The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness & Healing in a Toxic Culture

Arrived yesterday, and I am already giving it five stars. My first book to purchase from him and I couldn't be more excited. The book is bigger than I expected but I love that it is such an easy read, I cant put it down. I even had a lightbulb moment about my own childhood trauma, just in reading the first chapter! I will review at the end and will possibly gift this to friends too.

I just started reading the book. Promising and interesting. Of course you will gain knowledge.I like the print as well (hard cover) and it arrived on time and in an excellent condition.

Great read, well written and thought provoking.

Thought provoking and easy to read. I would highly recommend

Slight wear on the top left of the book

Enlightening

Es un libro con tamaño un tanto grande, lo compré por recomendación y no me ha defraudado.

As Dr. Gabor Maté so eloquently explains in The Myth of Normal, trauma strikes just about everyone in life, in ways seen and unseen. And, as he states early in the work, we know we've personally experienced it when we find ourselves forever changed by it. Sometimes, all it takes to make a book stand out is just one aspect that suddenly opens up a world of understanding. For me, this one simple definition of trauma -- its telltale sign -- was nothing short of revelatory. I found it so meaningful that, had it been the only insight I gleaned from this exhaustive work, I would have been completely satisfied with my purchase. But, as I read on, this one insight became a wealth of insights. In both breadth and depth, this book is truly exceptional.For those who've experienced significant trauma, beware. Like Bessel van der Kolk's seminal bestseller, The Body Keeps the Score, The Myth of Normal is not a comforting read, particularly in its early chapters when Maté explains how traumatic events can lead to disease, personality disorders, and addictions in its victims years, even decades, later. It's sobering to learn just how much power primary caregivers unwittingly have over their children's mental, emotional and physical health well into adulthood. That's why this book should be a must-read for anyone raising or planning to raise a child.Maté makes it clear, however, that parents are not the sole influence of their children's health and well-being. In fact, much of the book deals with what he considers toxicities inherent in today's society that present challenges for even the best of parents. These toxicities are staggering in scope and pertain to everything from pop culture to race, gender, class, politics and even our late-stage capitalism. Maté leaves virtually no stone unturned in showing us just how much in our world today can traumatize us without our even realizing it. It's a lot to digest, but his writing remains consistently compelling and thought-provoking. If you choose this one for a book group, be prepared for an all-night discussion about cultural toxicities alone.Of course, no book on trauma would be complete without suggestions for healing. In the book's final chapters, Maté offers what he calls "pathways to wholeness," clarifying at the outset that his definition of healing is not an "end state" but a "movement towards" wellness. This distinction spares us the false hope of a magic cure because, again, as Maté makes clear, trauma's telltale sign is its imprint on us forever. The sheer tenacity of its effects is no doubt why Maté's pathways include the holistic approaches of curiosity, understanding, self-compassion, and acceptance, among others.Maté also touches on the use of psychedelics in treating trauma, adding a fascinating account of his personal "communion with God" in a Peruvian rain forest which, to his surprise, suffused him with profound insights that he brought to this work. He makes it clear, though, that his focus is not on finding or endorsing a magic medicinal cure, but rather on society and our need to recognize how it's hurting us. It all starts, he says, with "shedding the toxic myths" of what we've come to accept as normal. It all comes down to "waking up."Well, this book not only woke me up but kept me reading well into the night. I'll read it again. It's really that deserving.

Slogging through social views that are a denial of the hatred, exploitation and fear of women and children is hard enough. To have the constant politeness war rage on while you're gaslighted about it, and it's the "normal" of life is harrowing.This book is a compassionate vivisection of the ideas of normal with which we are attempting to navigate our daily lives, and for those of us a bit more aware, attempting to shed and replace with something that better meets our needs. It is a support and structure for the efforts to expose, challenge, change and repair ourselves without judging, and with a touch of dry humor.There are few books out there worth the money in trying to learn with the intent to heal. There are fewer groups that can help implement them. This book is one that invites you to read as a group, and share as a group. I've found it a place that allows you to struggle, but then encourages you to accept, pick yourself up, and keep moving forward - a trusted companion in a battle still so many deny is taking place.It has been strengthening for me. When I've pointed out there's something off about the logic of an argument, I often find that reflected in detail, the work done for me, in this book. There have been few times I've wished for more to be said, however, he's not writing a social critique, so there is only so much. Now I hunger to see his efforts being respected by acceptance and intelligent repertoire within the streams we find our "normal" so that we can find support with one another outside of a book cover.Grateful for Gabor Mate, his sons efforts to aid him in providing these works, his writings, and especially his courage in being a source of awareness, momentum, sustainable growth and healing change.

The book is a powerful and enlightening critique of modern society's approach to health and illness. The author expertly dissects how societal norms and pressures contribute to the prevalence of chronic illness, challenging the conventional understanding of what is truly "normal." His exploration of the mind-body connection offers readers a profound understanding of how deeply interconnected our mental and physical well-being are, making this work an essential read for anyone concerned with the health implications of contemporary living.

Highly recommended for gaining a new perspective on our society and understanding what we are living in. Perfectly comprehensible investigation on different problems. It contains extremely useful advice.