The Myth of Normal : Illness, health & healing in a toxic culture

The Myth of Normal looks at health in modern Western life. It asks how this way of life shapes mind and body. Gabor Maté asks if what we call normal is healthy. He links pain, trauma and long-term illness to social demands. He argues that these demands can draw us from our true selves.

This nonfiction book is for readers drawn to health, trauma and healing. Maté draws on forty years as a doctor and addiction expert. He tells of people who live with illness and find recovery. Their stories show how being true to oneself can help healing. He weighs this against the drive to meet social demands.