The Myth of Normal

Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture

By: Gabor Maté MD, Daniel Maté

Narrated by: Daniel Maté

The instant New York Times bestseller

By the acclaimed author of In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts, a groundbreaking investigation into the causes of illness, a bracing critique of how our society breeds disease, and a pathway to health and healing.

In this revolutionary book, renowned physician Gabor Maté eloquently dissects how in Western countries that pride themselves on their healthcare systems, chronic illness and general ill health are on the rise. Nearly 70 percent of Americans are on at least one prescription drug; more than half take two. In Canada, every fifth person has high blood pressure. In Europe, hypertension is diagnosed in more than 30 percent of the population. And everywhere, adolescent mental illness is on the rise. So what is really “normal” when it comes to health?

Over four decades of clinical experience, Maté has come to recognize the prevailing understanding of “normal” as false, neglecting the roles that trauma and stress, and the pressures of modern-day living, exert on our bodies and our minds at the expense of good health. For all our expertise and technological sophistication, Western medicine often fails to treat the whole person, ignoring how today’s culture stresses the body, burdens the immune system, and undermines emotional balance. Now Maté brings his perspective to the great untangling of common myths about what makes us sick, connects the dots between the maladies of individuals and the declining soundness of society—and offers a compassionate guide for health and healing. Cowritten with his son Daniel, The Myth Of Normal is Maté’s most ambitious and urgent book yet.

Changed my life

Every single person on the planet should read this book. Everyone will find something they relate to. Especially if you struggle with addiction, auto immune disease, self doubt, cancer, relationship struggles, anxiety, depression, and have wondered if you are stuck in a bad place in life and can’t figure out how to get out of it. Give up on the “this was just the hand I was dealt, or this is my lot in life” mentality and realize you have more control over your physical, mental, and emotional well-being than you realize.

A book I hope everyone would read

As a longtime fan of Dr. Gabor Maté, I am so grateful for this latest read. It’s an in depth review of how our sick culture doesn’t actually support us. The world we have designed and currently live in works against us.

The Myth of Normal offers opportunities to practice and further instruction to journal and put into practice the Compassionate Self Inquire Dr. Maté has created. I found this very useful and will be re-reading and utilizing.

I found it especially endearing that he wrote this books with his son, Daniel Maté.

My most sincere gratitude to the whole Maté family for their efforts, and to the man himself- Gabor, you have outdone yourself. Thank you for this contribution.

Excellent Trauma Awareness

A very insightful book on trauma and how it can affect so many faucets of a persons life with responses as unique a each of us. This books has so many informative examples/lessons on trauma and how that may play out in interactions with the world and health. While there are some examples of political views they are there to showcase societal trauma. Look past your political opinions and just give space to the content and effect of how it may be traumatic to someone else. I highly recommend this book to literally everyone. We should all strive to be more trauma aware. This alone would completely change how we interact with ourselves and each other.

insightful but as with all advice, take w a grain

I found it interesting and helpful in some areas. Definitely worth the read.Would recommend but take all advice with a grain of salt and remember to think for yourself.

Incredibly enlightening

This book has changed my life. I can’t believe I only just discovered Dr. Maté. His approach to a trauma informed society needs to be spread far and wide. I learned so much about myself as well as my soon to be ex and his family and the “why” around their abusive behaviors. With this knowledge, I can move forward in my own healing and also forgive.