Reviews
"Dr. Maté's latest book is a moving, debate-provoking, and multi-layered look at how addiction arises, the people afflicted with it and why he supports decriminalization of all drugs, including crystal meth.… [In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts] reads not only as a lively textbook analysis of the physiological and psychological causes of drug addiction, but also as an investigation into his heart and mind." -The Globe and Mail "It's time to give Maté … the Order of Canada for this erudite and sensitive book about the lives of Downtown Eastside intravenous-drug users, the neurobiology of addiction, and the folly of the war on drugs. It's compulsively readable and packed with new scientific discoveries about addiction. If you know the parent or sibling of an addict-or the prime minister, for that matter-please give him this book." -The Georgia Straight "I recommend this wonderful book for anyone struggling with the heartache of addiction personally or professionally. Dr. Maté makes the thought-provoking and powerful arguments that human connections heal; and that the poverty of relationships in the modern world contribute to our vulnerability to unhealthy addictions of all manner. His uniquely humane perspective-all too absent from much of the 'modern' approach to addictions-should be a part of the training of all therapists, social workers, and physicians." -Bruce Perry, MD, PhD, Senior Fellow, Child Trauma Academy, Houston, and coauthor ofThe Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog "Gabor Maté's connections-between the intensely personal and the global, the spiritual and the medical, the psychological and the political-are bold, wise and deeply moral. He is a healer to be cherished and this exciting book arrives at just the right time." -Naomi Klein, author ofNo LogoandThe Shock Doctrine "With unparalleled sympathy for the human condition, Gabor Maté depicts the suffocation of the spirit by addictive urges, and holds up a dark mirror to our society. This is a powerful narrative of the realm of human nature where confused and conflicted emotions underlie our pretensions to rational thought." -Dr. Jaak Panksepp, Distinguished Research Professor of Psychobiology, Bowling Green University, Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry, Medical College of Ohio, and author ofAffective Neuroscience "With superb descriptive talents, Gabor Maté takes us into the lives of the emotionally destitute and addicted human beings who are his patients. In this highly readable and penetrating book, he gives us the disturbing truths about the nature of addiction and its roots in people's early yearstruths that are usually concealed by time and protected by shame, secrecy, and social taboo." -Vincent Felitti, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, and Co-Principal Investigator, Adverse Childhood Experiences Study "Dr. Gabor Maté distills the suffering of injection-drug users into moving case histories and reveals how clearly he himself, as a music collector and workaholic physician, fits his own definition of addiction. Informed by the new research on brain chemistry, he proposes sensible drug laws to replace the War on Drugs. Inspired by the evolving spirituality that underlies his life and work, he outlines practical ways of overcoming addiction. This is not a fix-it book to hurry through, but a deep analysis to reflect upon." -Dr. Bruce Alexander, Professor Emeritus (Psychology), Simon Fraser University, and author ofThe Globalization of Addiction "A harrowingly hon, "A riveting account of human cravings, this book needs to get into as many hands as possible. MatÉ's resonant, unflinching analysis of addiction today shatters the assumptions underlying our War on Drugs." -Norm Stamper, former Seattle Chief of Police and author ofBreaking Rank: A Top Cop's ExposÉ of the Dark Side of American Policing "In this brilliant and well-documented book, Gabor MatÉ locates the source of addictions in the trauma of an emotionally empty childhood, making it a relational rather than a medical problem. Such a radical thesis of cause leads to human connection rather than traditional treatment as the cure. This passionate and compassionate book, filled with scientific evidence and personal narratives, should be on the shelf of every person interested in the pervasive challenge of addiction." -Harville Hendrix, PhD, author ofGetting the Love You Want: A Guide for Couplesand cofounder of Imago Relationship Therapy "Dr. MatÉ's latest book is a moving, debate-provoking, and multi-layered look at how addiction arises, the people afflicted with it and why he supports decriminalization of all drugs, including crystal meth.… [In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts] reads not only as a lively textbook analysis of the physiological and psychological causes of drug addiction, but also as an investigation into his heart and mind." -The Globe and Mail "It's time to give MatÉ … the Order of Canada for this erudite and sensitive book about the lives of Downtown Eastside intravenous-drug users, the neurobiology of addiction, and the folly of the war on drugs. It's compulsively readable and packed with new scientific discoveries about addiction. If you know the parent or sibling of an addict-or the prime minister, for that matter-please give him this book." -The Georgia Straight "I recommend this wonderful book for anyone struggling with the heartache of addiction personally or professionally. Dr. MatÉ makes the thought-provoking and powerful arguments that human connections heal; and that the poverty of relationships in the modern world contribute to our vulnerability to unhealthy addictions of all manner. His uniquely humane perspective-all too absent from much of the 'modern' approach to addictions-should be a part of the training of all therapists, social workers, and physicians." -Bruce Perry, MD, PhD, Senior Fellow, Child Trauma Academy, Houston, and coauthor ofThe Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog "Gabor MatÉ's connections-between the intensely personal and the global, the spiritual and the medical, the psychological and the political-are bold, wise and deeply moral. He is a healer to be cherished and this exciting book arrives at just the right time." -Naomi Klein, author ofNo LogoandThe Shock Doctrine "With unparalleled sympathy for the human condition, Gabor MatÉ depicts the suffocation of the spirit by addictive urges, and holds up a dark mirror to our society. This is a powerful narrative of the realm of human nature where confused and conflicted emotions underlie our pretensions to rational thought." -Dr. Jaak Panksepp, Distinguished Research Professor of Psychobiology, Bowling Green University, Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry, Medical College of Ohio, and author ofAffective Neuroscience "With superb descriptive talents, Gabor MatÉ takes us into the lives of the emotionally destitute and addicted human beings who are his patients. In this highly readable and penetrating book, he gives us the disturbing truths about the
Synopsis
Based on Gabor Mat 's two decades of experience as a medical doctor and his groundbreaking work with the severely addicted on Vancouver's skid row, In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts radically reenvisions this much misunderstood field by taking a holistic approach. Dr. Mat presents addiction not as a discrete phenomenon confined to an unfortunate or weak-willed few, but as a continuum that runs throughout (and perhaps underpins) our society; not a medical "condition" distinct from the lives it affects, rather the result of a complex interplay among personal history, emotional, and neurological development, brain chemistry, and the drugs (and behaviors) of addiction. Simplifying a wide array of brain and addiction research findings from around the globe, the book avoids glib self-help remedies, instead promoting a thorough and compassionate self-understanding as the first key to healing and wellness. In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts argues persuasively against contemporary health, social, and criminal justice policies toward addiction and those impacted by it. The mix of personal stories--including the author's candid discussion of his own "high-status" addictive tendencies--and science with positive solutions makes the book equally useful for lay readers and professionals., A "thought-provoking and powerful" study that reframes everything you've been taught about addiction and recovery--from the New York Times -bestselling author of The Myth of Normal (Bruce Perry, author of The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog ). A world-renowned trauma expert combines real-life stories with cutting-edge research to offer a holistic approach to understanding addiction--its origins, its place in society, and the importance of self-compassion in recovery. Based on Gabor Maté's two decades of experience as a medical doctor and his groundbreaking work with people with addiction on Vancouver's skid row, this #1 international bestseller radically re-envisions a much misunderstood condition by taking a compassionate approach to substance abuse and addiction recovery. In the same vein as Bessel van der Kolk's The Body Keeps the Score , In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts traces the root causes of addiction to childhood trauma and examines the pervasiveness of addiction in society. Dr. Maté presents addiction not as a discrete phenomenon confined to an unfortunate or weak-willed few, but as a continuum that runs throughout--and perhaps underpins--our society. It is not a medical "condition" distinct from the lives it affects but rather the result of a complex interplay among personal history, emotional and neurological development, brain chemistry, and the drugs and behaviors of addiction. Simplifying a wide array of brain and addiction research findings from around the globe, the book avoids glib self-help remedies, instead promoting a thorough and compassionate self-understanding as the first key to healing and wellness. Dr. Maté argues persuasively against contemporary health, social, and criminal justice policies toward addiction and how they perpetuate the War on Drugs. The mix of personal stories--including the author's candid discussion of his own "high-status" addictive tendencies--and science with positive solutions makes the book equally useful for lay readers and professionals.
