“In the most health-obsessed society ever, all is not well.” – 5/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: trauma, childhood memories, disease, oppressive beliefs, pregnancies, cancer, addiction… and hope.

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. Co-written with his son Daniel, The Myth of Normal is Maté’s most ambitious and urgent book yet.

I can’t even begin to tell you how much I loved this book. It was an eye-opening and thought-provoking read! Dr. Gabor Maté, along with his son Daniel Maté, does a great job of breaking down how trauma and illness develop in a toxic culture, and how society is failing us in this regard. The book is packed with research, real-life stories (including his own personal experiences with traumatic events), and so many eye-opening insights that made me reflect on my own upbringing.
Some of my absolute favorite parts were the chapters on addiction, pregnancy (everything from delivery to postpartum), and cancer near the end—those completely blew my mind! I also really loved the exercise section at the end of the book. It gives you practical, simple steps to help you feel whole again, which makes the reader feel hopeful and empowered. The book does such a great job of normalizing trauma and showing that it’s something we all experience in different ways. It’s definitely one of those books you’ll want to read slowly and take notes on because there’s a lot to absorb!
I know some reviewers have said there’s a lot of parent blaming in the book, but honestly, I don’t think that’s fair. Yes, it acknowledges that our upbringing shapes us in different ways (some good, some bad), but the author makes it clear that our parents did the best they could with the knowledge they had. It’s not about pointing fingers—it’s about understanding the bigger picture. Personally, I really appreciate that approach since I prefer looking at it realistically!
All in all, this book was fascinating, and I saw so much of myself in its pages. It’s, hands down, one of the best books I’ve read in 2024! If you’re even slightly curious about trauma, healing, or just understanding yourself better, this is 100% worth the read!