In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts
by Gabor Maté
Maté's years as a physician in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, and his argument that addiction is rooted in early pain, not moral failure or simple brain chemistry, and that the question is not why the addiction but why the pain. He includes his own compulsive behavior. It is humane, long and persuasive about the human side of addiction.
Read it if…
you or someone you love struggles with addiction and you want understanding instead of judgment.
Skip it if…
you want a treatment program; this is understanding and policy.
Three things you will actually use
- Addiction is an attempt to solve a problem.
- Early stress shapes the brain's reward system.
- Compassion is more effective than punishment.
Do this first
Ask of any compulsion, yours or another's: what pain does this relieve?
Our verdict
Humane and important.
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