Tribe
Ratings32
Average rating3.7
15
Ratings32
Average rating3.7
We have a strong instinct to belong to small groups defined by clear purpose and understanding--"tribes." This tribal connection has been largely lost in modern society, but regaining it may be the key to our psychological survival. Decades before the American Revolution, Benjamin Franklin lamented that English settlers were constantly fleeing over to the Indians-but Indians almost never did the same. Tribal society has been exerting an almost gravitational pull on Westerners for hundreds of years, and the reason lies deep in our evolutionary past as a communal species. The most recent example of that attraction is combat veterans who come home to find themselves missing the incredibly intimate bonds of platoon life. The loss of closeness that comes at the end of deployment may explain the high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder suffered by military veterans today. Combining history, psychology, and anthropology, Tribe explores what we can learn from tribal societies about loyalty, belonging, and the eternal human quest for meaning. It explains the irony that-for many veterans as well as civilians-war feels better than peace, adversity can turn out to be a blessing, and disasters are sometimes remembered more fondly than weddings or tropical vacations. Tribe explains why we are stronger when we come together, and how that can be achieved even in today's divided world.
Reviews with the most likes.
I read this book because it was one of Jason Kander's recommendations during a Twitter chat. I guess it was an okay book though and while I can't exactly pinpoint what my issue was, I did feel uncomfortable at many points. Maybe it was just too concerned with masculine/male tribal behaviors and didn't feel universal enough for me to connect.
Short read but a very engaging book. According to the author, everyone has the need to be part of a tribe, which explains why some veterans miss the battlefield and can have a hard time adjusting to life post-war.
Wow this was such a thought provoking book. It really helps understand our behavior and mental health concerns.
Junger focuses on the rates of PTSD and mental crisis during emergencies and wars for civilians and soldiers, arguing we don't do a great job with reintegration of soldiers and that our individualistic culture sucks in terms of community connection and sense of purpose. There are some sketchy generalization about First Nations/Native American/indigenous folks at the beginning: describing everyone on the continent as stone-aged nomads. Later he admits some nuance between different groups.
