Gabor Maté’s The Myth of Normal: Book Overview

A woman sitting on a floral couch and reading a book

What does it mean to be “normal”? What role does trauma play in your health? What is the biopsychosocial model of health? In The Myth of Normal, physician and trauma expert Gabor Maté writes that much of what society labels as abnormal behavior, mental illness, or dysfunction actually represents normal responses to adverse life experiences. He advocates a trauma-informed perspective that addresses the root psychological and social causes of what we label as illness. Continue reading for an overview of Gabor Maté’s The Myth of Normal.

Why There Is No Such Thing as Normal or Abnormal (Maté)

A group of people sit on the floor, one person is separated from the rest, accentuating that there is no such thing as normal.

How do societal norms perpetuate unhealthy standards? Where do “abnormal” behaviors stem from? Are the mind and body one? In The Myth of Normal, physician and trauma expert Gabor Maté says that there is no such thing as normal when it comes to health and behaviors. Maté argues that the biomedical model fails to understand health holistically. Here’s why “abnormal” behaviors are actually normal responses to one’s environment.

The Causes and Impacts of Trauma (The Myth of Normal)

A young boy standing in the doorway of his father's home office while he works, one cause of trauma

How does emotional trauma impact our physical health? Where does trama stem from? Gabor Maté, a physician and trauma expert, explains that there is no such thing as a “normal” person. Instead, most of us are shaped by the emotional trauma we carry. Not every trauma is straightforward either, trauma can also stem from unmet needs. Keep reading to learn about the roots and impacts of trauma, according to Maté.

How Social Conditions Hardwire Us for Disease and Trauma

A woman standing in a busy city with her hands on her face looking stressed, showing how social conditions can affect you

What role does society play in trauma? What social conditions can harm your physical and mental health? In his book The Myth of Normal, Gabor Maté describes how certain deeply ingrained structures in Western society like racism, misogyny, and capitalism instill and reinforce trauma. These factors don’t just shape our societies—they have tangible, harmful effects on our physical and mental health.  Here’s a look at the role that society can play in trauma.

The Biopsychosocial Model of Health (Explanation & Benefits)

There are three circles, one contains a man flexing, one contains a brain, and one contains two people, representing the biopsychosocial model of health

How is the biopsychosocial model of health different from the biomedical model? What holistic healing practices can you try? Physician and trauma expert Gabor Maté says that the biopsychosocial model is much more effective than the traditional biomedical model when it comes to healthcare. The biopsychosocial model takes thoughts, feelings, social interactions, and environment into account when it comes to health. Here’s Maté’s argument for the biopsychosocial model for health and healing.

The Top Five Regrets of the Dying: Book Overview & Lessons

An elderly man in a hospital bed who is looking out a window at the sun

What are the most common regrets people have on their deathbeds? How can we learn from their regrets and mistakes? In The Top Five Regrets of the Dying, a book by palliative care nurse Bronnie Ware, she shares the most common regrets her patients expressed in their final weeks. By learning from her patients’ reflections, you can gain clarity on what truly matters and make positive changes before it’s too late. Continue reading to learn why these regrets are so common and how to avoid them in our overview of Ware’s book.

Why You Will Regret Not Living an Authentic Life

A young woman with a backpack on in a forest who is living her authentic life

Do you live authentically, or for others? Why is authentic living so important to happiness? Bronnie Ware, a palliative care nurse, shares that one of the biggest regrets people have on their deathbed is not living an authentic life. She also provides insights into how to live more authentically in a judgemental world. Continue reading for Ware’s life-changing advice.

Stop Sabotaging Your Own Happiness—You Will Regret It Later

A tired man in a suit who is leaning on his desk which has photos of his family on it, he is sabotaging his happiness

Are you sabotaging your own happiness? How can you pursue happiness instead? In her book The Top Five Regrets of the Dying, Bronnie Ware shares that many of her dying patients wished they prioritized happiness more in their lives. It’s easy to keep pushing it off until later, but not everybody has a later. Keep reading to learn why you need to start prioritizing happiness in your life.

The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down Quotes

A Korean Buddhist monk meditating in front of a waterfall in the forest.

Looking for the top The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down quotes? What can these quotes teach you about the value of mindfulness? In his book, Zen Buddhist teacher Haemin Sunim reminds us to pause, breathe, and engage with the world from a place of mindfulness, compassion, and openness. By adopting practices that encourage us to slow down, we’re able to enhance our well-being, forge deeper connections, and find happiness. Here are three quotes from the book with explanations.