely “tough childhood” later emerged as complex trauma with lasting consequences. Two of his brothers succumbed to addiction, and depression affected multiple family members across generations. These personal experiences prompted a deeper investigation while he was writing a memoir.

With a background as a former Vice President of Engineering at Johnson & Johnson, where he secured 14 patents and advised organizations including NASA and the United Nations, Menard brought an analytical perspective to public health data. He reframed the issue not as isolated social or medical problems, but as a systemic failure rooted in childhood adversity.

The Hidden Toll: Trauma’s Role in Mortality

Official death certificates list immediate causes such as heart attacks, overdoses, or suicides, but often overlook underlying contributors. Menard argues that childhood trauma frequently underlies these outcomes, contributing to far more deaths than commonly acknowledged. Estimates suggest trauma-related effects claim around 1,400 American lives daily—surpassing many traditional leading causes when traced to root origins.

Research on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) supports this view. High ACE scores correlate with increased risks for addiction, suicide attempts, and incarceration. For instance, a significant portion of teen suicide attempts and nearly all addiction treatment cases involve trauma histories, while a large majority of incarcerated individuals report childhood scars. Broader studies link childhood adversity to elevated premature mortality through associations with heart disease, cancer, and other chronic conditions, potentially accounting for a substantial share of annual U.S. deaths.

The economic impact is staggering, with annual costs in the trillions—exceeding the national defense budget—due to healthcare expenses and lost productivity.

From Diagnosis to Solutions: A Path Forward

Menard emphasizes that childhood trauma is not inevitable. The book moves beyond highlighting the problem to propose actionable strategies, including trauma-responsive care and preventive measures. It aims to validate the experiences of the estimated 180 million American adults carrying unresolved trauma while protecting the roughly 50 million children currently at risk.

To drive change, Menard established United Against Childhood Trauma (UACT), a nonprofit dedicated to transforming awareness into widespread action. The organization’s mission focuses on ending childhood trauma comprehensively, not merely reducing or managing it.

A Call to Action

Menard’s work challenges conventional approaches to public health by urging society to address root causes rather than symptoms alone. By confronting this pervasive issue, there is potential to prevent hundreds of daily deaths, heal affected lives, and build a healthier future for generations.

Greater Than Gravity serves as both an exposé and a blueprint for change, drawing on personal resilience, rigorous analysis, and hope for systemic transformation. Its release in March 2026 marks a pivotal moment in the effort to lift the weight that has long pulled humanity down.

Find more from Michael J Menard now:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4aFKxyp

Apple: https://apple.co/4aMJcGe

United Against Trauma: www. Childhood uactnow.com

 Website: www.Michaeljmenard.com

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemenard/