A review by kahht
The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture by Gabor Maté

5.0

I'm very glad I read this book in it's entirety and gave myself time to absorb the many nuances that Gabor Maté offers in it. I wasn't a bit fan of the clips I'd seen of Maté online, but several friends with good taste had liked his book, so I wanted to give it a try and I'm really I did. The book is extensive and explores many aspects of illness, trauma and culture. He provides references to a breadth of high quality research in a variety of relevant fields that span quite a gamut of expertise, which is refreshing. Maté himself offers his own experience and expertise in the book as well, revealing a depth of vulnerability not common in books of this sort that I've read. What I liked most about this book versus what I've seen of Maté online, is that it really goes into the complexities and nuances of trauma and disease. Don't be turned off by the length of this book, it's long for a reason and very few words are wasted.