Good Morning, Monster

A Therapist Shares Five Heroic Stories of Emotional Recovery

By: Catherine Gildiner

Narrated by: Deborah Burgess

Length: 13 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's Summary

"Catherine Gildiner is nothing short of masterful - as both a therapist and writer. In these pages, she has gorgeously captured both the privilege of being given access to the inner chambers of people's lives, and the meaning that comes from watching them grow into the selves they were meant to be." (Lori Gottlieb, New York Times best-selling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone)

In this fascinating narrative, therapist Catherine Gildiner’s presents five of what she calls her most heroic and memorable patients. Among them: A successful, first-generation Chinese immigrant musician suffering sexual dysfunction; a young woman whose father abandoned her at age nine with her younger siblings in an isolated cottage in the depth of winter; and a glamorous workaholic whose narcissistic, negligent mother greeted her each morning of her childhood with "Good morning, Monster". 

Each patient presents a mystery, one that will only be unpacked over years. They seek Gildiner's help to overcome an immediate challenge in their lives but discover that the source of their suffering has been long buried. As in such recent classics as The Glass Castle and Educated, each patient embodies self-reflection, stoicism, perseverance, and forgiveness as they work unflinchingly to face the truth. Gildiner's account of her journeys with them is moving, insightful, and sometimes very funny. 

Good Morning, Monster offers an almost novelistic, behind-the-scenes look into the therapist's office, illustrating how the process can heal even the most unimaginable wounds. 

Amazon.com Best Books of the Year - 2020

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press 

"Good Morning, Monster allows one the privilege of seeing the therapist-patient relationship as an essentially human interaction." (JM Coetzee, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature) 

©2020 Catherine Gildiner (P)2020 Macmillan Audio

Wow!

This book was a ride from every beginning to every finish. Every character brought a while new level of surprise. It's horrible to comprehend the atrocities that people live through. And these patients truly lived through some AWFUL stuff. I was incredible impressed with Gilder's willingness to learn more when she didn't understand. Especially with Danny. the way she actively looked into native history and practices, and acknowledged herself as a white person using white therapy. Some people will never understand their distinct privilege that comes with race. Kudos to her. Gilder also did an incredible job of retelling the tales. I felt like every goodbye she had with her client was also my goodbye. it comes to show the amazing benefits it therapy and the very unique and intense role the therapist has.

I almost rated performance a 4, the way that she spoke for Peter is as pretty insulting, but thankfully by the second or third chapter she stopped the way she was talking for him.

all in all an amazing listen

Powerful

Just when you think to yourself, “This is going to be the story that hits me hardest” the next one comes along and you reevaluate. This book is a marvelous testament to people, all of us broken in our own ways.

Cheaper than Therapy

This book felt like it was written for me. So many times I've questioned why some people are the way they are, why I attract the people I do.....and now I know. This book is so well written and makes me want to read more.

I cannot tolerate the narrators racist accents

You don’t have to change your accent for your interpretation of people from different cultures it comes off racist and off putting just read in the same voice you did for everyone else I couldn’t even finish after hearing this multiple times throughout

Fascinating!!!

This was a binge listen for me!! I found it truly fascinating!!! It was difficult to listen to in some parts, because the patients had such brutal, sad, childhoods, but the therapy concepts and background studies and research the author did to help her “hero patients” was remarkable. I LOVED it!! I found myself in tears many times and had to keep listening to learn what happened to the wounded souls. Psychotherapy has always amazed me, though I’ve never spoken to a therapist, nor studied much about mental health. I recommend this book if you want some insight into how the mind works and how people can heal themselves by revisiting their trauma in a safe environment. The narrator was good as well.

Future therapist here!

I am about to enter grad school for a therapist training program. And this book has enlightened me and somewhat prepares me for what I will possibly face in the future. Even for someone not going into this field it is told very well for each individual story. Done with respect and care.

Great Listen

I enjoyed listening to this book while driving to visit family. Good life lessons to use.

Thank you

I myself went through hell and slayed dragons, salute! One hero to another.
To everyone naively declares that every parent at least loves her/his own child, you are deadly wrong. Read this book and shiver.
Thank you for the brave souls, kind souls, you lit up the torch with your own blood and tears. Thank you.

Incredible inspiring stories

After listening to this stories I was able to identify areas in my life and how I could have past trauma that might need to be address in therapy. The resilience of all five heroes mentioned in the stories is incredible. The narrator is very good at personification and kept me entertained. Went over this book in around a week, which is a short time for me. Give it a shot you won’t regret it, I’m certain it’ll be worth your time and you’ll learn something out of it

The narrator makes this

While the story is phenomenal and one of courage, the narrator of this book genuinely breathes life into each of the 5 heroes. She does a wonderful job of changing intonation, inflection, and height of her voice to give each person a character.

These stories and learnings will stay with me for a long time. I’m currently working with a therapist myself, so even while I haven’t experienced the level of of trauma that the 5 heroes in Gildiner’s novel have, I still found a way to connect and learn from them. I found the 3rd and 4th individuals highlighted to be the most impactful and with the most rewarding story. By the time I got to the 5th individual highlighted, I felt her story didn’t impact me as much. I felt the growth from the prior two had been more powerful. However, the author later explains why this story was the last chosen and how the journey made an impact on her personally. Gildiner isn’t afraid to admit her mistakes and learnings and I loved that about her. Therapists/psychiatrists are people too, and this is an incredible book that proves just how much our bias can find it’s way into every bit of our lives. I would highly recommend this book for anyone.