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
