In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts
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Product Description
Based on Gabor Maté’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. 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; 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.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book truely offers the best insight into addiction that I have come across. It draws upon Mate's work in Vancouver where he is a doctor in a harm reduction programme in one of the most deprived areas of the city. The book examines, in a highly personal and extremely readable way, the reasons behind addiction and the truths and falacies about addicts and how to work with them. In essence it highlights the humanity of those suffering from drug addiction and presents a compelling case for the problem being medical and social rather than something which can be solved by aggressively targeting those suffering themselves. Perhaps for me personally the greatest triumph is the ability of the author to present the complex neuro science in a way which I could understand and subsequently apply in my own way. The book includes the stories of individual addicts as well as his own personal addiction to his work and to buying classical music - something which sounds humerous but has led him to spend huge sums of money and lie to his wife about. I would recommend this book to anyone with a vague interest in the workings of the human mind as well as those who would like to learn more about drug addiction itself. It is very well written and, for a book that is very 'sciencey' in a lot of ways, was surprisingly difficult to put down. I have also found it to be a profound influence on my own work (in a related field) in both the scientific basis for understanding addiction as well as the way in which Mate is able to be compassionate and understanding without being a condescending middle class doctor. An excellent book.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
It is an honour to be invited by Dr Mate into a world of addiction.It's a comfortable yet revealing journey into ourselves,a view that enables us to laugh,to cry,to have hope and a vision of a much brighter world than you would expect from an insight into addiction and substance abuse.
Thank you Gabor(when you finish reading this you will consider Dr Mate a close friend)for tearing away prejudice and revealing compassion
Thank you Gabor(when you finish reading this you will consider Dr Mate a close friend)for tearing away prejudice and revealing compassion
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I bought this book on a recommendation from a friend. As I worked DTES for a little over a year, I was interested instantly.
The first 40 pages or so I had mixed feelings, he appeared to be pessimistic about individuals' situations, which is expected but difficult to swallow as optimism is one thing that keeps me 'alive' in the field. I also interpreted him as 'trying to find his voice' as he went between two different writing styles.
However, as the book progresses, he does make good points and is able to portray the `air' of DTES well. As well, I find myself seeing him make less contradictory statements within the book. I look forward to sitting down and finishing it.
The shipping was excellent, five stars for the delivery time, etc.
The first 40 pages or so I had mixed feelings, he appeared to be pessimistic about individuals' situations, which is expected but difficult to swallow as optimism is one thing that keeps me 'alive' in the field. I also interpreted him as 'trying to find his voice' as he went between two different writing styles.
However, as the book progresses, he does make good points and is able to portray the `air' of DTES well. As well, I find myself seeing him make less contradictory statements within the book. I look forward to sitting down and finishing it.
The shipping was excellent, five stars for the delivery time, etc.
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