Addictions always originate in pain, whether felt openly or hidden in the unconscious. In In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts, world-renowned physician and trauma expert Dr. Gabor Maté offers a transformative approach to understanding substance use disorder, recovery, and the root causes of addictive behavior.
Through compelling case studies, cutting-edge neuropsychiatric research, and clear-eyed analysis, Dr. Maté explores how personal history, emotional development, brain chemistry, social conditions, and structural factors—including unhealed developmental trauma—influence addiction. He advocates for humane, compassionate approaches that focus on whole-person, whole-culture healing, showing how punishment, stigma, and isolation only worsen outcomes.
This #1 international bestseller is essential for:
Since its original publication in 2010, In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts has remained a bedrock for anyone seeking insight into trauma, addiction, and recovery—and continues to lay a path toward hope and true healing.