Book Review

Am I Normal? The 200 Year Search for Normal People and Why They Don’t Exist?

Number: 20 June 30, 2026
EN TR

Am I Normal? The 200 Year Search for Normal People and Why They Don’t Exist?

Abstract

Most people accept the ‘normal’ way of thinking and behaving, assuming a standard or natural way exists. Following the norm often simplifies life for individuals, leading many to accept the prevailing structures of society. In her book Am I Normal: The 200-Year Search For Normal People (And Why They Don’t Exist) (2022), Sarah Chaney explores the concept of ‘normal’ and examines how and why it was constructed over the last two centuries. Her work reveals that normalcy is a complex and shifting idea.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

SOAS, University of London

Ethical Statement

Since this study did not require approval from an ethics committee, it was conducted without such approval.

Thanks

Thank you to my brother, Mehmet Anthony Akyildiz in London, for his support and ideas.

References

  1. Chaney, S. (2022, 2023). Am I Normal? The 200-Year Search for Normal People (and Why They Don’t Exist?). London: Profile Books; Wellcome Collection, 324 p., ISBN: 978-1788162456.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Political Economy and Social Change

Journal Section

Book Review

Publication Date

June 30, 2026

Submission Date

March 24, 2025

Acceptance Date

March 5, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: 20

APA
Akyildiz, S. (2026). Am I Normal? The 200 Year Search for Normal People and Why They Don’t Exist? Artuklu Humanities, 20, 115-119. https://doi.org/10.46628/ahu.1664668
AMA
1.Akyildiz S. Am I Normal? The 200 Year Search for Normal People and Why They Don’t Exist? Artuklu Humanities. 2026;(20):115-119. doi:10.46628/ahu.1664668
Chicago
Akyildiz, Sevket. 2026. “Am I Normal? The 200 Year Search for Normal People and Why They Don’t Exist?”. Artuklu Humanities, nos. 20: 115-19. https://doi.org/10.46628/ahu.1664668.
EndNote
Akyildiz S (June 1, 2026) Am I Normal? The 200 Year Search for Normal People and Why They Don’t Exist? Artuklu Humanities 20 115–119.
IEEE
[1]S. Akyildiz, “Am I Normal? The 200 Year Search for Normal People and Why They Don’t Exist?”, Artuklu Humanities, no. 20, pp. 115–119, June 2026, doi: 10.46628/ahu.1664668.
ISNAD
Akyildiz, Sevket. “Am I Normal? The 200 Year Search for Normal People and Why They Don’t Exist?”. Artuklu Humanities. 20 (June 1, 2026): 115-119. https://doi.org/10.46628/ahu.1664668.
JAMA
1.Akyildiz S. Am I Normal? The 200 Year Search for Normal People and Why They Don’t Exist? Artuklu Humanities. 2026;:115–119.
MLA
Akyildiz, Sevket. “Am I Normal? The 200 Year Search for Normal People and Why They Don’t Exist?”. Artuklu Humanities, no. 20, June 2026, pp. 115-9, doi:10.46628/ahu.1664668.
Vancouver
1.Sevket Akyildiz. Am I Normal? The 200 Year Search for Normal People and Why They Don’t Exist? Artuklu Humanities. 2026 Jun. 1;(20):115-9. doi:10.46628/ahu.1664668