
The Myth of Normal
Audible Audiobook
– Unabridged
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“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, MD, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Body Keeps the Score
“Wise, sophisticated, rigorous and creative: an intellectual and compassionate investigation of who we are and who we may become. Essential reading for anyone with a past and a future.”—Tara Westover, New York Times bestselling author of Educated
“The Myth of Normal is a book literally everyone will be enriched by—a wise, profound and healing work that is the culmination of Dr. Maté's many years of deep and painfully accumulated wisdom.”—Johann Hari, New York Times bestselling author of Stolen Focus
“Gabor and Daniel Maté have delivered a book in which readers can seek refuge and solace during moments of profound personal and social crisis. The Myth of Normal is an essential compass during disorienting times.”—Esther Perel, psychotherapist, author, and host of Where Should We Begin?
From our most trusted and compassionate authority on stress, trauma, and mental well-being—a groundbreaking investigation into the causes of illness, a bracing critique of how our society breeds disease, and a pathway to health and healing.
Gabor Maté’s internationally bestselling books have changed the way we look at addiction and have been integral in shifting the conversations around ADHD, stress, disease, embodied trauma, and parenting. Now, in this revolutionary book, he eloquently dissects how in Western countries that pride themselves on their health care systems, chronic illness and general ill health are on the rise. So what is really “normal” when it comes to health?
For all our expertise and technological sophistication, Western medicine often fails to treat the whole person, ignoring how today’s culture stresses the body, burdens the immune system, and undermines emotional balance. In The Myth of Normal, co-written with his son Daniel, Maté brings his perspective to the great untangling of common myths about what makes us sick, connects the dots between the maladies of individuals and the declining soundness of society, and offers a compassionate guide for health and healing. The result is Maté’s most ambitious and urgent book yet.
- Listening Length18 hours and 12 minutes
- Audible release dateSept. 13 2022
- LanguageEnglish
- ASINB09HSVNDW7
- VersionUnabridged
- Program TypeAudiobook
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Product details
Listening Length | 18 hours and 12 minutes |
---|---|
Author | Gabor Maté, Daniel Maté |
Narrator | Daniel Maté |
Audible.ca Release Date | September 13 2022 |
Publisher | Knopf Canada |
Program Type | Audiobook |
Version | Unabridged |
Language | English |
ASIN | B09HSVNDW7 |
Best Sellers Rank | #9 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #1 in Mental Health (Audible Books & Originals) #1 in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder #3 in Psychology |
Customer reviews

Reviewed in Canada on April 19, 2023
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This book is a compassionate vivisection of the ideas of normal with which we are attempting to navigate our daily lives, and for those of us a bit more aware, attempting to shed and replace with something that better meets our needs. It is a support and structure for the efforts to expose, challenge, change and repair ourselves without judging, and with a touch of dry humor.
There are few books out there worth the money in trying to learn with the intent to heal. There are fewer groups that can help implement them. This book is one that invites you to read as a group, and share as a group. I've found it a place that allows you to struggle, but then encourages you to accept, pick yourself up, and keep moving forward - a trusted companion in a battle still so many deny is taking place.
It has been strengthening for me. When I've pointed out there's something off about the logic of an argument, I often find that reflected in detail, the work done for me, in this book. There have been few times I've wished for more to be said, however, he's not writing a social critique, so there is only so much. Now I hunger to see his efforts being respected by acceptance and intelligent repertoire within the streams we find our "normal" so that we can find support with one another outside of a book cover.
Grateful for Gabor Mate, his sons efforts to aid him in providing these works, his writings, and especially his courage in being a source of awareness, momentum, sustainable growth and healing change.
Mate explains how to become aware and what you can do to move past the traumas of the past!
Gabor Mate has apparently been known as somewhat controversial in his ideas. Initially, I disagreed with some of his ideas/points and I kept reading with a 'prove me wrong' approach. I'm glad I did because it got me to interact with the material as opposed to passively listen and not put it into practice or relate it back to my own experience.
A relatively easy read, just know that it's a hefty sized book.
Top reviews from other countries


Ergänzung: Ich persönlich sehe den Teil des Buches über den Einsatz von Psychedelika kritisch. Hier habe ich starken Widerstand in meinem System gespürt, was auch immer das bedeuten mag.


Thank you, so much, Dr. Mate!

In the Introduction, Maté gives a summary of his reasons for writing the book, and he explains his basic premise: “It is my contention that by its very nature our social and economic culture generates chronic stressors that undermine well-being in the most serious of ways,”.
In Part 1 – ‘Our Interconnected Nature’, Maté begins by discussing trauma, and the lasting effects of traumatic experiences, even ones from infancy. He also explores the body-mind connection, with the contention that our physical wellbeing is even more linked to our thoughts than most people realize. Maté cites various research studies and examples from his professional life to further illustrate his points. He quotes various neuroscientists and geneticists, and he explains how outside influences even affect our immune systems.
In Part 2, Maté discusses early life and the developmental needs of children. He covers the effects of stress, even in the womb before the child is born. He gives some perspective on childbirth, early stages of development, parenting styles, the effects of screentime, and cultural norms.
In Part 3 Maté gives his thoughts about diseases and addictions potentially being adaptations to the environment. He discusses various types of addictions, and some myths and misconceptions about mental illnesses.
Part 4 shifts the focus to society as a whole, and the ways that modern societies can be a source of stressors that lead to illness. Maté covers economic stress, dislocation and loneliness, neuromarketing, Big Food and Big Pharma, inequalities of race, class, and gender, and political division.
In Part 5 Maté wraps up by offering some ideas about healing and wholeness. He talks about the four A’s: Authenticity, Agency, Anger and Acceptance. He offers his thoughts about compassion, and how to learn from modern diseases. He discusses how to improve self-awareness, and how to learn to say “No”. Maté also talks about psychedelics and spirituality, before giving a few final words about the path to a healthier future society.
Overall, I liked this book. I was intrigued by Maté’s take on these lesser-studied large scale issues, and I thought that he made some very good points. This topic is difficult to write a very scientific book on though, because there are so many vague concepts and multi-faceted issues, that it becomes almost impossible to prove some of his assertions. I think that there is some good advice here towards the end of the book, and many parts really encouraged me to think more deeply; but also, the general concept of society/culture contributing to illness is such a broad topic that it is hard to really feel like there are great solutions. Still, I don’t regret reading this one.