Dr. Gabor Maté is one of my favorite authorities on the subject of addiction and trauma. Born in Hungary and separated from his mother in World War II, Dr. Maté’s own life story of trauma has helped him understand and respond to his patients in physiological and emotional distress. His latest book, The Myth of Normal, takes his explorations one step further, into the world of the ways in which our emotional states affect our physical health and well-being. I especially like that he does not engage in victim-blaming, which is an all-too-easy path for those who have an interest in mind body health. Instead, he explores the ways in which our culture and broader world affect us and our health. His is a hopeful and helpful look at how we can each assess and heal our wounds, no matter our stage in life.

If you are interested, his book entitled In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts explores addiction and is written in a story-telling style. It’s an excellent companion to The Myth of Normal.