The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic CultureThe Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture
What it's about
Gabor Maté, a Canadian doctor known for his work on addiction, argues that much of the chronic illness and mental illness in Western societies comes from trauma and stress, and from a culture that is itself unhealthy. He explores how our bodies respond to stress and what healing could look like, for individuals and society.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Goodreads Choice finalist and a bestseller. It's a sweeping, provocative book.
You'll love it if you liked
The Body Keeps the Score
What Happened to You?
What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing From Complex TraumaGood to know
Some of its medical claims are disputed.
By the numbers
- Readers82 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller52 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #46 of the 119 science and ideas books we rank
- #126 of the 481 new books we rank
- #706 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Practical, Thought-provoking
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Quick answers
Is The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture worth reading?
Yes. It was a Goodreads Choice finalist and a bestseller. It ranks #706 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 76.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture about?
Gabor Maté, a Canadian doctor known for his work on addiction, argues that much of the chronic illness and mental illness in Western societies comes from trauma and stress, and from a culture that is itself unhealthy. He explores how our bodies respond to stress and what healing could look like, for individuals and society.
How long does it take to read The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture?
About 14 hours (576 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture?
If you liked it, try The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, What Happened to You? by Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey or What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing From Complex Trauma by Stephanie Foo.