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

5.0

This was the most profound book on healing that I’ve ever read. For me, it answered many questions and conundrums concerning my own childhood traumas. I have a long way to go in my healing journey, but connecting the dots that Dr. Maté presented here provided an inspiring kickstart. This book also enabled me to feel much more empathy and compassion for people who have hurt me, and even for people whom I dislike intensely in mainstream politics and business.

This book is vigorously researched and referenced. It contains a dearth of evidence-based material, but at the same time, it swells with expansive thinking and new ideas. It should be required reading for every medical student, doctor, healthcare professional, teacher, parent, and for anyone who experienced trauma, whether “small t” trauma (eg, bullying) or “big T” trauma (eg, parental abandonment, death of a parent; being raised in a household with addiction, violence, or neglect; sexual abuse).

I’ve told everyone I know to read this book. Read it!