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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
Short and crucial read to our survival and emotional well-being. This book is about more than the past. It’s about where we’re heading as a society if we keep it up. We live in a world of connection, yet we are as distant from one another as possible. There are few ways to voice opposition or take out aggression without fear of being a social outcast. We have lost our way in American society. This book explains so much of veteran behavior. Why do people miss being in war? Friendship, family, loyalty, a sense of belonging and a place where you have a tribe with a code of honor. Coming home is not an introduction to that. It is a step away and a leap into an individualistic society.
1.5/5*
While most assume war and complete lawlessness to be a breeding ground for the worst in men to thrive, this dude believes that war brings out the innate good in humans. War is a holy place where courage meets responsibility, and so we are at our best when we are unifying in the name of a common enemy. The us vs. them may be atrocious for the “them,” but it does wonders for the “us.” Point taken.
Overall, Tribe reads as a collection of assumptions, loose correlations, and poorly contextualized interdisciplinary research. Most irking to me as a student of history, Junger is, at best, anachronistic in his interpretation of historic primary and secondary sources (Francis Parkman taken at face value? Really?)
Honestly, I would have enjoyed this book if Junger had approached it as more of a self-help book, a “how to live a more meaningful life” type. Instead, he accepts imperial primary source documents as largely credible, treating critical analysis of primary sources as a stylistic option. While he presents a compelling argument on the disconnect between what we (humans) find meaningful and how we actually live, Junger peppers his philosophical musings with “evidence” that serves to continually remind the informed reader that the author is unfamiliar with the scholastic precedent of the works he references.
While most assume war and complete lawlessness to be a breeding ground for the worst in men to thrive, this dude believes that war brings out the innate good in humans. War is a holy place where courage meets responsibility, and so we are at our best when we are unifying in the name of a common enemy. The us vs. them may be atrocious for the “them,” but it does wonders for the “us.” Point taken.
Overall, Tribe reads as a collection of assumptions, loose correlations, and poorly contextualized interdisciplinary research. Most irking to me as a student of history, Junger is, at best, anachronistic in his interpretation of historic primary and secondary sources (Francis Parkman taken at face value? Really?)
Honestly, I would have enjoyed this book if Junger had approached it as more of a self-help book, a “how to live a more meaningful life” type. Instead, he accepts imperial primary source documents as largely credible, treating critical analysis of primary sources as a stylistic option. While he presents a compelling argument on the disconnect between what we (humans) find meaningful and how we actually live, Junger peppers his philosophical musings with “evidence” that serves to continually remind the informed reader that the author is unfamiliar with the scholastic precedent of the works he references.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
This book is full of really interested facts and stats on community behavior. Honestly, I was only giving it a 3-star until the last chapter when the author so eloquently summarized the pitfalls of capitalism, a two-party system, and how disconnected we are in modern society. I listened to it on audiobook and really enjoyed it.
An expanded version of a Sebastian Junger essay that appeared in Vanity Fair magazine. This book was first published in 2016; and points to some real value of cohesiveness and support of tribal societies. It connects Junger's research into incidents in his own life, including photojournalist experience in Bosnia. The book was first published in 2016; would love to see an updated 2022 version, which shows how social media is disrupting cohesiveness in society.
It jumped around with overall emphasis on tribes in a military environment.
Read this based on a recommendation and so glad I did. A book all veterans and those seeking to understand veterans experiences should read. Worth your time.
Just as in his other work, Junger provides a thorough and meticulously researched look at tribe culture, war culture, and modern society. A must read if you are interested in psychology, war, or history.
Intriguing read. The author has a clear perspective and chooses his research to accordingly back that perspective, which can make the reader feel overall that they are being led by nose a bit too much. But the concepts are interesting and the facts (as presented) can be compelling despite being overly biased to the author's point of view. Good food for thought on the potential impacts of our modern society, particularly in America.