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In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction

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In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction Cover

ISBN13: 9781556438806
ISBN10: 155643880x
Condition: Standard
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Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

Based on Gabor Matés two decades of experience as a medical doctor and his groundbreaking work with the severely addicted on Vancouvers 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 authors candid discussion of his own "high-status" addictive tendencies—and science with positive solutions makes the book equally useful for lay readers and professionals.

Synopsis:

Based on Gabor Mate'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. Mate 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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About the Author

Gabor Maté, MD, is a physician, author, seminar leader, and acclaimed public speaker. His bestselling books include Scattered, When the Body Says No, and Hold onto Your Kids. A former medical columnist for The Vancouver Sun and The Globe and Mail, he lives in Vancouver, BC.
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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 4 comments:
dial m for moniker, September 29, 2011 (view all comments by dial m for moniker)
This is my first book by Dr. Mate and after reading it, I plan on reading more. It covers in some detail, without being overburdened by details, the biological and psychological drives of addiction and the political context in which it functions.
The last few chapters, when he goes into the healing that is possible were beautiful, hopeful, and brought tears.
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dial m for moniker, September 29, 2011 (view all comments by dial m for moniker)
This is my first book by Dr. Mate and after reading it, I plan on reading more. It covers in some detail, without being overburdened by details, the biological and psychological drives of addiction and the political context in which it functions.
The last few chapters, when he goes into the healing that is possible were beautiful, hopeful, and brought tears.
Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No
(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Nina Sparr, January 30, 2011 (view all comments by Nina Sparr)
This book is well written and heartfelt. Dr. Mate truly believes in his patients and the work he does, and truly works with a population of people that most people would consider a waste of time. His work as a physician is inspiring and his book is a true gem.

The one drawback I think most people would find is that Dr. Mate does have a pretty specific theory about how we, as people, become addicts. Truly, there will never be a theory to this that you can apply to everyone, if that were the case, we would probably be able to "cure" addiction. The fact that Dr. Mate has a theory of his own that he is able to rely on and structure his work with is a lot of what allows him to do the great work he does. None of us can work with people in such difficult places in the world and not build some reason for it in their own mind. His theories are what keeps him going, and I would say they are pretty good ones, not perfect and not fully explanatory, but have a good basis. The fact that he sticks so truly and passionately to his particular view might offend and bother some people, but if you read the book with an open mind and take from it the lessons you can and leave behind the ideas you don't agree with, it can be a truly eye-opening and inspiring read.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9781556438806
Author:
Mate, Gabor
Publisher:
North Atlantic Books
Foreword by:
Levine, Peter
Foreword:
Levine, Peter
Author:
Levine, Peter A. PhD
Author:
Peter A. Levine Ph.D.
Author:
Gabor Mate, M.D.
Author:
Mate, Gabor MD
Author:
Peter A. Levine, Ph.D.
Author:
Mate M. D., Gabor
Subject:
Psychopathology - Addiction
Subject:
General
Subject:
Social Work
Subject:
Substance Abuse & Addictions - Drug Dependence
Subject:
Substance-Related Disorders -- physiopathology.
Subject:
Behavior, Addictive -- psychology.
Subject:
General Health & Fitness
Subject:
Drug Dependence
Subject:
Recovery and Addiction - General
Copyright:
2010
Edition Description:
Trade paper
Publication Date:
20100131
Binding:
TRADE PAPER
Grade Level:
General/trade
Language:
English
Illustrations:
11 BandW PHOTOGRAPHS
Pages:
520
Dimensions:
9 x 6 x 1.25 in 1.775 lb
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Related Subjects


Health and Self-Help » Recovery and Addiction » General
Health and Self-Help » Recovery and Addiction » Substance Abuse and Addictions » Drug Dependence
Health and Self-Help » Self-Help » General
History and Social Science » Politics » General

In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction Used Trade Paper
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Product details 520 pages North Atlantic Books - English 9781556438806 Reviews:
"Synopsis" by , Based on Gabor Mate'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. Mate 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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