Have you ever wondered why certain patterns keep showing up in your life, no matter how hard you try to change them? Why anxiety, low mood, or a sense of not quite belonging seem to follow you around? Gabor Mate has spent his career asking exactly those questions – and his answers are both surprising and deeply reassuring.

The Myth of Normal argues that a lot of what we struggle with isn’t a sign that something is wrong with us. It’s a very human response to experiences and environments that were difficult – often without us even realising it. The book connects the dots between our early experiences, the pressures of modern life, and the ways our minds and bodies try to cope.

It’s a long read, and it covers a lot of ground. But it’s written with real warmth, and many people find it genuinely life-changing – not because it offers simple answers, but because it helps you understand yourself in a way that feels kind rather than critical. A good one to read alongside therapy, or when you’re trying to make sense of why you feel the way you do.