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1.39k reviews for:
The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture
Daniel Maté, Gabor Maté
4.2 AVERAGE
1.39k reviews for:
The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture
Daniel Maté, Gabor Maté
4.2 AVERAGE
medium-paced
I think this was brilliantly done and the kind of discussion about trauma informed illness and the effects of capitalism that we all need! I have many, many bookmarks and a plethora of new information to share with people who haven’t asked me haha.
I will say that the last few chapters were a bit of a slog for me and I reckon this could easily have done without some of the content; not that much of a bad thing, just a little boring.
I will say that the last few chapters were a bit of a slog for me and I reckon this could easily have done without some of the content; not that much of a bad thing, just a little boring.
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
“All in all, the system works with cyclic elegance: a culture founded on mistaken beliefs regarding who and what we are creates conditions that frustrate our basic needs, breeding a populace in pain, disconnected from self, others, and meaning. A select few—especially those with the sorts of early coping mechanisms that prime them to deny reality, block out empathy, fear vulnerability, mute their own sense of right and wrong, and abjure looking at themselves too closely—will be elevated to power. There they govern over a majority who crave comfort and stability, who are so ground down by cynicism and alienation, that they will trade authentic instincts and collective self-assertion for the pseudo-attachment of false promises and soothing charisma. Completing the cycle, our wounded leaders with their blinkered priorities enact social policies that keep conditions how they were, or worse.” 👀
I really admire and appreciate the paradigm shift Maté pens to paper—there’s so much brilliance and keen compassion with his body of work—but the process of reading this was a slog. He and his son were trying to do and say and speak to soooo much that it felt overwhelming. The interrelated nature of its themes, however, might have made it feel redundant. I wouldn’t mind this as one off columns or essays. My reading was a little revitalized in part five (pathways to wholeness) which included chapters addressing his compassionate inquiry model (feels like some melange of trauma informed IFS, ACT, and narrative modalities). I like to read about this and found it beneficial and well put, yet it also felt like a random list of healing concepts that lost the plot a bit from earlier sections of the book. His writing spanned heartfelt and creative to cringe and questionably problematic; largely, though it felt thoughtful and with clear social caring at its heart. I also like how much he quotes and references others!! You can tell he truly learns from so many. As a book to consume, I would place it as 3 stars, but I’m ranking at 4 because the subject matter is important and it’s quite the feat to outline these ideas and research on trauma, healing, and society in such an approachable manner!
I really admire and appreciate the paradigm shift Maté pens to paper—there’s so much brilliance and keen compassion with his body of work—but the process of reading this was a slog. He and his son were trying to do and say and speak to soooo much that it felt overwhelming. The interrelated nature of its themes, however, might have made it feel redundant. I wouldn’t mind this as one off columns or essays. My reading was a little revitalized in part five (pathways to wholeness) which included chapters addressing his compassionate inquiry model (feels like some melange of trauma informed IFS, ACT, and narrative modalities). I like to read about this and found it beneficial and well put, yet it also felt like a random list of healing concepts that lost the plot a bit from earlier sections of the book. His writing spanned heartfelt and creative to cringe and questionably problematic; largely, though it felt thoughtful and with clear social caring at its heart. I also like how much he quotes and references others!! You can tell he truly learns from so many. As a book to consume, I would place it as 3 stars, but I’m ranking at 4 because the subject matter is important and it’s quite the feat to outline these ideas and research on trauma, healing, and society in such an approachable manner!
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Honestly, I was gripped by the theory -or theories- presented in this book. The case studies were compelling and perplexing all at once. Sometimes felt like they were reaching.. But I constantly felt my own thoughts and feelings about disease, mental health and life being challenged and I think that’s great. I don’t necessarily buy into every aspect of this book, but would recommend.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced