Tribe

On Homecoming and Belonging

By: Sebastian Junger

Narrated by: Sebastian Junger

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.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2016 Sebastian Junger (P)2016 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Sebastian Junger has turned the multifaceted problem of returning veterans on its head. It's not so much about what's wrong with the veterans, but what's wrong with us. If we made the changes suggested in Tribe, not only our returning veterans, but all of us, would be happier and healthier. Please read this book." (Karl Marlantes, New York Times best-selling author of Matterhorn and What It Is Like to Go to War)

"There are three excellent reasons to read Sebastian Junger's new book: the clarity of his thought, the elegance of his prose, and the provocativeness of his chosen subject. Within a compact space, the sheer range of his inquiry is astounding." (S. C. Gwynne, New York Times best-selling author of Rebel Yell and Empire of the Summer Moon)

Insightful, balanced, masterfully read

This book was outstanding. I especially liked the reading, it was authoritative, pensive and inspired a sense of true wisdom. Excellent.

Important

As a veteran, this is one of the most important works on schisms between civilians and warriors in our culture.

Incredible revelation of isolation in society now

Of all the books I've found on Audible, this is the book I've been most excited to have discovered. I feel deeply the same isolation in modern society that the author describes. Something is terribly lacking in society, something that has existed in times of hardships.

Encouraging and thought provoking

Fantastic book on what binds people together. Everyone has a tribe that they belong to.

just a great book

great book, just a little short, but all in all, wonderful book. I would highly recommend this book.

Shocking insights -

Best book I've read in recent times about life, war, PTSD, and how to relate to people for a better society. amazing research and insights. excellent

I don't write reviews

This might be one of the best books I've ever experienced.
I cannot speak highly enough about this book.

Just Superb!

This book is superbly thought out, superbly written, and superbly stimulates thought and open conversation.

I can't wait to read another of his books!

insightful

Junger shares some fundamental truths about what it means to be human, and part of a society's fabric.

excellent book

I have learned so much and have finally found the words to describe this ache.