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calebmatthews's review against another edition
4.0
Really useful book for discussing addiction.
I really enjoyed these parts (unfortunately, I don't have my notes from parts I-III anymore)
- [ ] Addiction is more experience dependent than gene dependent
- [ ] Neural Darwinism and going blind
- [ ] Optimal brain development: nutrition - physical security - consistent emotional nurturing
- [ ] Fire together wire together in therapy
- [ ] Seizures and dissociation track 20 minute 14ish
- [ ] The void I’ll do anything to avoid
- [ ] No one is born with self regulation
- [ ] Differentiation
- [ ] Ralph and everyone’s search for a little piece of freedom
- [ ] Dislocation and addiction
- [ ] Stealing (2 million - palm pilot)
- [ ] Free will vs free won’t (brain lock)
- [ ] Legalize drugs
- [ ] Not treating a person because they choose problem
- [ ] On harm reduction vs abstinence - Our only choice is compassion or indifference
- [ ] COAL - CURIOSITY OPENNESS ACCEPTANCE AND LOVE
- [ ] Abstinence vs sobriety
- [ ] Choose guilt over resentment
- [ ] Signed and undated checks
- [ ] My business - your business - or God’s business
I would give a disclaimer when recommending this book to someone who has struggles with chemical addiction since Mate discusses his own addiction (CD buying).
Excited to discuss this with other therapists!
I really enjoyed these parts (unfortunately, I don't have my notes from parts I-III anymore)
- [ ] Addiction is more experience dependent than gene dependent
- [ ] Neural Darwinism and going blind
- [ ] Optimal brain development: nutrition - physical security - consistent emotional nurturing
- [ ] Fire together wire together in therapy
- [ ] Seizures and dissociation track 20 minute 14ish
- [ ] The void I’ll do anything to avoid
- [ ] No one is born with self regulation
- [ ] Differentiation
- [ ] Ralph and everyone’s search for a little piece of freedom
- [ ] Dislocation and addiction
- [ ] Stealing (2 million - palm pilot)
- [ ] Free will vs free won’t (brain lock)
- [ ] Legalize drugs
- [ ] Not treating a person because they choose problem
- [ ] On harm reduction vs abstinence - Our only choice is compassion or indifference
- [ ] COAL - CURIOSITY OPENNESS ACCEPTANCE AND LOVE
- [ ] Abstinence vs sobriety
- [ ] Choose guilt over resentment
- [ ] Signed and undated checks
- [ ] My business - your business - or God’s business
I would give a disclaimer when recommending this book to someone who has struggles with chemical addiction since Mate discusses his own addiction (CD buying).
Excited to discuss this with other therapists!
tildy08's review against another edition
4.0
There are sections of this book that make complete sense to me. Currently volunteering and soon to be working in the addictions-mental health field, it allowed me to have great insight into the workings of an addict's mind.
I'm also inclined to read his book on ADHD as well!
I'm also inclined to read his book on ADHD as well!
allisob's review against another edition
5.0
Maté’s discussion of addiction is comprehensive, nuanced, and refreshingly compassionate. I hope to see his book show up in curriculum/professional development for anyone studying/working with the people and systems impacted by addiction.
pcdbigfoot's review against another edition
4.75
"“At the core of every addiction is an emptiness based in abject fear. The addict dreads and abhors the present moment; she bends feverishly only toward the next time, the moment when her brain, infused with her drug of choice, will briefly experience itself as liberated from the burden of the past and the fear of the future ..."
This book helped me understand addiction to a greater degree. There are no easy answers offered here, the value is in the deeper understanding.
Maté leads with painful stories of addicts he's worked with, establishing that this condition isn't a 'choice', and that it's not as simple as moral weakness. He talks us through the brain chemistry, and presents some interesting ideas about what motivates addictive behavior. He's careful not to call it an illness, because I think he doesn't want to externalize it. Rather - this is something we need to understand, accept, and learn to live with.
He's unequivocal about saying that it's not a simple genetic thing, advancing the claim that genetic 'predisposition' aside, that addiction is a set of coping mechanisms learned when we're subject to stress as our brains develop.
In recovery just over five years myself, I'm still working on how to feel about it. A key part for me is understanding how I and others get here. Maté does that without moralizing, extending compassion along with mindful self-accountability. The basis in compassion has been one of the things that's helped me to let go of the self-destructive defense mechanisms.
This felt like an important book for me to read. I'd highly recommend it for addicts, their loved ones, and anyone seeking to better understand addiction.
This book helped me understand addiction to a greater degree. There are no easy answers offered here, the value is in the deeper understanding.
Maté leads with painful stories of addicts he's worked with, establishing that this condition isn't a 'choice', and that it's not as simple as moral weakness. He talks us through the brain chemistry, and presents some interesting ideas about what motivates addictive behavior. He's careful not to call it an illness, because I think he doesn't want to externalize it. Rather - this is something we need to understand, accept, and learn to live with.
He's unequivocal about saying that it's not a simple genetic thing, advancing the claim that genetic 'predisposition' aside, that addiction is a set of coping mechanisms learned when we're subject to stress as our brains develop.
In recovery just over five years myself, I'm still working on how to feel about it. A key part for me is understanding how I and others get here. Maté does that without moralizing, extending compassion along with mindful self-accountability. The basis in compassion has been one of the things that's helped me to let go of the self-destructive defense mechanisms.
This felt like an important book for me to read. I'd highly recommend it for addicts, their loved ones, and anyone seeking to better understand addiction.
sophiatuffin's review against another edition
It’s a heavy book, and as others have suggested I think it’s built towards people with no experience of addiction or psychology. I took some things from it, but I stopped half way because I don’t believe I’ll gain any more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Self harm, Drug use, Suicide, and Hate crime
thejejo's review against another edition
5.0
I’ve been reading quite a bit of quit-lit lately. This book was so fantastic. Incredibly engaging. The stories add so much humanity. The author’s vulnerability and real truth around his work is moving. Not going to lie- I did have a little tear while reading this one.
vivalasvaiva's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.5
Prefacing my rating my with: I think that this book maybe isn’t meant for people who already have a background in psychology/neuroscience. A lot of the ideas will feel familiar.
It feels like the intention of the book is to inspire compassion in the masses, which it does really well. Maté is skilled at weaving information through a readable narrative. At times, he does veer into language that feels somewhat dehumanising of people with addictions (e.g. viewing them as our own “dark mirrors”) and the white collar-ness of his own behaviours did inspire a groan. However, on the whole I believe his intentions are good and his message is sound.
It feels like the intention of the book is to inspire compassion in the masses, which it does really well. Maté is skilled at weaving information through a readable narrative. At times, he does veer into language that feels somewhat dehumanising of people with addictions (e.g. viewing them as our own “dark mirrors”) and the white collar-ness of his own behaviours did inspire a groan. However, on the whole I believe his intentions are good and his message is sound.