Episode 47 – Idioms of Normality hosted by Dr. Paul H. Mason

Daniel Maté

“How is normality working for you?” asks author, composer, lyricist, and playwright, Daniel Maté, who joins Paul in this episode of Idioms of Normality. Daniel discusses his new book, The Myth of Normal, coauthored with his father, world famous psychiatrist, Gabor Maté. “Normality”, Daniel says, “makes idiots of us all.” This hard-hitting discussion rips into the topic of normality and explores how easily humans can become accustomed to self-harming social conditions. Normal, argues Daniel, is one of the biggest causes of worldwide trauma. Alienating people from their authentic selves, the concept of normality has both psychological and social harms. Listeners might be left asking if Daniel and Gabor’s book should perhaps be on the politics shelf in libraries and bookstores given the political dimensions of taking this argument seriously.