57 pages • 1 hour read
When the Body Says No: The Cost of Hidden Stress
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Brief
320
Book • Nonfiction
2000s
2003
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
In When the Body Says No, Gabor Maté explores the link between chronic stress and illness, positing that emotional repression originating from unmet childhood needs disrupts physiological stress functions, leading to diseases such as cancer, autoimmune disorders, and inflammatory conditions. Through case studies, Maté illustrates how chronic stress and societal factors contribute to illness, advocating for a holistic treatment approach that includes understanding one's childhood experiences and emotional health. This book discusses illness, trauma, and end-of-life care.
Informative
Emotional
Contemplative
Challenging
Unnerving
Reviews & Readership
28,196 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Gabor Maté's When the Body Says No explores the links between stress and illness with compelling insights. Praised for its compassionate and thought-provoking analysis, the book offers valuable understanding of the mind-body connection. However, some critics find his conclusions speculative and desire more empirical evidence. The blend of science and personal anecdotes provides a profound yet occasionally controversial perspective.
Who Should Read When the Body Says No?
Readers who would enjoy When the Body Says No by Gabor Maté are typically interested in the intersection of mind and body health, especially how stress impacts wellness. Similar readers appreciate works like Jon Kabat-Zinn's Wherever You Go, There You Are and Bessel van der Kolk's The Body Keeps the Score, which delve into holistic health and trauma recovery.
28,196 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Gabor Maté’s Mother
Gabor Maté’s Mother
The mother of Gabor Maté, who faced significant stress and trauma during the Holocaust, impacting her capacity to parent attentively. Her relationship with Maté is explored to understand themes of emotional repression and coping mechanisms.
Mary
Mary
A woman who faced abuse and neglect in childhood and developed a repressive coping style, making her unable to prioritize her own needs. Maté discusses her health conditions to illustrate the connection between chronic stress and disease.
Betty
Betty
A mother whose childhood experiences with unloving and disciplinarian parents influenced her parenting style. Her relationship with her daughter, Barbara Ellen, is examined to highlight themes of inherited anxiety and repression.
Barbara Ellen
Barbara Ellen
The daughter of Betty, who shaped her emotional expression to ensure her mother's comfort, developing a coping mechanism of emotional repression. Her life and health struggles are discussed to explore the impact of early conditioning on coping mechanisms.
320
Book • Nonfiction
2000s
2003
Adult
18+ years
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.