The Myth of Normal: Illness and Health in an Insane Culture
- Downloads：1389
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-08-19 09:51:34
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Gabor Maté
- ISBN：1785042726
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Summary
Are all our physical diseases and mental illnesses caused by a sick society？ And if so， how can we heal ourselves？
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。 Nearly 70% of Americans take at least one prescription drug。
In his new masterpiece， Gabor Maté investigates the underlying causes of this epidemic – physical and emotional – and connects the dots between our personal maladies and the pressures of society。 He explores how virtually all disease is actually 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 healing。 The Myth of Normal has clear exercises and practices to help us loosen the burden of cultural expectation。
Filled with the stories of people in the grip of illness or in the triumphant wake of recovery， The Myth of Normal shows how true health is possible – if we are willing to embrace authenticity above social expectation。
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。 Nearly 70% of Americans take at least one prescription drug。
In his new masterpiece， Gabor Maté investigates the underlying causes of this epidemic – physical and emotional – and connects the dots between our personal maladies and the pressures of society。 He explores how virtually all disease is actually 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 healing。 The Myth of Normal has clear exercises and practices to help us loosen the burden of cultural expectation。
Filled with the stories of people in the grip of illness or in the triumphant wake of recovery， The Myth of Normal shows how true health is possible – if we are willing to embrace authenticity above social expectation。
Reviews
Kolleen Fraser
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This was an informative and in depth conversation about trauma and healing。 There are so many people who would benefit from its wisdom。 I liked the book and learned a lot from it and I think readers of self help and those interested in trauma and our toxic culture will love it。 Though interesting， it was a lot to take in and isn’t my usual pick。 I felt it was a bit over my head。
=^。^= Janet
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Publication date: September 13， 2022Thank you to NetGalley， the author， and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review an advanced reader's copy of this book。 （FTC compliance met with this statement。） This in no way affects my review， all opinions are my own， are not a result of compensation and may be affected by the fact that I currently have nothing better to do than read multiple books a day sitting at the nursing home with mom and dad or in front of the a。c。！！SYNOPSIS************* Publication date: September 13， 2022Thank you to NetGalley， the author， and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review an advanced reader's copy of this book。 （FTC compliance met with this statement。） This in no way affects my review， all opinions are my own， are not a result of compensation and may be affected by the fact that I currently have nothing better to do than read multiple books a day sitting at the nursing home with mom and dad or in front of the a。c。！！SYNOPSIS*****************By the acclaimed author of In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts， a groundbreaking investigation into the causes of illness， a bracing critique of how our society breeds disease， and a pathway to health and healing。In this revolutionary book， renowned physician Gabor Maté eloquently dissects how in Western countries that pride themselves on their healthcare systems， chronic illness and general ill health are on the rise。 Nearly 70 percent of Americans are on at least one prescription drug; more than half take two。 In Canada， every fifth person has high blood pressure。 In Europe， hypertension is diagnosed in more than 30 percent of the population。 And everywhere， adolescent mental illness is on the rise。 So what is really "normal" when it comes to health？Over four decades of clinical experience， Maté has come to recognize the prevailing understanding of "normal" as false， neglecting the roles that trauma and stress， and the pressures of modern-day living， exert on our bodies and our minds at the expense of good 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。 Now 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。 Cowritten with his son Daniel， The Myth Of Normal is Maté's most ambitious and urgent book yetThis is a very lengthy treatise （or even a thesis） on trauma， stress and life in the time of social media which has led to a culture so toxic that it is mind-boggling。 It is really deep and I found myself skimming and skipping through as it is a book club book more than anything else。 I don't have kids affected by social media so I found it did not apply to me much other than make me laugh at anyone who calls themself an INFLUENCER 。。。 get a real job， people。 I have enough anxiety without worrying about this happening to my family 。。。 including me and the book was very triggering for me as I am beyond fried from stress and anxiety these days。I will recommend it to book clubs， parents and those in the medical field but it is not a casual read that I will suggest to anyone 。。。 sorry， I said that I would be honest。 。。。more
Maria
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Very uplifiting for survivors of any trauma
Elise Loehnen
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