The Myth of Normal

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What to expect

Brought to you by Penguin.

We tend to believe that normality equals health. Yet what is the norm in the Western world?

Mental illness is on an unstoppable rise. Some 45% of Europeans suffer high blood pressure, and nearly 70% of Americans take at least one prescription drug. Illness and trauma are defining how we live.

In his new masterpiece, renowned physician, addiction expert and author Gabor Maté dissects the underlying causes of this malaise - physical and emotional, and connects the dots between our personal suffering and the pressures of modern-day living. Over four decades of clinical experience, Dr Maté has found that the common definition of 'normal' is false: virtually all disease is actually a natural reflection of life in an abnormal culture, as we grow further and further apart from our true selves. But he also shows us the pathway to reconnection and healing.

Filled with stories of people in the grip of illness or in the triumphant wake of recovery, this life-affirming book shows how true health is possible - if we are willing to embrace authenticity above social expectations. The Myth of Normal is Gabor Maté's most ambitious, compassionate and urgent book yet.

© Gabor Maté, Daniel Maté 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022

Critics Review

Gabor Mate takes us on an epic journey of discovery about how our emotional well-being, and our social connectivity (in short: how we live), is intimately intertwined with health, disease and addictions ... This riveting and beautifully written tale has profound implications for all of our lives, including the practice of medicine and mental health
Bessel van der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the Score

User Reviews

Book 5.0
Narration 5.0
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Tdk 29/07/2025
5.0
5.0
nushka7 11/02/2024
5.0
5.0
A holistic approach to exploring the parts of modern western society that may not be serving us well, and, above all, a renewed sense of hope for the future.
falcon29 10/10/2022

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